Chinese Taipei, USA, Venezuela start Super Round Robin with wins

by Philipp Wuerfel

Super Round Robin 

(1st to 6th)

Chinese Taipei 3 – Panama 0

Chinese Taipei opened the second round with a 3-0 shutout over Panama, remaining undefeated in the II 15U Baseball World Cup. Chao-Ching Wan and Chi-Ling Hsu combined to keep the Central Americans to six hits and five walks in nine scoreless innings in Mazatlán. A two-run single by Ming-Chi Juan in the second and a run on an error in the eighth was all run support they needed. Edisson Gonzalez took the loss.

USA 10 – Cuba 2

In a meeting of previously undefeated teams in the tournament the United States won their clash against Cuba 10-2. They took a quick 3-0 lead through two frames and continued to build it up until blowing it wide open with four runs in the eighth. Leadoff hitters Brice Turang and Royce Lewis combined for five hits, a walk, a triple, a double, six runs scored and three RBI. Hunter Greene pitched six strong innings for the win. Adrian Morejon got charged with the loss. Miguel Vargas scored both runs for Cuba.

Venezuela 4 – Mexico 2

Defending champion Venezuela prevailed 4-2 over Mexico in their second-round opener in the evening at Mazatlán. The host couldn’t do anything against Venezuela’s starter Angel Ortega, who kept them to four hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. He operated with a nice cushion thanks to early runs in the third. The rally by Mexico against the Venezuelan bullpen got stopped in time and the reigning title holder stays in contention.

(Group E, 7th to 12th)

Brazil 11 – Germany 0

In the rain of Culiacan Brazil dominated Germany 11-0, taking advantage of an early 8-0 lead and a whopping four errors, 11 walks and two hit batters in four offensive innings. Both teams had four hits, but Brazil got the best out of them. Additionally Mauro Tanaka was on the top of his game, going five scoreless four-hit innings for the win. Charles Walzer took the loss.

Australia 1 – Japan 15

Japan scored a combined 12 runs in the fifth and the sixth en route to a 15-1 victory over Australia in their first classification round game. Yohei Takekuma led all batters with three hits and five RBI. He also guided his pitchers Kensei Saito, Taiki Kato and Genta Takai to seven four-hit frames from behind the plate. Joshua Bedggood received the loss.

Italy 8 – Argentina 10

Argentina edged out Italy 10-8 in the evening game at Culiacan. Three runs apiece in the third, fifth and sixth were enough to down the Squadra Azzurri. The Europeans out-hit the team from Down Under 11-9, but were not able to overcome the two-run deficit in the end. Lucas Stalman, Nicolas Barrientos and Dalmir Candal combined for six RBI for Argentina. Daniel Xavier Monti scored three times for Italy.

(Group F, 13th to 18th)

Hong Kong 1 – New Zealand 11

New Zealand earned its second win of the tournament with an 11-1 rout over Hong Kong on Wednesday at Los Mochis ballpark. Seven runs in the first two frames gave them an early advantage, which put them en route to winning lane. Tama Wright Pihama stole four bases and scored three times. Javarn Woolston and Anthony Moanaroa-Taylor combined for six RBI. Kazuma Nakano and Taishi Nakamura pitched seven innings of scoreless two-hit ball.

Czech Republic 18 – South Africa 0

The Czech Republic celebrated an 18-0 blowout over South Africa. The European runner up scored eight runs in the first three frames and ten in the fourth en route to the win. Nine different players crossed the plate, three of them three times. Ondrej Furko had three runs and three RBI on his belt. Jakub Grepl and Viktor Vecerka conceded just two hits and five base on balls in five scoreless innings.

Guatemala 4 – Lithuania 3

Guatemala won its first game in the tournament, beating Lithuania 4-3 in the evening game at Los Mochis. Two runs in the first and two in the fifth got them on the scoreboard. Lithuania took a 3-2 lead in the second, but gave it away three frames later. RBI-Doubles by Julio Aguilar and Edgar Tecu decided the game.