Chihuahua (Mexico). Cuba remains as the lone undefeated team at the I IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship in Mexico. The baseball powerhouse won a pitcher’s duel against Chinese Taipei on Thursday morning to improve to 3-0 in the second round, staying on course to reach the Gold Medal Game. Meanwhile their biggest opponent so far, Venezuela, stumbled over Mexico, losing for the first time after dominating with a terrific offensive performance before. In the third Group 1 matchup Brazil nearly blew a big lead against Nicaragua.
Group 1
Cuba 3 – Chinese Taipei 1
Dannel Diaz led Cuba to a 3-1 win in a pitcher’s duel against Chinese Taipei on Thursday morning in Chihuahua, Mexico. They improved to 3-0 in the second round of the I IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship, looking to reach the Gold Medal Game. For Chinese Taipei it was the second loss in as many days. Diaz allowed just one hit, an unearned run and two walks in nine dominant innings. He struck out seven batters and produced 16 outs on the ground.
Venezuela 4 – Mexico 6
In the end it was a hard-fought victory for Brazil, which downed Nicaragua 7-6 on Thursday afternoon. The South Americans built a quick 7-1 lead, but their opposition rallied in the end, missing out on the tie in the ninth, leaving the tying run on second base to conclude the contest. Salomon Koba and Thiago Kubo combined for five RBI.
Mexico handed Venezuela its first loss at the I IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship. In the evening game of the second round in Chihuahua they used two three-run frames to down the dominating team of the tournament 6-4 on Thursday. Edgar Arredondo issued five hits, four runs (3 ER) and three base on balls in 6 1/3 innings for the win.
Standings:
1) Cuba 3-0
2) Mexico 2-1
3) Venezuela 2-1
4) Brazil 1-2
4) Chinese Taipei 1-2
6) Nicaragua 0-3
Group 2
Italy 17 – Hong Kong 5
Italy scored in each of the first six innings, highlighted by an eight-run fourth to down Hong Kong 17-5 for their first win in Group 2 of second-round play. Nine different players scored a run for the Squadra Azzurri, six of them twice or more.
Argentina 9 – Germany 13
Germany had no trouble to beat Argentina 13-9. The Gauchos only were a threat in the seventh, when they put a six-run rally on the board. Germany meanwhile had scored in each of the first seven frames to build a commanding and decisive lead.
Aruba 5 – Honduras 11
In the evening Honduras moved into sole possession of first place in Group 2 thanks to an 11-5 victory over Aruba. They scored three runs apiece in the first and fourth to take the lead, which they extend afterwards. Aruba helped with four errors.
Standings:
1) Honduras 3-0
2) Aruba 2-1
3) Germany 2-1
4) Argentina 1-2
4) Italy 1-2
6) Hong Kong 0-3
Group 3
Lithuania 7 – Ukraine 9
Ukraine 8 – Indonesia 6
Schedule
Friday, August 24, 2012
10:00 Chinese Taipei – Brazil (Chihuahua)
10:00 Germany – Italy (Parral)
10:00 Indonesia – Lithuania (Cuauhtémoc)
15:00 Venezuela – Cuba (Chihuahua)
15:00 Ukraine – Lithuania (Cuauhtémoc )
15:00 Honduras – Hong Kong (Parral)
19:00 Nicaragua – Mexico (Chihuahua)
19:00 Argentina – Aruba (Parral)
