03/08/2023 2 Minute Read

Daito Funayama does it all, leads Japan in win against Korea

He hit two home runs as a left-handed hitter and then stepped to the mound as a right-handed pitcher to get the final five outs, leading the U-12 Samurai to their first Super Round win.

World No. 1 Japan have plenty of two-way players on their U-12 national team. Daito Funayama stood out as they beat No. 5 Korea in the first game of the Super Round, 7-4, at the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. He started at shortstop and hit two home runs as a left-handed hitter. Later in the game, Funayama stepped to the mound and got Japan out of a bases-loaded jam.

It took five pitches to Yusuke Koma to get to Korean starter Minyeong Moon and hit the first home run of the Super Round. The Japanese catcher drove a 2-2 offering to dead centre for a two-run no-doubter.

Korea moved Dongkyu Lee from third base to the mound to face leadoff hitter Daito Funayama with a runner at first. The Japanese shortstop hit a hanging breaking ball beyond the left field wall for his second home run in the tournament and extended the lead to 4-0.

Left fielder Jinwoong Lee homered on Kengo Wada's second pitch to lead off the fourth and put Korea on the board. Wada walked the next batter, then allowed Taewoong Yoon a deep RBI single off the right field wall. He left for Haruchi Tsuchiya with runners at first and second and no one out.

Korean runners advanced on a wild pitch, scoring one run on a ground out. Korea made it 5-4 when Masaya Yabuuchi's diving attempt fell short on a pop by first baseman Junhyeong Park to right field.

Kotaro Otsuka led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit. He tried to reach second but became the first out on a perfect throw by Jinwoong Lee.

It was again Funayama's turn. The Samurai shortstop homered to make it 6-4. Korea handed the ball to Ujieong Lee to get out of the inning.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Jinwoong Lee singled, Tsuchiya hit the next batter, and Minyeong Yoon singled to load the bases. Funayama stepped to the mound and got out of the jam on a slow roller to third and a comebacker to the mound.

Japan added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Only one Korean batter reached base against Funayama, getting to first on a throwing error.

On Friday, Japan (1-2) will play the United States. Korea (1-2) will face Chinese Taipei.