Japan earn second Super Round win in rain-shortened game against Netherlands

Japan recorded their second win of the Super Round in a very close 1-0 ball game against the Netherlands that was interrupted after five innings due to heavy rain. Japan’s only run of the game was scored in the bottom of the third on a grounder to second base.

The Netherlands scattered three hits over the five innings of play and out hit Japan in the evening game, 3-1. However, they could only place one runner in scoring position, in the top of the second, when Darnel Collins singled to leadoff the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. But Shiki Kawahara used two of his six strikeouts in the game to end the threat.

Kojun Fujimori scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the third on a grounder to second base. The Japanese second baseman had reached first base on a bunt, in what ended up as Japan’s only hit of the game.

Kawahara was the winning pitcher of the game, striking out six while giving up three hits. He leads the tournament in wins with three. The losing pitcher was Allard Helms, giving up one hit, two walks and one run.

On Saturday, Japan will close the Super Round against USA, while the Netherlands, currently in fifth with a 1-3 win-loss record, will face defending champions Chinese Taipei looking to record their best ever finish at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, which was previously sixth in 2010, 1994 and 1993.