WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup Day 4: Japan, Australia head into Super Round; Israel earn first win; Czechia, Canada and Argentina record second victories
Japan opened Day 4 of the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup with a victory over Venezuela, securing them a Super Round spot in Group B. Israel defeated Team WBSC 6-5 to earn their first win in the tournament. Australia beat Mexico 4-1 to earn their Super Round spot in Group A. Czechia claimed their second win of the tournament, along with Canada and Argentina, recording victories against New Zealand and South Africa, respectively.
Day 4 of the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup saw Australia and Japan punching their tickets to the Super Round. Australia's 4-1 defeat of Mexico advanced them as Group A winners. while Japan's 2-0 triumph over Venezuela advanced them as Group B's top squad. The Asian side must win against New Zealand to clinch first place in the group.
Canada claimed a crucial win over New Zealand to remain in contention, while Israel earned their first win of the tournament with a 6-5 win over Team WBSC. Czechia and Argentina won their second game remain in the hunt for a place in the Super Round.
Softball fans around the world can tune in to GameTime to watch live the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, set to take place in Parana, Argentina, from 15-23 April. A tournament pass for $9.99 (US dollars) will give subscribers access to all 50 games of the tournament, while six-game daily passes will be available for $5.99 each day.
One inning later, Luciano Biondi hit a double to left field sending Juan Bambozzi from first to third. Bambozzi then scored on an error by left fielder Tyler Croft. Argentina led and closed the game at 6-1.
The host team replied quickly with two runs in the top of the fifth. Alan Peker hit an RBI triple to center field, and later scored on a grounder to second base.
Nathan Pletschke drove in South Africa’s first run with a double to the right-center gap to score Kiddo Malematja, who had singled before.
Argentina jumped ahead in the third inning. Luciano Biondi drew a walk, then stole second and third base, and scored on an infield hit by Alan Peker. The speedy outfielder scored later on a wild pitch. Juan Cruz Garolini capped off the inning with a solo homer over the center field fence. Argentina started with a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Isaac Lefevbre doubled and then easily scored the insurance run with a single up the middle by Mitchell McKay.
New Zealand reduced the deficit to one run in the bottom of the sixth. New Zealand loaded the bases with one out but could not tie the game. Riley Manion struck out Brock Attewell, but then threw a wild pitch that allowed Huw Davies to score the 4-3. He ended the threat forcing Xavier Sage to a fly to right field.
Canada tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth. Once again, Mark Stack brought in the run, this time with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jordan Pomeroy. One inning later, with one out, Isaac Lefevbre stepped in the plate with a runner on second. He gave Canada the lead with a triple down the left field line, and one pitch later, he scored on a grounder to first base. Canada led 4-2.
New Zealand answered with two in the bottom half Brock Attewell doubled in Floyd Nola, and then Brock Evans gave the lead to Canada with a grounder to plate Damon Creasy.
Canada’s third baseman Mark Stack produced the first run of the game. He connected a triple to the right field fence to plate Connor Brooks and give Canada a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Koh scored his team’s third run with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ean Eu.
Singapore reduced the deficit to 5-2, as Max Koh knocked in Audric Chia with a single up the middle and then scored on a wild pitch.
A pair of homers gave Czechia the lead in the game in the third frame. Vojtech Buchner went yards over the centre field fence with two runners on base. Two batters later, Jakub Hajny hit a two-run inside the park home run that made it 5-0.
Mexico loaded the bases in the fifth, on a pair of hit by pitches and a walk, with two outs. Jesus Sonora scored on a wild pitch, but Jack Besgrove forced Manuel Zepeda to a grounder to end the threat. Australia led and secured the victory with the score of 4-1.
A three-run home by Ryan King extended the Australian lead to 4-0 after three complete innings.
Ryan King drove in Riley James with a single to right field to put Australia in front, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning.
Israel took the lead again in the sixth, as Bar-Arie Shrim hit an RBI single and later a defensive error allowed Shrim and Avinoam Sachs to cross the plate.
Team WBSC scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to snatch the lead at 5-3. Nery Del Cid singled in Juan Medina, while Enrique Xuya brought in two with a single to centre field that gave his team the advantage.
The European team regained the lead 3-2 with an inside-the-park homer by Bar-Arie Shrim.
Israel added another run in the third, when Ben Duarte Kantor took advantage of a defensive error to cross the plate. However, Team WBSC managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning on a double by Nery Del Cid and an error.
Alon Gil singled to lead off the game and later scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch to put Israel up at 1-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Shoki Matsuo launched a line-drive double to the right field fence, to plate Ayumu Nishimori, who was standing at first base after a walk. Japan kept their 2-0 edge to claim the game win.
Japan used three singles in the first inning to score the first run of the game. Ryuji Okawa drove in Yoshinari Matsumoto to put the score 1-0.
