03/09/2013 3 Minute Read

Second Round Spots up for grabs on Wednesday

First round ends with six games at XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup – USA wins Clash against Cuba – Italy stuns Australia

TAICHUNG. On paper the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup was supposed to become the most competitive tournament in event history. While rain and the rescheduling is making things not easier for the teams, the fans in Taichung saw high-profile baseball on Tuesday – the second straight day with nine games on the schedule. The highlights were certainly USA’s dramatic win over Cuba and Italy’s surprise win over the previously undefeated Australian team. Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Cuba in the morning game were able to rely on impressive pitching.

The first round will get concluded with six games on Wednesday. All six were originally scheduled to be the opening games of the tournament last Friday. However heavy rain in Taichung after a tropical storm caused two completely rained out days, leading to the postponement. The first three games start at 12.30pm. Venezuela faces the Czech Republic at Dou-Liou, Japan clashes with Canada at Taichung City Stadium and Italy takes on Korea at Intercontinental Stadium. In the evening at 6.30pm the last second round tickets will be delivered between Australia and Cuba (Dou-Liou), Colombia and USA (Taichung City Stadium), as well as Chinese Taipei and Mexico (Intercontinental).

The top three teams from each pool will advance to the second-round, which will be played in another round-robin format against the other three advancing teams (Thursday to Saturday). The top two teams from the second round pool of six teams are reaching the Gold Medal Game on Sunday. Teams ranked fourth to sixth in each first-round pool will play for 7th to 12th on Thursday.

USA 2 – Korea 1

Trace Loehr reached base four times and scored both runs for Team USA’ in a 2-1 win over Korea in the morning game at Taichung City Stadium. The defending champion held on in the pitcher’s duel and improved to 2-1 in the tournament. Brady Aiken and two relievers kept Korea to six hits, a run and a walk through nine innings.

Italy 7 – Australia 4

Italy upset the previously undefeated Australian team with a 7-4 victory at Dou-Liou. Two runs in the bottom of the fifth broke a 3-3 tie and decided the outcome. Three players scored twice. Lorenzo Gradali and Davide Anselmi kept Australia in check. Zac Shepherd was 4-for-4 for the team from Down Under.

Cuba 10 – Colombia 0

Cuba scored eight runs in the second en route to an easy 10-0 shutout over Colombia in the morning game at Intercontinental Stadium. Ruben Hernandez issued just one hit in seven strong innings. Victor Mesa, Julio Martinez and Luis Roberts combined for seven of the ten RBI. Cuba improved to 3-0, while Colombia dropped to 0-3.

Canada 11 – Mexico 4

Following a pair of tough losses on Monday, Canada rebounded with an 11-4 victory over Mexico in the afternoon game at Dou-Liou. John-Daniel Osborne highlighted a seven-run fifth inning with a grand slam. The big rally erased a 0-3 deficit. Four runs in the eighth blew the score open. John Patrick Stevenson pitched eight strong innings for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 2-2. Mexico dropped to 1-3.

Japan 15 – Czech Republic 0

Japan continued its string of strong pitching performances also against the Czech Republic. Team Samurai won 15-0 against the European vice champion at Taichung City Stadium in the afternoon. It was their fourth win in as many games. They now also allowed just one run in the tournament so far, dominating the opposition. Yuya Takahashi, Kona Takahashi and Kazuto Taguchi combined in a one-hitter. Tomoya Mori drove in three.

Chinese Taipei 10 – Venezuela 0

Chinese Taipei scored five runs in the first two frames and five in the seventh in a 10-0 shutout against Venezuela in the first of two evening games at Intercontinental Stadium. Cheng-Tang Wang (4-4) and Chia-Jung Liang combined for six RBI. Chen-Yen Chiang and Tzu-Wei Lin kept Venezuela to six hits through seven innings. Chinese Taipei jumped to 3-1, while Venezuela is back at .500.

Korea 4 – Australia 0

Korea broke a no-no bid and the scoreless tie with a four-run sixth inning in a 4-0 win over Australia, which lost for a second time on Tuesday. Both teams are now 2-2, still hoping to get into the second round. Lachlan Wells dominated with five no-hit innings in the beginning, but ended up with the loss. Kyu Hyun An struck out nine in seven-plus frames to pick up the win.

Colombia 6 – Italy 4

Colombia entered the win column in the evening game at Dou-Liou. They defeated Italy 6-4 thanks to a four-run rally in the seventh. Italy twice had the lead (2-0 in the third and 3-2 in the sixth), but instead of getting to 2-2 they dropped to 1-3. Ronaldo Hernandez highlighted the big frame with a bases clearing triple.

USA 6 – Cuba 5

In a matchup of heated rivals which didn’t disappoint, Team USA prevailed in walk-off fashion by a score of 6-5 against Cuba. Michael Rivera drove in Bryson Brigman with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to plate the game-winner, kicking off celebrations at Intercontinental Stadium shortly before 1am in the morning. Cuba had erased 3-5 deficit in the top of the ninth on a triple and an error. Rivera finished with three RBI.

Standings

Group A
Japan 4-0
Chinese Taipei 3-1
Venezuela 2-2
Canada 2-2
Mexico 1-3
Czech Republic 0-4

Group B
USA 3-1
Cuba 3-1
Korea 2-2
Australia 2-2
Colombia 1-3
Italy 1-3

Schedule

Wednesday, September 4, 2013