05/09/2017 2 Minute Read

U-18 Baseball World Cup: Chinese Taipei beat Nicaragua and are still in the race, Korea outscore Italy to finish undefeated

THUNDER BAY (Ontario), Canada-Chinese Taipei defeat Nicaragua and are in a good position to qualify to the super round. Korea outscore Italy to finish the qualifying round undefeated

Chinese Taipei beat Nicaragua and stay right in the race for a spot in the super round and Korea outscore Italy to finish undefeated the qualifying round of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017.

Korea defeat Italy (10-1) in a game that was tied at 1 after 5.

Korea score with their lead off hitter and without getting a hit. Italy starter Pizzolini walks shortstop Choi Hyunjun, who then steals second, advances to third on a fly out to right by second baseman Choi Junwoo and scores on an error on the relay throw.

Despite struggling with control (8 walks), Pizzolini and his reliever Samuel Aldegheri shut out Korea over the course of 4 more at bats and Italy ties it in the fifth as first baseman Seminati takes a look at 2 pitches by reliever Sung Donghyun and drives the third over the wall and over batter’s eye in center field. So far, against 2 Korea pitchers (starter Kim Min and reliever Kim Kihoon) the italian line up had combined only one hit.

In the bottom half of the frame, after walking back to back center fielder Ye Jinwon and left fielder Yi Inhyok, Aldegheri leaves and Andrea Bettarini takes the mound for Italy. Pinch hitter Cho Daehyun advances runners with a bunt only to force an intentional walk to Bae Jinwhan, another pinch hitter. Bettarini gets the first out as Choi Hyunjun fouls out to third but then Korea break the score open. Bettarini hangs a breaking ball and Choi Junwoo drives it to left for a 2 RBI. Third baseman Kim Jeongwoo follows with a double to left that is worth 2 more runs. Kang Baek Ho enters the game with a pinch hit double to make it 6-1.

Korea use the long ball to score 4 more in the bottom of the seventh. Ye Jinwhon doubles, Yi Inhyok doubles off Bettarini and pinch hitter Bae Jinwan triples off Davide Novello, the fourth pitcher for Italy.

Leonardo Seminati (right) had tied the game on his second home run in as many games (James Mirabelli-WBSC)

Chinese Taipei defeat (10-5) Nicaragua and finish the qualifying round with a 3-2 record. Still, they haven’t made it to the super round yet: they need to wait the result of the match up between Australia and Canada and eventually the make up game Canada-Mexico scheduled for tomorrow.

Chinese Taipei get on the scoreboard with no need of a hit. After working a lead off walk, third baseman Wang Hung Yi steals second, gets to third on a wild pitch by Nicaragua starter Kevin Solis and scores on his balk. Centerfielder Chiu Tan (single) and second baseman Tseng Han Yu (double) capitalize on a couple of walks by Solis getting to reliever Rayo as Chinese Taipei breaks the score open with 4 runs in the bottom of the second.

Nicaragua strike right back in the top of the third. Designated hitter Perez Silva, third baseman Ocon and left fielder Hurtado all hit singles off Chinese Taipei starter Lin Hsin Chieh. An error by shortstop Liu Chih Jung helps Nicaragua score 3 runs and stay in the game.

Chinese Taipei keep adding runs and don’t need to look back: 2 score in the fourth on a triple by Chiu Ta and a base hit by second baseman Tseng Han Yu (3 hits, 4 RBIs) and 2 more in the sixth thanks to the running game. Nicaragua make another call to the bull pen and Erick Rodriguez takes the mound in the bottom of the sixth.

Wu Shi Hao takes over for Lin Hsin Chieh on the mound for Chinese Taipei in the top of the sixth, while Chen Bo Hao works the ninth.