U-18 Baseball World Cup: Korea defeat Australia, USA outscore The Netherlands

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”]
[et_pb_row admin_label=”row”]
[et_pb_column type=”4_4″]
[et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]
Korea (against Australia) and USA (versus The Netherlands) are the winners of the afternoon games of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Below the higlights of Korea-Australia

Korea beat (4-1) Australia at the end of a game dominated by pitchers. They made the difference putting pressure on aussie defense.
Despite leading off with a double by shortstop Williams, Australia can’t score in the first at bat against sidewinder Seo Junwon. Korea on the contrary doesn’t waste anytime to capitalize on a throwing error by second baseman Fritsch. Third baseman Kim Jeongwoo hits a 1 out RBI double off starter Cooper Vassalakis to score second baseman Choi Hyunjun.
Korea adds one run in the second. With runners at first and second and 2 outs, shorstop Bae Jihwan singles up the middle to score right fielder Ye Jinwon from second. Korea tries to score one more on a double steal, but a strong throw by Australia catcher Hall gets Bae at second before center fielder Jang Junhwan can reach home plate.

Seo Junwon and his unusual delivery (Christian J Stewart-WBSC)

Korea gives Australia an unexpected chance to score in the fourth. With one out and third baseman Dale (base hit) at first, first baseman Wright hits a grounder to second. An error by Choi allows Dale to reach third and Wright to reach first. Left fielder Young hits a roller up the middle. Bae gets to the ball, but fails to step on the second base bag. He tags Wright for the out, but has no time to complete the double play and Dale scores. Seo then walks designated hitter Taylor Wingrove. A phenomenal diving catch by left fielder Yi Inhyok on a blooper by Fritsch prevents further damage.
In the bottom half of the frame Korea strike back manufacturing a run. Catcher Cho Daehyun is hit by pitch, reaches second thanks to a sacrifice bunt, gets to third on a passed ball and scores on a groundout.
Korea add their fourth run in the bottom of the fifth. With Bae (walk) at third and Choi (base hit) at first, Australia fails to turn a double play on Kang slow roller to second and Bae can score.

In the top of the ninth (one out) reliever Ha Junyoung delivers back to back walks (to Young and Taylor Wingrove). Fritsch steps to the plate representing the potential tying run for Australia and Yang Changseop takes the mound for Korea. The reliever strikes out Fritsch but a 2 out base hit up the middle by rightfielder Anderson Vine loads the bases. Australia
takes Taylor out of the game and sends pinch runner Amos to second, but Ha strikes out Williams to end the game.

Choi Hyunjun congratulated after scoring a run /Christian J Stewart-WBSC)

USA outscored (11-1) The Netherlands in 8 innings.
The Netherlands actually score first. USA starter allowes a walk and a base hit (double by shortstop Kelkboom) and the Dutch score on a ground out. They would reach base just one more time against Hankins, who earned the win after a 6 dominating (he struck out 13) inning effort.
USA tie the game in the bottom half of the frame (double by center fielder Siani, defensive error) against starter Koeiman, score the go ahead run in the bottom of the second on a triple by shortstop Turang and never looked back. Their line up combined 13 hits, with Siani (3 RBIs) and right fielder Kelenic (solo home run) going 3 for 5.

Ethan Hankins (James Mirabelli WBSC)