Cuba became the first qualified nation for Sunday's World Championship Game of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2022 in Hermosillo, Mexico. Cuba boasts a 4-0 record in the Super Round, guaranteeing they will finish amongst the top two in the Super Round standings with one game to play on Saturday. Cuba was awarded a forfeit win against Japan, reversing an initial 3-0 shutout victory for Japan, due to an infraction of the pitching count rule. Japan starter Ryusa Tsuji exceeded the maximum number of pitches allowed per game, resulting in the automatic forfeit.
USA (3-1) is in second place of the standings. A strong offensive display capped by a solo home run by designated hitter John Short, powered USA to a key win, 10-0, against Chinese Taipei in the Super Round.
Puerto Rico topped Panama, 7-2, on Friday and remains in contention for the bronze medal. Behind a four-inning no-hit outing from his starter Gerant Verga, Puerto Rico earned the island's first win in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
In Saturday's action -- the last day of the Super Round -- it's Japan (2-2) vs. Puerto Rico (1-3), Chinese Taipei (2-2) vs. Panama (0-4), and Cuba (4-0) vs. USA (3-1), games that will determine who Cuba meets in the Final and who plays for bronze.
SUPER ROUND
PLACEMENT ROUND
France claimed today their second win of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup after beating South Africa, 8-1, at Hector Espino Stadium in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The French team improved to 2-1 in the Placement Round 10th-13th.
Cuba 7-0 Japan
Cuba is awarded a 7-0 win over Japan due to a pitch count violation by Japan, thus reversing the game result.
Top 7th - CUB 0-3 JPN: Japan completes the shutout.
Bottom 5th - CUB 0-3 JPN: Japan takes the lead!!! RBI singles by Kazuha Fukita and Yamato Hanashima, and a double steal play give Japan a three-run advantage.
Chinese Taipei 0-10 USA
Bottom 5th - TPE 0-10 USA: USA knocks Chinese Taipei out with two runs in the fifth to end the game.
Bottom 4th - TPE 0-8 USA: Coy James gets an RBI double, and scores on a balk.
Bottom 3rd - TPE 0-6 USA: Murrieta scores on a defensive error and John Short homers deep to center field.
Bottom 2nd - TPE 0-4 USA: James Tronstein drives in the third run for USA with a single to right field.
Bottom 1st - TPE 0-3 USA: Ethan Holliday puts USA on the scoreboard with a two-run single. He then scores on a double-play grounder by Brady Murrieta.
Puerto Rico 7-2 Panama
Top 6th - PUR 7-2 PAN: Puerto Rico rallies for four runs and gets a more comfortable lead. Enrico Carrion, Orlando Cruz, Carlos Carlo and Dylan Rivera contributed with an RBI each in the game.
Bottom 5th - PUR 3-2 PAN: Panama reduces the deficit to one run. They loaded the bases with three walks, and then scored on a fielder's choice and a ground out.
Top 4th - PUR 3-0 PAN: Puerto Rico adds two more, one on a bloop single by Deuel Malave, and a defensive error.
Top 1st - PUR 1-0 PAN: Puerto Rico scores first with a run-scoring single by Isaac Carrasquillo.
