The last day of the XXX U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round was full of drama, calculations and terrific play before the weather forced the postponement of the last game of the day - Japan v USA - to Sunday.
With USA searching for a win to stay in contention for the Championship Game, the game will resume at 09:30 on Sunday, 18 September, in the top of the third. At the moment of the suspension, Japan were leading 3-2 and had the bases loaded and no one out.
Earlier in the day, defending champions Chinese Taipei and five-time winners Korea collected wins to improve their win-loss record to 4-1. The United States need a win against Japan to finish in a tie for first place. The Team Quality Balance (TQB) would determine the second finalist. The calculation clarified that Chinese Taipei would play for the U-18 World Title for the 12th time having collected three gold and eight silver medals previously, including gold in their two previous finals - against USA in 2019 and Australia in 2010.
Korea are still in the mix for the final with their destiny depending on the result of the USA-Japan game while Japan will play in the bronze medal game.
Following Chinese Taipei's 3-0 win over the Netherlands, the European side closed their participation in fifth place, their best ever finish in the U-18 Baseball World Cup. While Korea's 6-4 win over Mexico saw the Central Americans finish sixth at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup for the sixth time in 16 editions to record their best result since finishing fourth in 2006.
Sunday Schedule: The World Championship Final on Sunday will be played 40 minutes after Japan - USA ends and the Bronze Medal Game 40 minutes after the World Championship Final ends.
Super Round Results
Meanwhile, in the Placement Round, Brazil beat Italy 5-1 to finish in seventh place, their best standing in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup since 1997.
Panama came from behind to beat Canada 5-2 and clinch eighth place, their best result since finishing seventh in 2012 and Australia finished their campaign with a 7-2 victory over South Africa to finish ninth for the first time since 2012, matching their lowest finish at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup which they've now recorded three times (2021, 2012 and 2006).
Placement Round Results
Brazil-Italy 5-1 BOX SCORE read ARTICLE
Panama- Canada 5-2 BOX SCORE read ARTICLE
Australia-South Africa 7-2 BOX SCORE read ARTICLE
WATCH LIVE
USA-Japan
Japan took a quick lead as Yuta Utsumi singled off USA starter Jake Brown in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the second, Colt Emerson failed to advance runners on a sacrifice bunt, then doubled to the left to tie the game.
Gavin Grahovac gave the US a 2-1 lead with a broken-bat RBI single.
Starter Tessei Morimoto walked the bases loaded and Japan gave the call to Haruto Yamada in the bullpen. The reliever got out of the jam.
Kaito Ito doubled in the top of the third off reliever Matthew Dallas, two runs scored and Japan reversed the lead.
A lightning alert forced the umpiring crew to send the teams back to their dugouts at 17:18. If rain doesn't come, the game will resume 30 minutes after the last lightning strikes.
After two heavy thunderstorms hit the Sarasota area, the game was postponed to Sunday, 18 September, at 09.30am.
Korea-Mexico 6-4
Korea's pitchers struggled early in the game. Youngcheol Yoon took the situation under control after allowing a couple of runs in the third, and Korea went on to win thanks to timely hitting and a superb running game.
Korea needed three pitchers to get out of the bottom of the first, but limited damage. Mexico scored one run.
Ichiro Can doubled with runners at third and second in the top of the third to extend Mexico's lead to 3-0.
Korea got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Hangyeol Park hit an RBI double that sent Victor Garcia to the showers. Mexico handed the ball to Angel Zazueta.
Beomseok Kim hit a sacrifice fly off new pitcher Jesus Lopez to cut Mexico's league to 3-2. The inning ended as Taewan Park lined out to shortstop.
Korea tied it in the bottom of the fourth, making the most of Mexico's defensive flaws.
The running game and a base hit by Danseong Jeon helped Korea take a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Korea made it 6-3 on a base hit by Daeseon Jeong in the bottom of the sixth.
Mexico added a run in the top of the seventh before Seohyeon Kim could close it for Korea.
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Chinese Taipei-Netherlands 3-0
Shao En Lin and Yu Cheng Wu left no chance to the Netherlands, and Chinese Taipei earned a shut out win that guarantees them to play for the World Championship on Sunday.
Chinese Taipei got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Chia-Wei Lin hit an RBI single up the middle.
The Netherlands stayed in the game thanks to great defence.
Shaon En Lin kept the Netherlands scoreless through five innings.
Yung-Chuan Huang hit an RBI single to left field, bringing in Nian-Hao Wang and Yi-Lei Sun. Chinese Taipei extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
Yu Cheng Wu pitched two perfect innings and earned the save.
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