WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Day 5: Five out of six Super Round spots confirmed
USA and Chinese Taipei finished in first place with Korea second in Group A behind the hosts. The Netherlands will have to wait for the completion of USA-South Africa to see if they can celebrate a third place finish. Japan and Mexico finished in second and third place behind the defending World Champions in Group B. The previously postponed games are scheduled for Wednesday, 14 September.
After Day 5 of the XXX WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, the Super Round is almost set.
The United States finished first in Group A. Korea finished second behind the hosts. The Netherlands will have to wait for the completion of the USA-South Africa game (it will resume with the US leading 10-0 in the top of the third) to see if they can celebrate a third place finish.
Chinese Taipei, Japan and Mexico qualified out of Group B.
The morning games were emotional and dramatic as expected and allowed Korea and Mexico to earn the wins that would guarantee a spot in the Super Round.
In the afternoon, Australia and Canada celebrated their first wins.
In the night games, the US and Chinese Taipei outscored Brazil and Japan to finish on top of the respective groups.
The game against world No. 1 Japan proved a show of strength for the defending World Champions. Japan had to make an early call to the bullpen in the top of the second but couldn't avoid falling 4-0. Chinese Taipei didn't need to look back.
Chinese Taipei broke the tie with a bases-loaded triple by Jun Wei Zheng, the ninth hitter of their batting order.
Hsin Chiu followed with a single to right and made it 4-0
Zheng had his second bases-loaded extra-base hit. He combined five RBIs and extended Chinese Taipei lead to 8-0.
Japan got on the scoreboard in the fifth and added a run on reliever Yu Cheng Wu in the sixth.
Aidan Miller hit his second home run to take the lead in the bottom of the first, and the US went on to earn their fourth win. They will advance to the Super Round as the number one seed in Group A.
Mexico won a dramatic game in the top of the eighth. The lead tie-break runner Alberto Barriga stole third, and Antonio Macias got to the third offering by Carlos Dias, turning it into a walk-off base hit.
Eric Guevara homered to put Panama ahead in the top of the first.
Mexico struck right back and got on the scoreboard on an RBI single by Carlos Gutierrez.
Panama's starter Ismael Velasco hit Ichiro Cano with the bases loaded to tie it. Panama gave an early call to the bullpen, but newcomer Armando Nunez issued a walk, threw a wild pitch and Mexico reversed the lead.
A sacrifice fly made it 5-2 for Mexico.
Mexico defence backing up their pitcher.
A two-run homer by Angel Rodriguez cut Mexico's lead to 5-4.
A sacrifice fly gave Panama the tie in top of the fifth.
After an electric storm alert paused the game, Rosman Verdugo hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to deep left field and put Mexico ahead.
Yael Romero singled to extend the lead to 7-5.
Roger Lasso doubled, Eduardo Tait hit a sacrifice fly and Panama tied it again in the bottom of the seventh.
Antonio Macias singled in the top of the eighth to give Mexico a huge tie break win.
Junseo Hwang and Youngcheol Yoon allowed only two hits to the Netherlands and Korea scored the only run they needed in the second on a two-out and bases-loaded hit batter.
Korea took the lead in the bottom of the second as Dutch starter Justin Morales allowed two-out back-to-back walks and hit a batter.
Dutch catcher Jahzeel Groetelaers is a player to watch.
Youngcheol Yoon allowed only one hit in the seventh and sealed a win that may prove a super round pass for Korea.
Australia needed four pitchers and a seventh inning three-run rally to overcome Italy and earn their first win. In the seventh Italy brought the potential go-ahead run at the plate.
Luke Smith singled in the top of the first to put Australia ahead.
Marco Ragionieri hit a RBI triple, Eduardo Cornelli scored on a wild pitch and Italy tied it in the bottom of the third.
Italy played solid defence.
Italy tried to score on a double steal in the bottom of the fifth. Williams Wong became the third out at home plate.
Samuel Davis hits a two RBI bases loaded single and gives Australia a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh.
Australia entered the bottom of the seventh with a 5-2 lead, but Italy stroke back, scored two runs and put the tying run at first. Riley Marsh retired Filippo Venditti to give the Aussie their first win.
The tournament will have a Day 6 to make up the previous postponed games. All times are local.
9:00 United States-South Africa (resuming from 10-0 in the top of the third) 9:00 Korea-Canada 11:30 Chinese Taipei-Panama 12:30 Netherlands-South Africa 15:00 Australia-Panama
