04/09/2023 4 Minute Read

XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup - Day 5: Japan, Chinese Taipei, USA, Netherlands and Puerto Rico advance to Super Round

The three spots from Group B are set, but Japan need to win the night game against the Netherlands to guarantee first place and a 2-0 record in the Super Round. Chinese Taipei will finish their Opening Round run against Puerto Rico and also need a win to guarantee first place. Puerto Rico also qualified since no other team could match their three wins except Korea, who would be the sixth team if they beat Mexico on Tuesday.

Five out of six teams for the Super Round are set after Day 5 of the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.

Japan, the United States and the Netherlands won, earning the three spots for the Super Round from Group B. Japan will need to beat the Netherlands in the final game of the group on Tuesday night to secure first place and start the Super Round with a 2-0 record. A Dutch win could create a three-way tie in first place.

Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico remained undefeated in Group A, securing a spot in the Super Round. Tuesday's game between the hosts and Puerto Rico will determine the first-place finisher. The boricua also secured a place in the Super Round. Only Korea can match their three wins at this stage.

On Tuesday, Korea would become the sixth Super Round contender with a win against Mexico.

The head-to-head becomes an elimination game. Despite being winless, Mexico could earn their place among the top six teams by beating Korea on Tuesday and Czechia on Wednesday in case of a Puerto Rico win against Korea.

Day 5 Results

Netherlands-Spain	5-0	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
USA-Panama	6-4	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Japan-Venezuela	10-0	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Puerto Rico-Mexico	1-0	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Korea-Australia	3-0	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Chinese Taipei-Czechia	4-1	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT

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Japan-Venezuela 10-0

Japan broke the tie with a five-run fourth at-bat and opened the way to their fourth consecutive win, guaranteeing a spot in the Super Round.

Starters Oscar Melgarejo and Aoi Higashionna worked three scoreless innings. Japan's catcher Mikito Ogata ended the third with a sliding catch.

Japan broke the tie in the top of the fourth on a perfectly executed safety squeeze.

Japan got to reliever Juan Agudelo with base hits by Syuya Yamada and Ren Ogata.

Venezuela handed the ball to Juanangel Perez, who allowed an RBI double to Yuzuki Nakayama. Before Venezuela could get the third out, Japan extended the lead to 5-0.

Japan extended the lead in the top of the second on a two-RBI double by Yuzuki Nakayama. The eighth run scored on a wild pitch.

Japan loaded the bases against reliever Kenny Dania, who allowed the ninth run, hitting Ryusei Tarechi. Nakayama tripled home the tenth run in the top of the seventh.

Japan's starter Aoi Hagashionna didn't give Venezuela a scoring chance, counting also on a spectacultar middle infield.

His tqo relievers, Riku Takeda and Kaito Yano, worked three perfect innings.

Chinese Taipei-Czechia 4-1

Chinese Taipei won a game that saw only four hits and scoring all the runs they needed in the second, taking advantage of three consecutive hit batters.

Chinese Taipei broke the tie in the top of the second. Czech starter Adrian Muck hit three batters in a row with runners at first and second. The third run scored on Chao Hung Chang's sacrifice fly.

Czechia managed to stay in the game playing good defence.

Czechia's defence became a factor, preventing Chinese Taipei from scoring more runs.

Czechia gor on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. They loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch and scored their first run on another walk. Po-Chun Lin took the mound and got our of the jam with back-to-back strike out.

USA-Panama 6-4

The defending World Champions thrived on a couple of errors and resisted to a late Panama's comeback.

The US got an early lead. Coy James led off with an infield single, and Panama's starter Anthony Gantes walked Derek Curiel. With runners at the corners and two outs, James scored on a double steal.

Thanks to a throwing error, the second run scored in the top of the second. Panama got out of the inning thanks to a brilliant diving catch by shortstop Carlos Bethancourt.

The defending World Champions opened the score in the third. A bases-loaded grounder and an error allowed two runs, and Noah Franco got to Panama's starter, Anthony Gantes, with an RBI single to make it 5-0. Manuelle Marin doubled off reliever Kelvin Contreras and extended the lead to 6-0.

USA starter Matthew Champion cruised through the first four innings allowing only a hit and finding support from his defence when he needed it.

The left-hander hit two batters in the bottom of the fifth, and Panama got to him with back-to-back RBI singles by Yeremi Sanchez and Rodrick Lezcano.

Panama made it a two-run game as the US moved Konnor Griffin to the mound. Hector Rayo got to him with a two-out and two-RBI double.

Fireballer Trey Gregory-Alford got the US out of the inning.

The US middle infield gave Gregory-Alford some support in the seventh.

Korea-Australia 3-0

Aussie pitchers allowed only two hits to Korea, but one was a bases-loaded double by Yulye Lee, providing all the runs they needed.

Three pitchers, Korea's Sunyeop Yook and Australia's Blake Barlow and Jai Hewitt, posted an old fashioned pitching duel for three innings. Philadelphia Phillies prospect Josh Davies showcased his throwing arm,

Korea broke the tie in the bottom of the third. Reliever Jai Hewitt struck out the leadoff hitter, but the third strike turned into a wild pitch. He then allowed a walk, setting up a sacrifice bunt opportunity, which Korea executed. Australia intentionally loaded the bases with one out. Catcher Yulye Lee put Korea ahead with a three-RBI double along the left field line.

Puerto Rico-Mexico 1-0

Angel Cruz threw a complet game shutout, allowing only three hits and striking out six. An RBI single by Yariel Pastrana provided Puerto Rico all the runs they needed.

Puerto Rico got to Mexico's starter Juan Tirado in the top of the third. Jan Reyes stole second with two outs and scored on Yeriel Pastrana's RBI single. It would prove the only run.

Angel Cruz used 90 pitches, 64 for strkes, to throw a complete game shutout. He allowed three hits and struck out six.

Netherlands-Spain 5-0

Left-hander Maxwell Cornelissen used 73 pitches to go the distance without allowing Spain a hit. The Netherlands could sit on an early lead and broke the score open in the sixth. Joan Sierra hit a pair of doubles.

Right-hander Juan Salazar kept Netherlands scoreless for two innings with fine pitching and good defence.

The Dutch took the lead in the bottom of the third making the most of two defensive errors as leadoff hitter Miquel Willem and .Keyron Ahby added base hits.

Spain's defence gave better support to Salazar later in the game.

Joan Sierra scored the Dutch third run in the bottom of the sixth. He doubled, advanced on a hit by Tyrell Mercado and slid safe at home plate on a comebacker to the mound.

The Netherlands opened the score to 5-0 as Willem hit a two-RBI double against reliever Diego Sanmiguel.

Left-hander Maxwell Cornelissen kept Spain hitless for six innings. The only runner reached in the third on a mishandled strikeout. Cornelissen got the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

He hit a better in the top of the seventh, but could complete his no-hitter thanks to some help from his brilliant middle infield.

The wather forecast for Tuesday, 5 September, advised the WBSC and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to adjust the game times of Day 6 in Taichung.