05/09/2023 4 Minute Read

XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup-Day 6: USA, Netherlands and Japan head to Super Round with 1-1 record. Three Group A makeup games scheduled for Wednesday 6 September

The Netherlands beat Japan in Group B's final game and forged a triple tie at the top with the U-18 Samurai and the United States with a 4-1 record. The TQB set the US first, Japan second and the Netherlands third. Korea beat Mexico in the morning and advanced to the Super Round. The postponement of Chinese Taipei-Puerto Rico leaves various solutions open in Group A.

After Day 6 of the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, the standings of Group B are final. The final three Group A games are scheduled for Wednesday, 6 September, in Taichung.

The Netherlands won the night game against Japan at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City. Three teams finished at the top of Group A with a 4-1 record: the Netherlands, Japan and the United States. The Team Quality Balance (TQB) set the final standings: US first, Japan second and the Netherlands third.

The game between Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico, scheduled for the night in Taichung, was postponed to Wednesday, 6 September, due to inclement weather.

Puerto Rico will play a doubleheader, facing the other teams qualified for the Super Round: Chinese Taipei, undefeated, and Korea (3-1).

Different scenarios are possible. Chinese Taipei (4-0) could finish first or second and start the Super Round with a 2-0 or a 1-1 record. Korea can end second or third and start the Super Round with a 1-1 or a 0-2 record. Puerto Rico (3-0) could finish first, second or third and open the Super Round with a 2-0, 1-1 or 0-2 record.

Day 6 Results

Korea-Mexico	2-1	BOX SCORE	GAE REPORT
Czechia-Australia	5-2	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Puerto Rico @ Chinese Taipei	PPD	rescheduled	6 September
Panama-Spain	3-1	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
USA-Venezuela	4-1	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Netherlands-Japan	1-0	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT

Watch every Game Live

Netherlands-Japan 1-0

Three Dutch pitcher limited Japan to one hit, a single in the bottom of the fifth. The Netherlands tied Japan and the United States at the top of Group B with a 4-1 record.

The Netherlands took the lead in the top of the third. Shortstop Amarencio Franka and second baseman Tai Tromp hit back-to-back singles. With one out, Franka tried to score from second on a single to left field by leadoff hitter Miquel Willem. Koga Hashimoto tried to get Franka at the plate for the second out. The on-field review reversed home plate umpire Tim Wen's out call.

Japan's starter Hoki Takahashi retired the side in order to end the inning.

Japan's shortstop Syuya Yamada prevented a run in the fourth when he got to Amarencio Franka's hard grounder and turned it into the third out with a long throw to first.

Left-hander Gijs Van den Brink threw three perfect innings, striking out one and using 34 pitches, then left for Nathan Arends.

Nakayama became the first Japanese runner as he walked with one out in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, he tried to score from second on Minato Maruta's single to right field, the first Japanese hit. Thijs Helms got Nakayama at home for the third out.

Just Van den Ouweelen took care of the final six outs, pitching two perfect innings.

Korea-Mexico 2-1

Korea came from behind to defeat Mexico on a perfectly executed bunt by Hyunmin Cho and become the sixth Super Round team. Junseo Hwang pitched 5.1 inning in relief allowing only one hit and earned the win.

Mexico got to Korean starter Mireu Jeon from the start. Defence got him out of the first.

Mexico scored the go-ahead run in the top of the second. Angel Ramirez singled and stole second. He advanced on a flyout to the right and scored on an error.

Mexico's starter Humberto Cruz cruised through the first four innings, allowing a hit while striking out two.

Mexico gave the ball to Jorge Alvarez. Korea failed to advance the runners on a bunt attempt, but Junwon Yeon followed with an RBI single to make it a new game.

Reliever Juan Cazarez hit Tongkeon Yeo to lead off the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Seungmin Lee singled to advance him to third.

Yeo scored on a perfectly executed bunt by Hyunmin Cho. Suengmin Lee reached third on the play but became the second out as he tried to score on another bunt.

Hyunseo Hwang worked a perfect top of the seventh to send Korea to the Super Round.

Czechia-Australia 5-2

Czechia took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, then opened the score in the third. Pitchers Michael Senay and Matyas Trcka limited Australia to four hits.

Aussie starter Daniel Mills could not get an out in the top of the first. He allowed three walks and Simon Klacl reached first on a bunt, allowing one run. Jack Bushell took over and allowed an RBI single to Jakub Winkler.

Josh Davies put Australia on the board as he got to Czech starter Michael Senay with an RBI single in the bottom of the second.

Czechia came roaring back in the top of the third. Jakub Winkler delivered again, and a second run scored on Matous Bubenik's sacrifice fly.

Filip Kunicek got to reliever Koby Chesterton with an RBI double to make it 5-1 in the top of the fourth.

Czechia stranded three runners in the top of the fifth.

Australia cut the gap to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth on reliever Matyas Trcka's wild pitch.

Trcka pitched two innings and closed the game on strikes to earn the save.

USA-Venezuela 4-1

The two teams combined only seven hits, and the US could capitalise on every chance they had. They limited Venezuela to one run, supporting their four pitchers with brilliant defensive plays.

The US took the lead in the bottom of the first. With runners at second and first and one out, Venezuela failed to execute an inning-ending double play on Konnor Griffin's grounder. Coy James scored on the error.

USA defense helped starter Levi Sterling get out of the bottom of the third with a smooth double play initiated by third baseman Carter Johnson.

The defending World Champions used a couple of wild pitches and a balk to add a pair of runs. The US scored their fourth run on a deep fly to right field by Konnor Griffin. A great running catch by Breyson Guedez limited it to a sacrifice fly.

Venezuela got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth as Francisco Rivero hit an RBI single off reliever John Mc Kernan.

The US middle infield impressed once again. Second baseman Coy James turned a bad throw into a double play.

Left-hander Noah Franco got the final out of the game with the help of an impressive diving catch by centre fielder Derek Curiel.

Panama-Spain 3-1

Panama scored two in the top of the sixth to beat Spain and earn their second win in the tournament. Both National Teams will play in the Placement Round.

Spain's starter Kelvin Rodriguez allowed balk-to-back walks to lead off the third. Runners advanced on an error. Yeremi Sanchez gave Panama the lead with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Spain tied it in the bottom of the third. With runners at third and second, Vinicio Lara singled to left field and scored Ayrton Mcintosh from third. Pablo Costales tried to score from second and became the third out at the plate.

Panama took the lead in the top of the sixth. Panama took the lead in the top of the sixth. Julio Casas led off with a single and centre fielder Edwin Walden brought him home with an RBI double to left field. They added a run on reliever Diego Sanmiguel thanks to a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Carlos Bethancourt

Gomez retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

The Opening Round will complete after the three makeup games scheduled for Wednesday, 6 September.