02/08/2023 2 Minute Read

Yusuke Koma, Kengo Wada power Japan to Super Round

The sluggers combined four homers and nine RBIs. Japan will start the second phase with a 0-2 record.

Yusuke Koma and Kengo Wada hit two home runs each and combined nine RBIs, leading World No. 1 Japan to a 12-6 win over No. 3 Mexico and clinching a spot in the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Super Round.

Japan did not waste time as shortstop Daito Funayama hit a leadoff single, and second baseman Aumu Tomita walked. With one out, Yusuke Koma worked the count full, then homered to left field to put Japan ahead, 3-0.

Mexico's starter Alfonso Del Valle allowed a single to third baseman Ren Mitsui, then left for Geronimo Perez.

The left-hander could not stop the bleeding. when Japanese right fielder Masaya Yabuuchi singled, and left fielder Renji Tachibana delivered a two-out base hit to right field to make it 4-0.

Mexico reached base against lefty Sosuke Mizuno in the top of the second thanks to a walk and an error, but Japan got out of the inning thanks to a 4-6-3 double play.

Funayama hit his second single of the game to lead off the bottom of the second. He scored from first on a double by Tomita. Koma followed with a monster shot off the scoreboard for his second home run of the day.

Japan bats would not rest as Mitsui doubled and Yabuuchi hit an infield single, sending Perez to the showers.

Mexico made another bullpen move, handing the ball to Alan Dominguez, but Kengo Wada welcomed the right-hander's first offering with a three-run homer.

A couple of defensive errors and an RBI double by second baseman Rodrigo Lopez put Mexico on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth.

In the bottom half of the frame Wada hit his second home run, a leadoff solo shot to left field, to make it 12-2.

Japan lost the chance to win it by the run-difference rule. Koma became the first out at home as he tried to score the walk-off run on a base hit by Mitsui. Wada grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Mexico took advantage of more defensive woes with a two-run homer by shortstop Esteban Gallardo and fixed the final score to 12-6.

After finishing seventh in the sixth edition, Japan advanced to the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Super Round. They will start with a 0-2 record.