TAICHUNG, Taiwan – The world No. 2 ranked Japan Samurai made quick work of the Czech Republic, registering a 5th inning knockout, 15-0, at Intercontinental Stadium yesterday to open the exciting semifinal stage – the Super Round Robin – of the inaugural 21U Baseball World Cup.

Samurai Japan starter Masaru Nakamura, who plays for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) – one of the world’s most competitive leagues and WBSC/IBAF Associate Member – earned the shutout victory, pitching four perfect innings and striking out half the 12 batters whom he faced.

Samurai first baseman Kondo Kensuke, who also plays for NPB’s Ham Fighters, connected for a three-run homerun to highlight a 7-run second-inning onslaught.

Makihara Taisei (NPB’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks) was perfect in three official trips to the plate, knocking three hits and scoring two runs.

Japan, now a perfect 3-0 in the Super Round Robin (5-0 overall; two wins carrying over from opening round) will next match up today versus world No. 8 South Korea (2-1; 5-1 overall), who defeated Nicaragua last night 9-2.

J-Sports, one of the largest sports TV networks in Japan, with a platform reaching out to 7 million households, are broadcasting all 21U matches featuring Samurai Japan — whose U21 roster is made up of mostly young NPB stars.

No. 1 ranking on the line: Japan will take over the top ranking from USA, if Japan puts in a gold- or silver-medal-performance in Taichung. Japan would become only the third country in history to hold the No. 1 world ranking (along with Cuba 2009-20012 and USA 2013 – current).