Australia defeats Japan, heads to the final #2018jrworlds

Australia is the first finalist of the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship. The Aussie defeated, 4-2, Japan backing a complete game effort by Shaun Lanagan with a pair of homers. Australia hadn’t qualified for the gold medal game since they won their fourth straight World Title in 2008.

Lanagan wasn’t off his best start. He walked shortstop Sakata and allowed a bloop single to center fielder Seki in the first. Japan took advantage of a passed ball to score first.
The next hit Australia’s starter allowed came only in the fifth. Left fielder Chikamori advanced all the way to third, but Lanagan came out of trouble striking out first baseman Shoki Matsuo.

Home runs by shortstop Waters and left fielder Jackson gave Australia the lead

Australia took the lead in the top of the first. Right fielder Plain got Aussie’s first hit and scored on the two run homer by shortstop Jeremy Waters, who took Japan’s starter Shota Onodera well beyond the left field bleachers.
Onodera left to make room for reliever Yugo Kitigawa with a runner on first and one out in the bottom of the fourth. Kitigawa struggled with control and Australia could score on a walk and two wild pitches.

Japan made it a one run game in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Lanagan hit third baseman Sugiyama and designated player Nishimori drove the ball to deep right field for a stand up triple, scoring Sugiyama from first.
In the top of the seventh Australia scored the insurance run they needed on a solo homer by left fielder Blake Jackson.
In the bottom half of the frame Lanagan faced only three batters. The last out came on a fine play by third baseman Ryan King.

Shaun Lanagan threw a complete game for Australia against Japan in the semi final