Premier12: USA claims second spot in Tokyo Super Round, remains in Olympic hunt

Premier12: USA claims second spot in Tokyo Super Round, remains in Olympic hunt
05/11/2019
The USA have secured a place in the Super Round of the 2019 Premier12, and are one step closer to Olympic qualification.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – World No. 2 USA has clinched a spot in the WBSC Premier12 Super Round, following a 10-8 win against no. 12 Dominican Republic at Estadio de Charros de Jalisco.

In a winner-take-all Group A matchup in Guadalajara, four home runs from the US proved the difference, as Alec Bohm, Erik Kratz, Jacob Cronenworth and Mark Payton all went deep.

Dominican Republic and the Netherlands have been eliminated from the Premier12, but Mexico and Netherlands will officially conclude Group A action.

Mexico will head to Tokyo 1-0, while USA will take a 0-1 record into the Super Round.

Group B begins tonight in Taiwan, as no. 1 ranked Japan begin their campaign with a match-up against no. 9 ranked Venezuela at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium.

Host nation and no. 5 ranked Chinese Taipei will face off with no. 11 ranked Puerto Rico at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.

World no. 10 ranked Canada and no. 5 ranked Cuba open Group C from the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul tomorrow afternoon, while no. 7 ranked Australia will make their Premier12 debut against no. 3 ranked Korea tomorrow evening.