U-12 Baseball World Cup placement round Day 2: Italy, Australia win, USA-Czech Republic postponed

In the first game of placement round Day 2 Italy beat South Africa 10-0 in five innings, to earn the second win in the tournament and virtually clinching ninth place. Starting pitcher Riccardo Mazzanti pitched a no-hit and no-walk game, going the distance and striking out five.

Italy’s line up combined for 11 hits, with first baseman Lucciano Munoz, catcher Filippo Sabatini and centre fielder Aldo Pavarani enjoying a two-hit game. Daniele Di Persia had three RBIs.
Italy also took advantage of five defensive errors.

Daniele Di Persia hit a three-RBI triple to highlight the top of the first. After scoring four in their first at-bat, the Azzurri never needed to look back.

Italy’s players celebrate with fans

Australia needed only four innings to beat Fiji, 15-0. Riku Mochizuki and Isobel Lambert allowed only a total of three walks and struck out eight. Australia used ten hits.

Australia scored seven in the first, capitalizing on control issues of Fiji’s starter Isikeli Vereivalu with a deep single by William Kent.

Australia added six more in the third and didn’t need to look back.
Third baseman Josh Nati batted in five runs.

The ground crew maintains the field during the rain delay

The game between the USA and the Czech Republic was delayed by rain with the USA leading 11-0 in the top of the third inning. After two hours of wait, the game has been postponed and will resume at 12 noon on Saturday, 3 August.

The new schedule of Day 3 of the placement round (all times are local):

10 am Australia-Czech Republic in ASPAC B
12 pm USA-Czech Republic (resuming from the top of the third) in ASPAC B
2 pm Fiji-Italy in Shan-Hwa