WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea – Day 5

Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA to super round, Netherlands close

Korea became the first National Team to complete group play of the U-18 Baseball World Cup with a 7-2 win against China.　　Korea’s pitching staff approached the game as a committee, with starter Oh Wonseok going three innings and Jang Jaeyoung, Lee Juyeop and Heo Yundong taking care of the rest.
Korea broke the tie in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Nam Jimin and extended the lead in the top of the second on a couple of doubles by shortstop Park Min and right fielder Hyun Wonhoe.　　Left fielder Park Juhong homered in the sixth to break the score open.　China got on the scoreboard with Korea already leading 6-0.

Canada made also a huge step towards the super round thanks to a 9-0 win against Nicaragua.　　Canada took advantage of a defensive error to break the tie in the top of the first. Third baseman Tyrell Schofield-Sam batted in the first run on a sacrifice fly. First baseman Noah Hull got to Nicaragua’s starter Lesther Medrano in the top of the second with a two-run homer and Canada finally opened the score in the top of the sixth against reliever Christopher Alexander. Hull went 3 for 4. Right fielder Micah Mc Dowell, centre fielder Dasan Brown and left fielder Cesar Valero Sanchez all had two hits.
Jack Seward earned the win going 5.2 innings. Theodore Millas took the mound in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and the bases loaded and struck-out Yeffry Montiel to end the inning.
Mitchell Bratt took care of the last six outs. Canada still needs to face Australia in the make-up game scheduled for Wednesday, 4 September, to complete group play.

Japan overpowers Panama, easy win for Chinese Taipei
Japan overpowers. Thanks to a couple of homers, the Samurai defeated Panama, 5-1, in a game cut to six innings by rain and earned the fourth win in the tournament. Japan clinched a spot in the super round.
Panama scored first, taking advantage of a defensive error and touching home plate when catcher Adrian Sugastey singled off Japan’s starter Junya Nishi.
Japan tied it in the bottom of the second, thriving on an error and scoring on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Haruki Yokoyama.
Japan broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder sent a bullet over the first base bag and all the way to the fence for a one-out triple. Panama’s starter Marvin Brown walked the next batter and left for Noel Suarez. Third baseman Takaya Ishikawa worked the count full, fouled a pitch and turned the next offering by the reliever into a towering home run to left field.
In the bottom of the sixth Kei Mizukami homered off reliever Derek Arroyo on a line drive that crushed right into the left-field foul pole.　　Japan went on to load the bases and Panama gave the call to Secundono Morales. While the newcomer was warming up, a field inspection advised delaying the game. The game was called at 11.08.

Chinese Taipei completed group play with an easy 15-0 win in five innings.　　Chinese Taipei needed only nine hits to score all of the runs. Catcher Lo Wie Chieh got 2 and had RBIs. Also designated hitter Lin Tzu Hao and right fielder Lin Cheng Hua enjoyed two-hit games.　Chen Chi Chieh allowed only one walk in four innings of work, striking out eight.