WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea – Super　Round　Day-1

Japan beat Canada, Chinese Taipei over Korea, China beat Spain

Okugawa strikes out 18, Japan beats Canada:

Yasunobu Okugawa struck out 18 in his seven innings of work for Japan, showcasing his touted 94 mile-per-hour fastball to a number of scouts, but the young Samurai had to come from behind to beat Canada, 5-1.
Canada’s designated hitter Owen Diodati stepped into the box with two outs and no one on base in the top of the fourth. Okugawa had allowed one base hit at that moment of the game. Ten of the 11 outs had been on strikes. Diodati looked at two balls, fouled the next two pitches and then was all over a belt-high fastball. Diodati drove the pitch over the right-field wall for a home run.Okugawa won’t allow another hit. He got out of the inning on strikes and ended his 103-pitch effort collecting 18 strikeouts. He didn’t allow a walk.
Japan got in scoring position in each of the first four at-bats but never scored. Canada’s left fielder prevented the Samurai from scoring in the bottom of the second with a great diving catch on a deep fly by catcher Shinnosuke Yamase.
Japan reversed the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Canada’s starter Theodore Millas walked a couple of batters and then left the mound to Evan O’Toole. Japan’s shortstop Ryusei Takeoka bunted on the first pitch by Evan O’Toole. The reliever got to the ball but his throw was way off the third-base bag. Designated hitter Toyo Kumada singled with the infield in and runners and second and third to put Japan ahead.
Japan took advantage of control problems of Elias Saul, the third pitcher of the night for Canada, to add a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Iizuka Shuto took care of the last six outs for Japan.

Lee Hao Yu, Cheng Tsung Che lead Chinese Taipei to victory over Korea:

Chinese Taipei had an 11-hit game, with second baseman Lee Hao Yu going 3 for 3 and shortstop Cheng Tsung Che going 2 for 4. It was way more than starter Chen Po Yu needed. Chinese Taipei defeated the hosts Korea, 7-2.
Chinese Taipei scored the go-ahead runs against highly touted pitching prospect Heo Yundong in the top of the second. Third baseman Wang Shun Ho tripled off the wall in right centre with two onboard and then scored on a base hit by centre fielder Yueh Cheng. The inning ended when left fielder Lo Wie Chieh, the ninth hitter of the at-bat, struck out with the bases loaded.

Chinese Taipei added two runs in the top of the fifth, getting to another top pitching prospect, Lee Minho. Cheng Tsung Che singled, Lo Wie Chieh advanced him on another single and the runners touched third and second on a balk. Lee Hao Yu scored both with a base hit.　Chinese Taipei broke the score open in the top of the sixth on a two-RBI triple by shortstop Cheng Tsung Che.
Chen Po Yu left after six innings. He allowed only one run in the bottom of the third when he allowed one walk and two hits, including the RBI-single by designated hitter Nam Jimin.
Korea added a run in the bottom of the ninth on a home run by left fielder Park Juhong off reliever Pan Wen Hui.

China beat Spain

China beat Spain, 6-0, to earn the first win in the tournament. Designated hitter Lu Binbin hit a grand slam against Alex Tome to highlight a six-run fifth at-bat by China. The inning started with a defensive error and a walk.
Xie Shijie gave eight scoreless innings to China, allowing one walk and eight hits while striking out four. Zhao Wei threw a perfect ninth.

Romo walks it off, USA beats Australia：

Australia tied it in the top of the eighth on a double they thought was a home run, but the USA came back to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth on a base hit by Drew Romo and win, 2-1, the ultimate thriller. The USA improved its record to 2-1 and matched Australia’s.

Placement round Day 1.

Nicaragua got started with an easy win, 11-1 in seven innings, against Nicaragua. All of the first six hitters in Nicaragua’s line up enjoyed a multi-hit game against Jary White and Kian Africa.

A home run by Darryl Collins gave The Netherlands the first win of the placement round. The Dutch beat Panama, 2-1.