Hermosillo, Mexico – After an electric Opening Day at the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, with five exciting games and a memorable Opening Ceremony, action continued on Day 2 with five games. Australia, Canada and Mexico remain undefeated in Group A after two days of competition, while in Group B the defending champions Japan are the only team with a 2-0 record.
Three of the five games on Sunday were decided in the seventh inning, including a pair of walk-offs.
Venezuela came from behind in the bottom of the seventh to defeat New Zealand 2-1 in spectacular fashion. New Zealand entered the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 edge, but Yeferson Colmenarez tied the game with a towering home run. Five hitters later, Sebastian Hassell ended the game with a bases-loaded, walk-off single.
Australia had to fight till the last inning to grab a 3-2 win against Colombia, the debutants and at 24, the lowest ranked nation in the tournament. The world No 2 scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh, when Colombia’s pitcher Moises Barboza walked Jye Robinson in five pitches, with the bases loaded.
In the last game of the day, Mexico defeated Czechia 4-1 in a hard-fought match in front of nearly 1,000 fans at Fernando Ortiz Stadium. The European champions took the lead with a David Jaluska homer before Mexico tied the game in the fifth with a Jose Vazquez RBI single and rallied for three runs in the seventh to take control of the game. Mexico pitcher Carlos Parra was in control during the entire game striking out 12 opponents in seven innings, giving up only two hits, to be named Player of the Day.
In the other two games of the day, Canada defeated Singapore, 18-1, and Japan defeated Argentina, 12-1, in Argentina’s opening game of the tournament.
All games of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup are broadcast live on GameTime, the WBSC’s online streaming service. Tournament and Daily Passes are some of the options to watch the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup on GameTime.
Credit: WSBC