USA’s Comeback highlights Friday Games at 16U Baseball World Championship

USA advances into Finals, Cuba can clinch on Saturday

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Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Friday, August 26, 2011.

Team USA has reached the championship game at the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship in Lagos de Moreno and Aguascalientes, Mexico. Cuba is on the verge of clinching it. Team USA had to overcome deficits of 7-13, 14-15 and 15-17 in the last three innings of a 18-17 extra-inning victory over Venezuela. Finally a sac fly by William Abreu got them a spot in the finals. Cuba beat Mexico in the rain at Panamerican Stadium.

Also on Friday Japan and Chinese Taipei continued to impress in the second round. Both won and improved to 3-2, keeping their chances of a top-four spot alive. Japan also had to rally to defeat Australia. Chinese Taipei used a bunch of strikeouts to edge out the Netherlands. The consolation round ended on Friday with a 16-0 two-hit shutout by Brazil over Indonesia. The two teams will finish in ninth and tenth in the final standings.

Second Round

Chinese Taipei – Netherlands 7-2

Recap

Chinese Taipei improved to 3-2 in the second round with a 7-2 victory over the Netherlands on Friday afternoon at Panamerican Stadium in Lagos de Moreno. Yu Chang and Wen Sung combined to strike out 17 batters, keeping the lone European participant at two runs in the game. Tse Wang had two hits, two runs and two RBI for Chinese Taipei, which never trailed in the contest. The Dutch team dropped to 1-4 in the second round.

Japan – Australia 10-9

Recap

Japan had to rally to beat Australia 10-9 on a sac bunt by Taishi Bamba in the bottom of the eighth. The team from Asia had to erase a 2-5 deficit in the process. Australia also came back from three runs down, wasn’t able to bring it home. Daiki Asama homered for Japan and drove in two. Zac Shepherd, Tom Shiels and Ryan Dale had two RBI apiece for Australia. Japan improved to 3-2 in the second round, Australia dropped to 0-5.

USA – Venezuela 18-17 (10)

Recap

35 runs, 38 hits and 10 errors made this the wildest game of the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship. William Abreu’s sac fly in the bottom of the tenth inning capped a crazy comeback for Team USA in an 18-17 victory over Venezuela. The Americans trailed for most of the game, took a short-lived lead in the bottom of the eighth, forced extra innings in the ninth and overcame another deficit in the tenth to beat their rivals from South America. Bryson Brigman, Riley Unroe and Austin Meadows did most of the damage for Team USA. Franklin Barreto hit two homeruns for Venezuela; the second tied the game in the ninth. The USA are now 5-0 in round two, Venezuela 2-3.

Cuba – Mexico 11-7

Recap

It rained for most of the game, which also caused a short delay in the top of the fifth inning, but Cuba still came out winning 11-7 against Mexico to move on to the verge of the finals. They need one more win to secure a berth. Seven runs in the first two innings decided the outcome early. Mario Miranda scored thrice and drove in four. Noel Ortiz struck out nine in 4 2/3 innings of relief. Julian Leon picked up three hits for Mexico. Cuba is now 4-1 in round two, Mexico 2-3.

Consolation Round

Indonesia – Brazil 0-16 (7)

Recap

Brazil ended the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship with a 16-0 shutout in seven innings over Indonesia. They already had won 17-2 on Thursday against the same opponent. Brazil will finish in ninth place in the final standings, Indonesia in tenth. Six runs in the first decided the outcome early. Leonardo Munhoz went 5-for-6 with three runs and two RBI to lead the way. Luis Gustavo Paz drove in three.

Standings Second Round

1. USA 5-0
2. Cuba 4-1
3. Japan 3-2
4. Chinese Taipei 3-2
5. Venezuela 2-3
6. Mexico 2-3
7. Netherlands 1-4
8. Australia 0-5

Outlook

Chinese Taipei can still reach the championship game if they beat Cuba in the afternoon game at Romo Chavez Stadium. With a Cuban loss, even Japan smells the finals, as they could get into a three-team tie with a win over Team USA in the evening at Panamerican Stadium. It is not easy, but still possible. Cuba secures its spot with a victory over Chinese Taipei. Venezuela and Mexico, which will square off with Australia respective the Netherlands hope to enter the fight for the bronze medal game, trying to get their records back to .500. The scheduled third game between Brazil and Indonesia got canceled since the South Americans won the first two matches.

Schedule, Saturday, August 27

15h00 Cuba – Chinese Taipei (Romo Chavez)
15h00 Venezuela – Australia (Panamerican)
19h00 USA – Japan (Panamerican)
19h00 Mexico – Netherlands (Romo Chavez)

All coverage surrounding the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship can be found at www.ibaf.org. Follow the International Baseball Federation also on Facebook and Twitter for additional and instant information.