The second day of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS is in the books, and four teams remain undefeated.
World No. 1 Japan and No. 12 Cuba lead Group A.
Cuba didn’t leave a chance to No. 14 Italy. At the same time, Japan emerged victorious in the clash of the Asian superpowers, defeating Korea after a hard-fought and thrilling game played in front of over 5,000 fans at Cellular Stadium in Naha. Japan and Cuba face each other on Day 3.
No. 7 Puerto Rico outscored No. 26 South Africa and are now tied at 1-1 with No. 4 Korea.
In Group B, No. 3 USA used some brilliant pitching by Carson Bolemon and Jared Grindlinger, who combined for a no-hitter against No. 2 Chinese Taipei. Germany dominated China and earned their second consecutive win. The USA and Germany face each other on Day 3.
No. 10 Australia defeated No. 9 Panama to tie Chinese Taipei at 1-1. Panama (0-2) has the last chance to be back in the race when they play Chinese Taipei on Day 3.
All games are live on GameTime, the WBSC OTT PlatformExceptions may apply in Taiwan, Korea and Japan
It was not a night for the aces. Japan didn’t waste time against hard-throwing right-hander Junhyun Park, the ace of the Korean staff. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Cleanup hitter Yota Abe sent a slow roller to shortstop, but beat the throw to first and allowed left fielder Kaito Fujimori to score.
Also Koshien hero Ryosuke Sueyoshi struggled early in the game. The left-hander allowed two runs in the top of the second, one on a wild pitch and the second on a hard grounded along the right field line by catcher Huiseong Lee.
Park didn’t survive the bottom of the second. Catcher Yu Yokohamo got to him with a double and Japan took the lead scoring on a groundout and an RBI single by DH Toshiya Osake.
Two-way phenom Hyunseung Ha came out of the bullpen to end the inning. He allowed the fourth run in the bottom of the third.
Sueyoshi left after four innings. Geoki Ishikagi pitched three scoreless innings, protecting Japan’s win.
USA-Chinese Taipei 4-0
Carson Bolemon and Jared Grindlinger combined for a no-hitter, and the United States shut out Chinese Taipei. Bolemon used 74 pitches to go through five innings, allowing only two walks and striking out 11.
Grindlinger added two perfect innings and struck out two.
The USA scored all the runs they needed against starter Jen-Yu Lung, who pitched three innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
Yi-Shiang Wang, Hua Ho and Chun-Hsi Lin took care of the other three innings, allowing only one hit. The USA added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings, capitalising on errors.
Grady Emerson, Aiden Ruiz, Giovanni Rojas and Will Brick had the four hits of the night. Brick hit a double, the only extra-base hit of the game.
Cuba-Italy 8-0
Cuba scored two runs in the bottom of the first against Alessandro Gamberini and never needed to look back. They added runs in each of their at-bats except for the sixth, connecting for 13 hits against three Italian pitchers. Star shortstop Jonathan Moreno had an impressive afternoon at the plate with three hits.
Edenis Cruz flirted with a no-hitter for 3.2 innings before Daniele Di Persia reached on a two-out single in the top of the fourth. It would be the only hit he allowed in five innings of work. Richard Bouquet took care of the last six outs.
Germany-China 9-3
Germany needed only six hits to score nine runs. China’s pitchers combined for seven walks, and their defence committed four errors.
The Germans took the lead, making the most of a wild third by starter Yuchang Hu with Felix Stroell’s sacrifice fly. Noah Lorenz opened the score with a two-RBI triple.
Germany was one out away from a combined no-hitter. Starter Jona Widmann struck out eight over five innings and allowed only three walks. Pepe Stockhas allowed one walk and one hit in the bottom of the seventh. China used a defensive error and a wild pitch to score three runs before Stockhaus could end the game on strikes.
Australia-Panama 4-1
Australia took the lead against reliever Juan Ortega in the top of the third, when James McFarlane scored on William Hardy’s sacrifice fly and made it 2-0 on Cooper Teichmann’s RBI single in the top of the fourth.
Aussie starter Damien Wilson kept Panama scoreless through the fourth. William Cutshall led off the fifth with a triple and scored to make it a one-run game on a groundout.
Australia added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Ortega left with runners at the corners and two outs. Joshua Martinez, the third pitcher for Panama, walked the first batter he faced. Josh Nati turned the first pitch he saw into a two-RBI single.
Ethan Bickel allowed a pair of runners to Panama in the bottom of the seventh but kept them scoreless.
Puerto Rico-South Africa 9-1
South Africa took advantage of a defensive error with a pair of hits, including Jordan Pinto’s RBI single, to take the lead over Puerto Rico in the top of the second. The two singles would be all the hits South Africa could get against starter Richard De Jesus and reliever Yandiel Reyes.
Puerto Rico tied the game in the bottom of the third against starter Jaden Di Preez and took the lead with a three-run fourth against Stiaan Henning on their way to a 9-1 win.
Puerto Rico’s lineup combined for nine hits. Shortstop Sebastian Rolon and right fielder Ely Cruz enjoyed a two-hit game.
