myworldofbaseball

The World Baseball and Softball Confederation has come out with their rankings of the top world baseball teams. The rankings go 73 deep but below is the top thirteen. The Top 12 teams are invited to the Premier 12, which is an Olympic Qualifier event.

1. United States (5515 points)

2. Japan (5245)

3. Korea (4534)

4. Cuba (3495)

5. Taiwan (3165)

6. Mexico (2672)

7. Netherlands (2263)

8. Australia (2233)

9. Canada (2142)

10. Puerto Rico (1849)

11. Venezuela (1809)

12. Dominican Republic (1481)

13. Panama (1475)

Japan picked up 146 points on the United States to close the gap on first place. Taiwan earned the most points in 2018. Latvia and the British Virgin Islands sit at the bottom of the rankings with one point each.

The United States, Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela qualified for the 12 and under World Cup that will be played in Taiwan in 2019. There were 12 teams participating in the qualifier in Mexico. Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Brazil fell short of qualifying.

The four teams will join Taiwan (host), Korea and Japan from Asia, Italy and Czech Republic from Europe as nine of the 12 teams in the tournament. One African team, an Oceania team and a wild card team are three unknown teams open to qualify in future tournaments.

In case any of these players become major leaguers, the following players were voted all tournament:

Catcher - Kailand Halstead (United States)

First Base - Dean Moss (United States)

Second Base - Brock Thompson (United States)

Third Base - Carlos Miguel Villalobos (Colombia)

Shortstop - Denilso Aguila (Cuba)

Outfield - David Guzman (Venezuela), Ricardo Orozco (Mexico), Leonardo Nicolao (Brazil)

Pitcher Luis Sarabia (Mexico)

Japan shutout Taiwan 6-0 to win the Women’s World Cup in baseball. Ayami Sato gave up six hits in her five innings of work but did not allow Taiwan to score. Akino Tanaka twirled the last two innings to close out the victory. Sato tied for first in wins with three, allowing just one run in her 19 innings of work.

The big bats of Lori Miura and Yuki Kawabata each drove in two runs to lead the Japan offense. Miura led the tournament in RBIs with 12.

In the bronze medal game Canada got some revenge on the United States and beat them 8-5 in 10 innings. Daphnee Gelinas blasted a three run homer in the fifth inning to give Canada a one run lead. Malaika Underwood tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh.

Despite being able to place runners on first and second neither team scored for two innings. Canada erupted for five in the tenth inning, Daphnee Gelinas singling up the middle to score the first run of the inning. Ashley Stephenson ripped a two run single to close out the scoring.

The final standings for the tournament:

1) Japan, 2) Taiwan, 3) Canada, 4) United States, 5) Venezuela, 6) Dominican Republic, 7) Australia, Cuba, 9) Puerto Rico, 10) Korea, 11) Hong Kong, 12) Netherlands

The United States won their game to stay alive, but Taiwan beat Canada to earn their trip to the gold, busting the hearts of the American girls. The United States will have to be satisfied with a bronze medal match against Canada.

Taiwan 6 Canada 4

Both teams erupted for seven runs in the first inning. When the dust settled Canada had a 4-3 advantage. Amanda Asay had the big hit for Canada with a two run double. Canada collected four of their nine hits in the first frame. Taiwan loaded the bases with one out in the second inning but failed to score. They scored a run in the third after a Canadian error to tie the game. Shih-Yun Lee rapped a single to break a 4-4 tie. Taiwan added another insurance run in the inning and held Canada scoreless after the first inning to come away with the victory.

Taiwan loaded the bases again in the fourth but could not score and put two runners on in both the fifth and sixth innings and again failed to score. They ended the day stranding 14 runners in only six innings, four less than the maximum. Chiao-Yun Huang recovered after a disastrous first inning and went the full seven innings to get the win.

United States 8 Dominican Republic 1

The United States scored six runs in the opening frame to glide to their win. All six runs were scored after two were out. The United States collected four of their seven hits in the first inning and had back to back to back hit batters to circle the bases. The Dominican Republic pitchers drilled six batters in the game. The United States countered with only one hit batsman. Kelsie Whitmore gave up an unearned run in the first inning but went four to get the win.

Japan 10 Venezuela 0

A game Japan did not have to win but they won with ease. Ririka Tabata drove in four runs to lead the Japanese offense. Japan used four different pitchers to prevent Venezuela from scoring, limiting the innings pitched so players could be available for the gold medal game.

Japan has clinched a spot in the Gold bracket with their win over Taiwan. The United States has to hope that Canada can beat Taiwan and the United States must still beat the Dominican Republic to send second place into a three way tie. The goal to break the three way tie is to win by as many runs as possible.

United States 5 Canada 1

Jade Gortarez got things started for the United States in the second inning with a booming three run homer to left field to erase an early 1-0 Canada lead. Megan Baltzell led off the top of the third with a blast over the centerfield wall to make it 4-1. The United States added another run in the third and from there cruised to a win, giving Canada their second loss in the Super Round.

Martina Sementelli gave up a run in the first but then shut down the Canadian bats for five innings. Megan Meidlinger closed out the ninth allowing one hit. In the last six innings Canada could only get one runner as far as second base.

Japan 2 Taiwan 1

In a game to clinch a gold medal appearance Japan squeaked out a victory. Chihiro Funakoshi drove in both runs with a single in the third to erase an early 1-0 Taiwan advantage. Asaka Tsuru tossed four innings of shutout relief to secure the win.

Taiwan scored their lone run in the second when Yu-Ying Hsieh tripled to drive in a run. Hsieh later tried to steal home and was caught stealing. Taiwan loaded the bases in the top of the third but failed to score. They also put two runners on in the top of the seventh but squandered that opportunity as well.

Venezuela 12 Dominican Republic 2

In a battle of the winless Venezuela prevailed. Back to back five run innings in the second and third put the game out of reach. Freymar Suniaga drove in four runs for Venezuela. The 8th and 9th hitters in the order Yohelis Colina and Esquia Rengel each drove in three runs.

Japan 3 United States 0

The United States bats have gone cold facing some of the talented Asian pitching. They scored only three runs when Taiwan upset them in their last game of pool play. In their first game of the Super Round Ayami Soto silenced the United States bats on one single. She went through the minimum 23 hitters in the complete game victory. Megan Baltzell finally touched her for a single in the seventh inning for the lone hit.

Japan scored their three runs early. The first scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning by Lori Miura. Tomomi Nakada had started the game early with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out.

Sloppy play led to two Japanese runs in the second inning. An error to lead off the inning, stolen base, bunt single and wild pitch scored the first run. Another United States error allowed the second run to score. The loss eliminates the United States from any gold medal participation.

Taiwan 2 Dominican Republic 1

When the Dominican Republic did not score in the top of the eighth after a failed bunt and a ground into double play, Taiwan took advantage. They successfully bunted to move the runners over. The Dominican Republic chose to intentionally walk the next hitter to load the bases, but another walk forced the winning run home to give Taiwan a 2-1 win. Yu-Ying Hsieh pitched all eight innings for Taiwan to get the win.

Canada 5 Venezuela 0

Amanda Asay pitched seven innings of one hit ball to lead Canada to victory. Veronica Boyd drove in the only run Asay needed with a double in the third. Kelsey Lalor drove in a run with a single in the fifth and Katherine Psota put the game away with a two run double in the sixth.

Taiwan upset the United States in pool play and advance to the Super Round undefeated. The one loss they had in pool play was erased because that team did not qualify for the Super Round. This leaves Taiwan and Japan as the only two undefeated teams in the Super Round.

The United States and Canada are tied for second at 1-1, while the Dominican Republic and Venezuela bring up the rear at 0-2.

In the opening Super Round games Taiwan plays Dominican Republic, Canada plays Venezuela and the United States has an opening draw against the favorites Japan. A loss to Japan would knock them out of any gold medal consideration.

Honolulu pitchers threw their third straight shutout and pitched four shutouts in their five wins as they win the Little League World Series with a final 3-0 win over Seoul, Korea. Ka’olu Holt did the honors this time throwing a complete game six inning shutout, giving up just two hits and striking out eight. This was his second start and fourth appearance. He allowed just one run in 12.2 innings of work, but he saved his best for last, pitching Honolulu to the championship.

Honolulu got all the runs they needed on a leadoff homerun by Mana Lau Kong. They added two more in the third after a single and two walks loaded the bases. A wild pitch scored one run and a second run scored on an errant throw after the wild pitch.

Korea was able to get a baserunner on in each of the first four innings, getting one as far as third base. The last two innings Holt retired all six hitters he faced to close out the game.

In the third place game Japan dominated Peachtree City 8-2. A seven run second by Tokyo put the game out of reach. Masato Igarashi went deep and drove in two runs for Tokyo. Masaumi Ikeuchi and Kai Nogami also drove in two for Tokyo.

There’s a saying - “Chicks dig the long ball”. So do dudes. Megan Baltzwell went deep for the United States for the first homerun in the Women’s World Cup. It gave the women some breathing room, turning a 2-1 game into 3-1 lead over Venezuela. It was the closest a team had gotten to the United States.

Martina Sementelli held the Venezuelans to one run in her six innings of work. Megan Meidlinger pitched the seventh inning to close out the victory. The United States scored two runs in the second inning courtesy of a Jade Gortarez two run single. Venezuela strung together three consecutive singles in the bottom of the second to trim the lead to one, Leonela Reyes driving in the lone run with her single.

Venezuela got seven innings from Kisbel Vizcaya, who restricted the until then powerful United States bats to just five hits. For Venezuela they dropped to 1-2.

Japan got a bit of a scare from Cuba. Maraisy Perez silenced the Japanese bats for the first five innings. Cuba scored their lone run on a steal of home by Katherine Vals in the bottom of the fifth.

Japan finally erupted in the top of the sixth, an RBI double by Lori Miura and an RBI single from Chihiro Funakoshi giving them a 2-1 lead. Miura drove in two more runs in the seventh with a single. Rina Taniyama secured the victory retiring the Cubans in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Taiwan stayed in the super round race with their 13-0 win over Korea, improving their record to 2-1. Chia-Wen Shen drove in three runs with two doubles and Chiao-Yun Huang also drove in three runs.

Puerto Rico stomped over the Netherlands 16-1 to also stay in the Super Round. The Netherlands committed seven errors. Lisandra Berrios drove in five runs for Team Puerto Rico. In addition to the seven errors, the Dutch woman walked 9 batters.

The Dominican Republic crushed Hong Kong 19-1. Yocarla Guerrero drove in four runs for the Dominicans. Kimberly Almonte ran wild around the bases, pilfering four bags and scoring four times without the benefit of a hit.

The Canadians stayed alive with a 9-6 win over the Australians. They scored six runs in the last three innings to eek out their victory. Jenna Flannigan drove in three runs including two in the sixth inning with a double that broke a 6-6 tie.

Tokyo battled Seoul but came up short. They lost for a second time to Seoul, Korea, who scored two runs in the opening frame in their 2-1 win. Ji-Hyung Choi smashed a two out solo shot to make it 1-0. A Japanese error and booming double by Shoo-hoo Choi made it 2-0. After that double Shisei Fujimoto shut down the Korean bats, giving up just a single in the fourth and hitting a batter in the fifth. He struck out eight.

Tokyo could not get to Ji-Hyung Choi until the fifth inning. A hit by pitch, passed ball and single put runners on first and third and two outs. Masaumi Ikeuchi doubled in one run off new pitcher Yeong-Hyeon Kim to cut the lead to 2-1. Kim was able to get a strikeout to end the fifth and a ground out double play to the box to end the game.

On the United States side of the ledger Peachtree City again failed to score against Aukai Kea. The first time it took Honolulu 11 innings before they scored their first run to win the game, a walkoff two run homerun hit by Aukai Kea. This time they scored a few early runs, the first on a double by Hunter Nishina and RBI single by John de la Cruz in the fourth inning. They got a couple more insurance runs in the fifth on a Bruce Boucher RBI triple and a Jace Souza single. Kea did the rest, limiting Peachtree to three hits while striking out 15 of the 21 hitters he faced.

Honolulu plays Seoul, Korea for the Little League World Series. Seoul won back to back Little League World Series in 1984 and 1985 and again in 2014. Honolulu has yet to win a Little League World Series, though the state of Hawaii has won two championships in 2005 and 2008. In 2014 Seoul beat a team from Tokyo to advance to the finals.