News

Select

14 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

Game Notes: Lemm homers twice as Australia survives late Korean scare to secure World Cup medal game

For six innings, Australia looked in complete control.

John Lemm had homered twice, the pitching staff had kept Korea scoreless, and a historic victory was seemingly within reach.

Then, suddenly, things got interesting.

Korea loaded the bases in the seventh inning, scored twice and threatened to steal a game Australia had controlled from the outset.

With two outs, the bases loaded and the potential winning run at the plate, Solomon Maguire crashed into the centrefield wall to make a multiple-run saving catch.

Moments later, Callum Donnelly caught a ball at the warning track to preserve the win.

With the win, Australia secured a place in a medal game at the U23 Baseball World Cup.

Before we get to the game recap, let’s understand the scenario this win vaults Australia into.

BOX SCORE: Australia vs Korea 

First, Australia is guaranteed to play in a medal game. It’s the first time an Australian national team will play for a medal at any World Cup event since the 2019 U18 World Cup.

The colour of medal will be determined tomorrow.

With just one game remaining in the Super Round, Australia sits at 3-1 with a date against World No. 1 Japan (2-2) Sunday morning at 11:30AM AEDT.

A win and Australia advances to the Gold Medal Game against Venezuela.

Now, back to the ballgame. Let’s begin with John Lemm.

The St. Louis Cardinals prospect was already the tournament’s leading hitter entering the game. He padded his resume by going 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and a walk to improve his batting average to .583 and OPS to 1.933.

He sailed a two-run blast 431 feet over the right-centre field wall to open up a 2-0 advantage in the first, before launching a 427-foot solo shot over the right-field wall to extend Australia’s lead to 4-0 in the fifth.

It was his tournament-leading fourth home run and who he hit them off makes it even more impressive.

Sitting at 0-3 in the Super Round entering today, Korea needed a win to put itself back in contention for a medal game.

They sent their ace, SSG Landers prospect Dowoo Yi, to the mound with an impressive tournament resume across two games: 8.1 innings pitched and a 0.00 ERA.

Australia spoiled his scoreless streak just three batters into the game, courtesy of John Lemm.

Max Stagg reached base twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk, and delivered an RBI single to right field in the third inning to put Australia up 3-0.

Nikau Pouaka-Grego put together a three-hit night, while Quinn Johnson went 2-for-3 to improve his batting average to .471.

Enough about the bats. How about the boys on the hill?

Tyson Noel was excellent on the mound in his second start of the tournament. The 6’7″ Western Australian arm commanded the strike zone and pitched to contact all evening, allowing just four hits across 4.2 scoreless innings.

Josh Beezley helped Australia out of a jam in the fifth, recording a crucial strikeout to end the inning.

Juan Ramirez followed with a perfect sixth inning, including a strikeout.

Through six innings, Korea had barely threatened. Australia had a four-run cushion, its pitching staff was dealing, and a place in a medal game was just three outs away.

Then came the seventh. Korea mounted one final rally against Will Page-Allen, loading the bases with one out.

An RBI single brought home Korea’s first run. A sacrifice fly to deep centre field made it 4-2.

Enter Lachlan Brook to try to record the final out.

With the bases loaded again, Korea sent a towering fly ball towards the left-field warning track.

But Donnelly settled underneath it, made the catch and secured one of Australia’s most significant victories in recent World Cup history.

Australia finishes with a 4-2 win and improves to 3-1 in the Super Round.

An Australian national team is guaranteed to play for a medal at a WBSC event for the first time since the 2019 U18 World Cup.

Up Next: The big one. Australia faces World No. 1 Japan at 11:30AM AEDT on Sunday morning. A win sends Australia to the Gold Medal Game against Venezuela. Watch it live and free on Baseball+ (Australia only).

GAME NOTES

Coach Quotes: Here’s what Shayne Watson said after the game:

Another outstanding performance from the group against a quality Korea side. We knew it would take a complete team effort, and the players responded really well to the challenge.

Tyson Noel gave us a fantastic start and set the tone early. He showed great composure on the mound, executed his pitches consistently, and worked deep into the game to get us into the fifth.

Offensively, John Lemm had a huge impact with two home runs, while Nikau Grego continued his strong tournament with three hits that lead to scoring opportunities.

Defensively, Solo came up with a massive play in centre field with a crucial catch for the second out in the top of the seventh inning.

In another high-pressure situation, Lachlan Brook once again showed his composure and competitiveness by coming in and closing out the game.

Most pleasing was the way the group stayed connected and committed throughout the contest. We played with confidence, trusted each other in key moments, and found ways to execute when the game was on the line.

We’ll recover, reset, and turn our attention to Japan. The group has built some strong momentum, but we know every game presents a new challenge and we’ll need to be ready to perform again tomorrow night.

Line-up: Australia returned to its regular line-up today, with Josh Nati back in the starting nine after missing yesterday’s game due to illness. It was a pretty ‘crappy’ day for Australia overall yesterday, with a bout of food poisoning sweeping through the Australian camp and limiting several players and coaches.

Around the Grounds and Scenarios: Chinese Taipei threw the Super Round into chaos, creating a whole whack of scenarios with a 2-1 victory over Japan. Both teams now sit at 2-2.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico (1-3) pushed undefeated Venezuela (4-0) all the way before falling 8-7 in extra innings. The victory secured Venezuela’s place in the Gold Medal Game.

In simple terms, Australia’s fate is in its own hands. Beat Japan tomorrow and Australia advances to the Gold Medal Game against Venezuela.

If Australia loses to Japan and Venezuela defeats Chinese Taipei, Japan advances to the Gold Medal Game.

If Japan and Chinese Taipei both win tomorrow, Australia, Japan and Chinese Taipei will finish in a three-way tie at 3-2, with Team Quality Balance (TQB) determining their final positions.

A Monumental Win: Australia defeated Korea at the U23 World Cup for the first time since 2016.

Medal Game Bound: Australia is guaranteed to play for at least a bronze medal. It’s the first time Australia has reached a medal game at the U23 World Cup since 2016, and the first time an Australian men’s national team has reached a medal game at a WBSC World Cup since the 2019 U18 World Cup.

Offensive Numbers: Entering the game, Australia was batting .304 as a team, good for second in the tournament. Korea, on the other hand, had struggled to get its bats going, beginning the day with a .203 average… he lowest among all six Super Round teams.

Defence Stands Up: A day after a critical error cost Australia three runs in a 6-3 loss to Venezuela, Australia’s defence bounced back in a big way.

John Lemm threw out a would-be base stealer in the first inning, with Darcy Barry applying a sharp tag. Tyson Noel also induced a 6-4-3 double play when Korea threatened in the fourth.

And, of course, Solo Maguire made the biggest defensive play of the night, hauling in a deep fly ball at the centre-field warning track and crashing into the wall.

Solomon Maguire in the Spotlight: The WBSC published a feature on Australian captain Solomon Maguire yesterday. Maguire has represented Australia at every WBSC baseball age level – U12, U15, U18 and U23 (three times) as well as the senior Premier12 tournament. Read it here. 

STANDINGS – SUPER ROUND

With one day to play.

1. Venezuela 4-0
2. Australia 3-1
3. Japan 2-2
4. Chinese Taipei 2-2
5. Puerto Rico 1-3
6. Korea 0-4

Tomorrow’s games: Venezeula vs Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico vs Korea, Australia vs Japan

Tag Cloud:
2026 u23 World Cup

13 November 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Team Australia - Men

Aussies fade after first-inning flurry as Chinese Taipei edge Australia 6-4 in Tokyo

Australia made the perfect start but could not land the knockout blow, going down 6-4 to Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome on Friday afternoon after leaving runners stranded in several key moments.

Chinese Taipei struck first with two runs in the top of the first. A bunt single, three walks and a double steal set up a run-scoring single from Ma Chieh-sen, and a groundout from Tseng Sheng-an added the second.

Australia answered straight away. Jaylin Rae opened the bottom of the first with a double down the left-field line and Alex Hall drove him in with a single to centre. Chinese Taipei starter Chen Ko-yi then lost the zone. Blake Cavill, Clayton Campbell and Max Durrington drew three straight walks to load the bases, and Jayden Kim lined a two-run single to left to finish off a four-run inning and put Australia ahead 4-2.

That turned out to be the last of the Australian scoring. Chang Jen-wei pulled a run back with a solo home run to left off starter Luke Krkovski in the second. Beattie and Miles then kept Chinese Taipei quiet with a perfect inning each, Miles striking out two in the fourth.

Chinese Taipei drew level at 4-4 in the fifth when Wang Nien-hao doubled over the right fielder’s head,

The Aussies had chances to retake the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, singles and walks from Brent Iredale, Cavill and Campbell loaded the bases with two out, but couldn’t capitilise. An inning later, a walk to Byron Armstrong and a double to left-centre from Rae left runners on second and third with one out, but Chang Cheng-en got Hall to fly out and struck out Iredale to escape the jam.

Chinese Taipei took the lead in the seventh. Kuo Tien-hsin walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly to left from Ma. They added a run in the eighth when Lin Chia-wei singled and stole second, and a fielding error at third let him score.

Burke: “Just a shame we couldn’t keep it rolling”

Senior outfielder Chris Burke said the opening inning showed what the group can do, but the side could not sustain it.

“We came out aggressive and we were able to put barrel to the ball and find ways to move guys over. It was really exciting to see that in the first inning,” Burke said.

“It was just a shame that we couldn’t keep it rolling throughout the game. We didn’t come up in big situations. It just wasn’t as complete a game as yesterday, and that was frustrating.”

Burke backed the group to respond.

“This group is really good at bouncing back. We’re excited for the buzz that’s going to be there tomorrow. Go out there, get a win and put ourselves in a good position moving forward.”

Rae: “The only way to the gold medal game is through them”

Leadoff hitter Jaylin Rae said the tournament setting was bringing out the best in the playing group.

“Playing in the dome and playing against these teams, this competition really pushes you. Personally I felt ready for it, and as a group we’re ready for it and ready to take it to Japan,” Rae said.

“If the pitchers are going to throw it in there, we’re not going to let it go. We’ve had good swings, we’ve picked good pitches and we’ve done damage, so there’s no reason to change. We’ve just got to keep it rolling and put a full nine innings together.”

On the challenge ahead, Rae added:

“We’re a confident group. Japan’s the number one team in the world, but the only way to get to the gold medal game is through them, and we’re ready for that.”

Up next

Australia take on Japan at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday 14 November at 12pm local time (2pm AEDT), live on Baseball+.

13 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

Game Notes: Venezuela 6 - Australia 3 | Super Round at the U23 World Cup

Tournament favourites and World No. 3 Venezuela erased a three-run deficit to defeat Australia 6-3 and remain unbeaten at the WBSC U23 World Cup and improve to 3-0 in the Super Round.

Venezuela, the reigning World Baseball Classic champions, entered the game with a perfect record, having outscored opponents 44-1, led the tournament in virtually every offensive metric and had yet to trail.

Every player in their line-up is either a current or former MLB-affiliated professional.

Their pitching staff was equally intimidating, with arms regularly reaching 96 mph or higher, including closing pitcher Victor Meijas, who touched 99 mph on the radar gun.

But Australia gave the South American powerhouse a genuine scare.

The Aussies umped out to a 3-0 lead, becoming the first team to put Venezuela behind in this World Cup.

BOX SCORE: Aus vs Venezuela 

Australia opened the scoring in the second inning, capitalising on a Venezuelan defensive miscue. Callum Donnelly helped manufacture the opening run to give Australia an early 1-0 advantage.

The Australians doubled down in the third. Nikau Pouaka-Grego and Max Stagg each drove in runs to extend the lead to 3-0.

All the while, starting pitcher Ben Karakasis was delivering a plucky performance against one of the tournament’s most dangerous line-ups.

Through three innings, Karakasis had allowed just one baserunner, who reached on an error, while striking out five without issuing a walk.

For three innings, Australia had Venezuela on the ropes.

But it’s hard, as they say, to keep a good team down.

Venezuela erupted for four runs in the fourth, albeit in unusual fashion, to take the lead.

A walk and a single ended Karakasis’ afternoon after 3.1 innings, bringing Lachlan Robinson into the game.

A wild pitch brought home Venezuela’s first run before a walk helped load the bases.

Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Australia appeared to have an opportunity to escape the inning. But Darcy Barry and Quinn Johnson couldn’t quite connect on an inning-ending play, with the ball escaping into right field.

Three runners came around to score on the error, turning Australia’s 3-0 advantage into a 4-3 deficit.

Four runs had crossed the plate in the inning, with none credited as RBIs – a cruel turn of events for an Australian side that had been in control.

Venezuela added two more in the fifth, opening the inning with three consecutive hits.

Johnfrank Salazar, one of the tournament’s standout hitters, drove in a run to make it 5-3. A bases-loaded sacrifice fly extended the advantage to three before Deakin Filko escaped further damage with an inning-ending double play.

Australia refused to go quietly.

The Green & Gold brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the sixth and opened the seventh with a double, but couldn’t find the breakthrough against Venezuela’s powerful bullpen.

On the mound, Filko and Jesse Neretlis combined for three scoreless innings to close out the game, allowing just two hits and no walks.

Australia finished with eight hits, with eight different players recording one apiece.

Donnelly and Darcy Barry each doubled, while Pouaka-Grego, Stagg and Luke Donaghey collected RBIs. Donaghey also stole a base.

HUB: Australia at the U23 World Cup

John Lemm continued his impressive tournament with another hit, moving him to a .524 batting average and 1.641 OPS.

For Venezuela, Johnfrank Salazar finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Lewis José Castillo Salas scored twice. The Venezuelan line-up drew four walks and struck out just once across the final four innings after Karakasis’ dominant opening three.

Despite the defeat, Australia remains well positioned in the Super Round.

The Green & Gold sit at 2-1, with victories carried over against Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei, and games remaining against Korea and Japan.

With the top two teams advancing to the gold-medal game and third and fourth playing for bronze, Australia’s final two games will be crucial in determining its medal prospects.

The final clash against Japan could ultimately decide whether Australia plays for gold, bronze or misses a medal game altogether.

Australia will take plenty of encouragement from its performance against a Venezuelan side that had barely been challenged entering the contest.

Up Next: Australia faces Korea at 11:30 AM AEDT on Saturday. Watch live and free on Baseball+ (Australia only).

GAME NOTES

Coach Quotes: What Manager Shayne Watson had to say after the game:

Our guys were prepared for the challenge of facing Venezuela. Getting out to a quick lead carried the momentum early in the game.

Ben Karakasis threw well against a strong offensive line-up, and he mixed his pitches well.

We fought hard to stay in the game and gave ourselves opportunities late, but Venezuela were able to execute when it mattered and did enough to maintain their lead.

Our guys showed a lot of courage today and fought till the end to still give us a shot at coming back a few time late in the game.

Time to bounce back, reset and get ready for Korea tomorrow.”

Line Up: Only one change to the lineup. Josh Nati was a late scratch, just moments before the game (illness).





Elsewhere in the Super Round: Japan rolled past Puerto Rico, winning 11-1 to open Super Round play. The win pushes Japan to 2-1 and Puerto Rico to 1-2. It likely means the game vs Japan on Sunday will determine if Australia will play for Gold or not. Later tonight, Korea (0-2) faces Chinese Taipei (0-2). Because Australia already defeated Chinese Taipei, a positive result for them would be favourable for us.

CURRENT SUPER ROUND STANDINGS

As of 11:00AM AEDT, Friday 13 November

Venezuela 3-0
Australia 2-1
Japan 2-1
Puerto Rico 2-1
Korea 0-2
Chinese Taipei 0-2

Top two teams after Super Round play for Gold. 3 and 4 play for Bronze. 

Tag Cloud:
2026 u23 World Cup

12 November 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Team Australia - Men

Korea stunned in comeback win for Team Australia

Australia has opened its Asia Professional Baseball Championship campaign with a win to remember, fighting back late to beat Korea 8-7 at the Tokyo Dome on Thursday.

Down 6-4 heading into the eighth inning, the Green and Gold scored four runs across the final two frames. Clayton Campbell tied it with a two-run homer, before Chris Burke and Darlington drove in the go-ahead and insurance runs with doubles in the ninth.

Kieren Hall then held his nerve on the mound, conceding one run in the bottom of the ninth before getting the final out to seal it.

“It’s definitely up there,” catcher Alex Hall said of where the win ranks for him. “Just to fight back, I guess. Makes it more special.”

“Emotions are high,” Campbell said. “Glad we got the win, and everybody did their job today. Pitchers threw the ball over the plate. Hitters did their job. I feel like it was a good team win.”

Watch Highlights here:

A dream start under the dome

The build-up to the tournament had been anything but comfortable. Tokyo has been cold and wet all week, but the squad kept working.

“We’ve been grinding these last few days,” first baseman Blake Clavill said. “The weather has been raining, freezing. But that doesn’t stop us Aussies. So we come here in the dome, and the weather has to be perfect in here.”

Clavill wasted no time making the most of it. With two out in the first inning and Alex Hall and Burke aboard on walks, he sent a three-run homer over the right-centre field wall off Korean starter Kim Min-jun.

Australia added a fourth in the third. Ray led off with a double into the left-centre gap, Hall walked again to end Kim’s day, and Burke greeted reliever Jo Dong-wook with an RBI single to right.

On the mound, Bates retired the side in order in the first, and Ky Hampton followed with three scoreless innings. He struck out three, walked no one, and escaped his only real jam with a 5-4-3 double play.

The sixth inning swing

Korea flipped the game in one inning. Pinch-hitter Kim Ji-chan doubled to lead off the sixth and Kim Ju-won drove a two-run homer to left to make it 4-2.

Three walks followed and loaded the bases, and Kim Hwi-jip cleared them with a double over the right fielder. A Park Jae-hyun RBI single made it 6-4 before Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis struck out Kim Ji-chan to finally end the inning.

“I think the biggest thing for us was just, knock it down,” Campbell said. “We kind of get down in those situations. Got to just move on and move forward.”

Miles and Torpy did exactly that in the seventh, keeping Korea off the board and giving the bats a chance.

The fightback

The comeback started with a break. Clavill reached on a fielding error to open the eighth, and with one out, Campbell turned on a pitch from Park Jeong-min and sent it into the left field seats. Just like that, it was 6-6.

Kieren Hall came in for the bottom of the eighth and struck out the first two hitters he faced, keeping the momentum in the Australian dugout.

In the ninth, Alex Hall singled to left to start the rally. With one out, Burke doubled to right-centre to score him for the lead, and with two out, Darlington found the same gap for an insurance run.

“Definitely nerve-wracking, for sure,” Hall said. “But you’ve just got to have that fighting mentality. And all the boys had that today.”

Hall reached base five times from the two hole and spent the afternoon guiding eight different pitchers from behind the plate.

“I’m just playing for the country, playing for my teammates on the bench next to me, doing whatever I can to get on base,” he said. “Pitchers are doing whatever they can to throw strikes, and I’m just trying to tell them as much as I can behind the plate. It’s just amazing.”

Korea made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth. A walk and a Kim Ju-won double put runners on second and third, and a sacrifice fly cut the lead to one. But Kieren Hall got Ahn Hyun-min to pop up to second, to seal the win.

Two teams, one program

The win came while a second group of young Australians is playing on the other side of the world, with the under-23 side in the Super Round of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua.

“It’s crazy enough we’ve got two teams going on at the same time with the same age,” Alex Hall said. “But the talent coming through is amazing for the program and for Team Australia.”

For Clavill, it is proof of how far the game has come at home.

“It truly shows that we’re a baseball country now,” he said. “Each year we’re getting better and better. That’s never happened in Australian baseball, that we have this many talented kids right now. It’s extraordinary to see.”

Campbell, who came through the junior program himself, sees the cycle continuing.

“When I was coming through the program, we had those older guys and we were looking up to them,” he said. “I think the depth is coming along really well, and it’s exciting for Australia.”

Hall says the group has nothing left to prove to itself.

“Hopefully everyone keeps backing us, and we can keep fighting and get to the next stage, because we’re good enough. Our baseball is good enough,” he said. “We just want to prove that to everyone. We don’t need to prove it to ourselves, because we know we’re good enough.”

Switch on again tomorrow

There is little time to savour it. Australia faces Chinese Taipei at 12:00 on Friday, before taking on Japan on Saturday.

“Just enjoy today a little bit for the afternoon, and then kind of switch mode to tomorrow,” Hall said. “A new game, fresh game. Next man up, fight all the way, because no one’s up there alone. I feel like all the boys have got my back when I’m up there hitting or playing defence, and I hope they feel the same way with me.”

Clavill already knows how his morning will look.

“I’m a little crazy,” he laughed. “Before the games, I’m always ready to go from 8:00 in the morning, head on a swivel. That gets me excited. The boys are going to go back, relax a little bit, and then as soon as 8:00 rolls around in the morning, it’s switch on and ready to compete again. And we’re going to do exactly what we did today.”

Campbell kept it simple.

“Game’s over now. Enjoy it. See you tomorrow,” he said. “I think we’re going to keep rolling, and I think we’re going to continue to do great in this tournament. Can’t wait.”

11 November 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Team Australia Team Australia - Men

Team Australia Settles In at the Tokyo Dome Ahead of Tomorrows Korea Clash

TOKYO: Team Australia has settled in at the Tokyo Dome, completing its first training session at the iconic venue ahead of tomorrow’s opening clash with Korea at 12pm local time.

Practice was full of energy, with the group connecting well after its camp in Fuchu. Excitement is building across the squad ahead of a big week at the Asia Professional Baseball Championship.

For Sydney’s Jo Stevens, the feeling started before he even reached the field.

“The team’s good. Everyone looks great. Preparation was really good,” he said. “Walking from the hotel to the stadium, you get chills.”

Chills at the Dome

Stevens said the moment felt even bigger given where he was only weeks ago.

“I was only here like four weeks ago, sitting up in the stands,” he said. “So now hitting and fielding on the field, it’s a great experience. It gives me chills. Excited for tomorrow.”

Fellow Sydneysider Jaylin Rae was just as blown away by his first hit out at the venue.

“Unbelievable. Nothing really compares to this,” he said. “Even just coming down from the hotel and walking through the tunnel, coming out to the stadium. It’s going to be an incredible experience.”

Both players praised the team’s base in Fuchu, where the squad spent the past few days preparing.

“Fuchu was awesome. Pretty cold, but it was awesome,” Rae said. “The town looked after us, and the fields, the facilities and everything they had for us were awesome. Great training camp, and the boys were ready.”

“Fuchu was great. They treated us amazingly,” Stevens added. “We got looked after really well.”

From juniors to the men’s team

Rae and Stevens have both worn the green and gold at Under-18 and Under-23 level. This week is a step into the men’s national side.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Rae said. “Any time you can put on the jersey, it’s a pretty incredible experience. You can’t really describe it. Everyone is up to the challenge, and we’re ready to show out.”

“It’s been a goal of mine for the last couple of years, just being able to put my foot in the door,” he added. “It shows that the work that I put in is paying off. All these guys, we’ve been playing together for years now, so to come through together is just something you can’t really describe.”

Stevens said the setting is very different from the junior World Cups.

“With the Under-23s and 18s, you’re more in a World Cup stage, going through the process of teams a little bit quicker,” he said. “Then you go into this, and it’s a bigger stage. You’ve just got to settle the nerves a little bit more. Know the preparation that you’ve done is correct, trust your instincts and go get it.”

He is also enjoying helping the newer players settle in.

“We’ve all pretty much played together. You get some new guys in, and it’s great to take them under the wing and show them what Team Australia is about,” he said.

Looking further ahead, Stevens is open about what he is chasing.

“To possibly be in that Premier12 team and then possibly an Olympian, that’s definitely a dream,” he said. “To be a part of it is amazing, and hopefully I get that opportunity.”

“We expect to qualify”

At the pre-tournament press conference, head coach David Nilsson was clear about how this week fits into the bigger picture.

“The Olympic qualifier next year at the Premier12 is something that we’re expecting to perform very well in, and we expect to qualify for the Olympics,” he said. “So we’re using this event to see some younger players, and to see if there are some pieces that can be added to the men’s senior team. So it’s a very important event.”

Nilsson said Australia’s growing depth is what stands out about this group.

“As a nation, we’re developing more players. We have more depth than we’ve had before,” he said. “For this group here, we have some very good athletic players. We always want to be very athletic defensively and we want to have good strength, so I think you’ll see that with our players.”

With players drawn from the Australian Baseball League and the US minor leagues, Nilsson said blending the group was easy.

“They’ve all grown up in Australia, and we’ve all known each other for a long time,” he said. “We all support each other and we all follow each other. Regardless of where they play, it’s very easy from my point of view to have them blend in together.”

He believes the best is still to come.

“Over the next 5 or 10 years, you’re going to see Team Australia continue to get better and better because of the depth,” Nilsson said. “As you see more players coming through college, the minor league system and the major league system, we as a team are going to get better.”

As for the mood heading into the opener:

“We’re very relaxed. As a group, we’re very confident, and we’re really looking forward to competing on this stage.”

“We’ve all got each other’s back”

Catcher Alex Hall, who joined Nilsson at the press conference, said the chemistry in the group is already strong.

“We have good chemistry going on with this team,” he said. “With a bunch of experienced guys coming back and then fresh faces, we’re all leaning on each other’s shoulders. We’ve all got each other’s back during the games. Even in practice, we want to practice perfect. So we’re just having that mentality of next dog up.”

Hall, who has a strong record against Japan, played down any talk of power.

“I’m just looking to drive the ball, not trying to hit home runs,” he said. “Just try to get the ball in the gap, try to pick out a weakness of the pitcher and be on time. That’s all I’m really trying to do.”

He said his main job is a simple one, and it is shared by the whole lineup.

“My main role would just be to get on base as many times as possible. That’s what we all think,” he said. “The more we can get on base, the more we can score runs, and the more we can win games.”

And whoever is on the other side, the plan stays the same.

“At the end of the day, we just focus on what we can do to beat them,” Hall said. “We just need to do it the Australian way, play our baseball, and we’ll figure it out from there.”

Team Australia opens its tournament against Korea at the Tokyo Dome tomorrow at 12pm local time. Watch Live and Free on Baseball+

11 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

In Review: Australia through to the Super Round at the U-23 World Cup

Australia is through to the Super Round of the U23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua.

They’ve done it in emphatic fashion.

The Aussies finished first place in Pool A with a 4-1 record, recording victories over Chinese Taipei, Panama, Puerto Rico and Nicaragua.

That’s an impressive collection of victories, including three nations ranked higher than Australia in the WBSC World Rankings.

Australia outscored its opponents 32-13 across five games, with contributions coming from all over the diamond.

Their .306 team batting average ranks second in the tournament, while their pitching staff owns the second-best ERA (2.06), trailing only a dominant Venezuelan outfit that has outscored opponents 44-1.

Defensively, Australia has been even more impressive.

Their .993 fielding percentage is the best in the tournament, with just one error committed across five games.

Best of all? Everyone is contributing. Every player in the lineup has reached base, and it feels like each game brings a new hero stepping up.

FULL STATS: Australia at the U23 World Cup 

Among that collection of heroes, there’s been one constant. His name is John Lemm.

The St. Louis Cardinals prospect has grabbed headlines around the baseball world, slugging his way to the tournament lead in hits (10), batting average (.556) and triples (2).

He also has two home runs, six RBI and ranks second in OPS.

Connected, Committed and Courageous

Before the tournament, Team Australia manager Shayne Watson challenged his players to live by three guiding principles: Connected, Committed and Courageous. You can read about the story and method behind the message here. 

It’s clear those words are more than just a slogan.

There’s a certain energy in the dugout, the way players support one another, the willingness to take the game on and the resilience when things aren’t going their way.

Perhaps the best example came after Australia’s only loss of the tournament, a challenging defeat to Czechia in which the pitching staff issued 11 walks.

Watson wasn’t interested in letting the result define his team.

He told us that after the game, he simply reminded the group of those three C’s.

“We wanted to reinforce that our identity isn’t based on results alone. It’s based on how we respond, support each other, and continue to compete. I thought the group carried that mindset into today’s game and produced a really strong team performance,” said Watson after the following day’s win over Chinese Taipei.

“Even in [the Czechia] loss, there were plenty of examples of those behaviours, and it was important that our players recognised them.”

Australia responded with consecutive wins over World No. 2 Chinese Taipei and World No. 9 Panama, outscoring them 14-3.

Now, they’ll look to carry that momentum into the Super Round.

“Advancing to the Super Round with a 2-0 record is a credit to the work our team has put in,” said Watson. “We’ll enjoy this result, reset, and get ready for the challenges ahead. The priority is to recover and get ready for games in two days time.”

What’s next? The Super Round

The top three teams from Pool A join the top three teams from Pool B in the Super Round.

It’s effectively another round robin, but results against teams that advanced from the same pool carry over.

That puts Australia in an excellent position.

The Aussies enter with a 2-0 record, tied with Venezuela at the top of the standings.

They’ll face Venezuela (2-0), Japan (1-1) and Korea (0-2) over the next three days. Their previous results against fellow Pool A teams – Puerto Rico (1-1) and Chinese Taipei (0-2) – carry over.

The top two teams in the final standings advance to the gold medal game, while third and fourth will play for bronze.

The schedule is as follows:

– Friday 13 November, 7:30AM AEDT vs Venezuela (2-0)
– Saturday 14 November, 11:30AM AEDT vs Korea (0-2)
– Sunday 15 November, 11:30AM AEDT vs Japan (1-1)

Every game is available to watch in Australia on Baseball+ and on Gametime.Sport internationally.

GAME RECAPS: How Australia reached the Super Round

Game 1: Australia 3 defeated Nicaragua 0

Australia opened the tournament with a dominant pitching performance from Lachlan Brook and Will Page-Allen.

The duo combined for a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory over the tournament hosts. Brook threw 52 pitches across 4.0 innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two.

Page-Allen was perfect in relief, retiring all nine batters he faced across 3.0 innings, including two strikeouts.

Together, they retired the final 16 Nicaraguan batters.

Offensively, Quinn Johnson drove in two runs while John Lemm led the game with two hits.

Manager Shayne Watson praised the team’s commitment to its three guiding principles.

“What pleased me most was the way the group stayed connected throughout the game. The players consistently supported one another, remained committed to the team’s purpose, and showed real courage in key moments. Those qualities were important contributors to tonight’s result.”

FULL RECAP

Game 2: Australia 9 defeated Puerto Rico 1

Another terrific pitching display, this time accompanied by some red-hot bats.

Josh Nati launched two home runs, including a towering 425-foot moonshot.

John Lemm backed up his impressive opening game by going 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and two RBI.

On the mound, Tyson Noel tossed 3.0 innings, allowing one hit, one walk and one run. Charlie Pierson followed with 4.0 innings of relief, conceding just one hit.

Australia improved to 2-0.

“Offensively, our at-bats reflected the team-first approach we’ve been talking about all tournament. Our players competed for every pitch, took the free bases when they were available, and then capitalised on opportunities with timely hits,” said Watson.

FULL RECAP

Game 3: Czechia 9 defeated Australia 6

Australia paid dearly for free bases, and an opportunistic Czechia took full advantage.

Of Czechia’s nine runs, only one was driven in by a hit. Three scored on bases-loaded walks, three on wild pitches, one on a sacrifice fly and another on an error.

In total, Australian pitchers issued 11 walks.

The Aussies trailed 6-2 and 9-3 but fought back on both occasions, eventually bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in the final inning.

Australia outhit Czechia 9-6.

Darcy Barry led the Aussies with two hits, John Lemm extended his hitting streak to three games, and Cal Fingleson recorded an RBI for the third consecutive game.

“The good thing about tournament baseball is that you don’t have to wait long for your next opportunity. Credit to Czechia, they played a strong game and capitalised on their opportunities,” said Watson.

“We felt well prepared and got off to a good start scoring two in the first inning. However, we gave them too many opportunities early in the game. We fought hard to stay in the game and gave ourselves opportunities late, but Czechia were able to execute when it mattered and did enough to maintain their lead.

“We’ll learn from today’s performance, reset and connect quickly, and turn our full attention to Chinese Taipei tomorrow.”

FULL RECAP

Game 4: Australia 4 defeated Chinese Taipei 0

A true team performance. And one heck of a bounce-back.

After the disappointment against Czechia, Australia responded by shutting out World No. 2 Chinese Taipei.

The Aussies outhit their opponents 11-4, while Lachlan Rosser, Will Page-Allen and Lachlan Brook combined for the shutout.

Max Stagg delivered a four-hit performance, while John Lemm continued his torrid start with a 2-for-4 effort that included a triple.

Australia improved to 3-1 and moved within touching distance of a Super Round berth.

“This was a true team performance. It’s difficult to single out individuals because every player who put on the Australian jersey today contributed in a meaningful way to the result,” said Watson.

“Before today’s game, we spent time reflecting on our three ‘Big C’s’ – Connected, Committed and Courageous. Even in yesterday’s loss, there were examples of those behaviours, and it was important that our players recognised them. We wanted to reinforce that our identity isn’t based on results alone. It’s how we respond, support each other and continue to compete.”

FULL RECAP

Game 5: Australia 10 defeated Panama 3

Perhaps Australia’s most complete performance of the tournament.

With a Super Round berth and top spot in Pool A on the line, the Aussies delivered in every facet of the game.

With the bats: Eight hits, three home runs, eight walks and three hit-by-pitches. Every player in the starting lineup reached base, with seven reaching safely at least twice.

John Lemm launched a 450-foot two-run homer in the first inning, while Callum Donnelly and Josh Nati also went deep.

On the mound: Charlie Pierson, Juan Ramirez and Josh Beazley combined to issue just one walk across seven innings. Ramirez, making his national team debut, touched 97 mph on the radar gun and tossed two scoreless, hitless innings.

In the field: Australia turned two double plays and produced several highlight-reel moments, including a leaping catch from Donnelly and outstanding defensive work from Nikau Pouaka-Grego at third base.

The result secured top spot in Pool A and ensured Australia would carry a 2-0 record into the Super Round.

“One area that has been a real strength for us throughout the tournament has been our defence. We’ve handled the ball consistently, communicated well, and trusted one another in key moments. The way the players communicate and support each other on the field is a great reflection of our connection as a team, and they’ve taken real ownership of that part of their game,” said Watson.

FULL RECAP

11 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

Game Notes: Australia 10 def Panama 3 | 2026 U23 World Cup

Australia powers past Panama 10-3 to secure top spot in Pool A and Super Round berth

story by Eric Balnar

Australia’s bats exploded in a convincing 10-3 win over Panama to officially punch their ticket to the U23 World Cup Super Round and secure top spot in Pool A.

The victory also ensures Australia starts the medal rounds with a 2-0 record, tied for first in the tournament.

It was one of Australia’s best all-around performances of the tournament.

The Aussies combined for ten runs on eight hits, three homers, eight walks and three hit-by-pitches. Every player in the starting lineup reached base, with seven hitting the base paths at least twice.

On the mound, Charlie Pierson, Juan Ramirez and Josh Beazley combined to issue just one walk.

Defensively, Australia was flawless.

They turned two double plays and produced several highlight-reel moments, including a leaping catch by left fielder Callum Donnelly and some outstanding throws from third baseman Nikau Pouaka-Grego.

John Lemm dominated at the plate again, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two RBI. His efforts included a towering 450-foot moonshot in the first inning to put Australia ahead 2-0.

Lemm finishes pool play as the tournament leader in hits (10).

BOX SCORE: Australia vs Panama

Donnelly and Josh Nati also went deep.

Australia broke the game open with a four-run second inning, built on a series of walks and capped by a two-RBI single from Pouaka-Grego.

The second-inning outburst came at the perfect time.

Not long after Lemm’s two-run blast, Panama opened the bottom of the first with three consecutive doubles off Pierson to tie the game at two.

HUB: All the info from the U23 World Cup

Pierson settled after the shaky start, eventually tossing 4.0 innings while allowing six hits and three runs, with no walks and four strikeouts.

It was Pierson’s (below) second solid outing of the tournament after throwing four shutout innings against Puerto Rico on Day 2.

From there, he handed the ball to Juan “Manny” Ramirez, who made his national team debut in relief. The 20-year-old, who can throw 97 mph, was outstanding. He faced just six batters across 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings, allowing one walk and striking out two.

Josh Beazley pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the victory.

Australia finishes Pool A with a 4-1 record and enters the Super Round with a 2-0 record.

The Aussies will now play three games against the qualifiers from Pool B, with results against fellow advancing teams carrying over.

Australia’s upcoming Super Round opponents are Venezuela (2-0), Japan (1-1) and Korea (0-2). Chinese Taipei (0-2) and Puerto Rico (1-1) join Australia from Pool A, after Czechia (2-3) upset host Nicaragua (2-3) this evening.

The top two teams in the Super Round standings will advance to the gold medal game, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will compete for bronze.

The Super Round schedules below.

– Friday 13 November, 7:30AM AEDT vs Venezuela (2-0)
– Saturday 14 November, 11:30AM AEDT vs Korea (0-2)
– Sunday 15 November, 11:30AM AEDT vs Japan (1-1)
– Gold / Bronze – Monday 16 November

Be sure to chheck our tournament hub at https://baseball.com.au/u23worldcup2026/ for updates later tonight. You will be able to watch all games free on Baseball+.

Panama, which needed a victory to remain in contention, will now compete in the Placement Round.

Game Notes

Coach Quotes: Here’s what manager Shayne Watson had to say after the game

Going into the game, we were clear on what was at stake and the opportunity in front of us. The players embraced that challenge and approached the game with the intent and focus we were looking for.

We knew Panama had some dangerous hitters at the top and through the middle of their lineup, and we expected them to come out aggressively. Our pitchers did a quality job of executing their plans and limiting their opportunities to build momentum.

Charlie Pierson gave us an outstanding start, providing four strong innings in challenging, humid conditions. Ramirez and Beezley combined well at the back end of the game, continuing to attack the strike zone and maintain control when we needed it.

Offensively, Lemm and Nati helped get things going and create momentum for our lineup. It was also great to see Donnelly rewarded with a home run after consistently hitting the ball hard throughout pool play.

One area that has been a real strength for us throughout the tournament has been our defence. We’ve handled the ball consistently, communicated well, and trusted one another in key moments. The way the players communicate and support each other on the field is a great reflection of our connection as a team, and they’ve taken real ownership of that part of their game.

Advancing to the Super Round with a 2-0 record is a credit to the work the group has put in.

We’ll enjoy this result, reset, and get ready for the challenges ahead.

Tomorrow will be an optional light session for the guys that need to get work in. After tonight’s game it was played under very challenging conditions, so the priority is to recover and get ready to play in two days time.

Starting Lineup: Australia returned to the exact same lineup that delivered wins on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 4.

Johnny “The Leader” Lemm: That’s it. That’s the headline. I feel like a broken record mentioning him every game. He opened today’s scoring with a towering 450-foot two-run homer to put Australia ahead early. He later tripled, his second of the tournament, in the sixth inning and finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Lemm finishes pool play as arguably the tournament’s best hitter. He leads the competition in hits (10), batting average (.556) and triples (2). He’s also fifth in RBI and second in OPS.

Taking Advantage of Free Passes: Panama walked eight batters and hit another three. Australia made the most of those free passes, capitalising on their opportunities to build an early lead.

Patient Solo: Solomon Maguire continues to set the table at the top of the lineup. The U23 captain worked three walks, bringing his tournament total to seven. Maguire, playing in his third U23 World Cup, has an on-base percentage of .563 (7th).

Velo, Baby!: Juan Ramirez touched 97 mph on the radar gun, making him the hardest-throwing Australian pitcher of the tournament so far.

Defence Comes Through: We’ve talked plenty about the hitting, but Australia’s defence also delivered in some big moments. Callum Donnelly made a leaping catch near the wall, while the Aussies turned two double plays to escape tricky situations. Nikau Pouaka-Grego also produced a couple of highlight-reel plays at third base. Australia finished the game without committing an error.

A Note on Nati: Josh Nati leads the tournament in home runs (3) and is tied for the lead in RBI (8).

Good Looking Finishing Numbers: Australia finishes pool play with a .306 batting average (2nd), a 2.06 ERA (2nd) and a 32-13 run differential in its favour. Australia’s .993 fielding percentage ranks first in the tournament, with the team committing just one error across five games.

How the Super Round Works: The top three teams from Pool A join the top three teams from Pool B in the Super Round. It’s effectively another round robin, but results against teams that advance from the same pool carry over (wins over Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico). That means Australia starts with a 2-0 record and will face Venezuela (2-0), Japan (1-1) and Korea (0-2) over the next three days. The top two teams in the final Super Round standings will play for gold, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will compete for bronze.

STANDINGS

Super Round Standings (Current)

Venezuela 2-0
Australia 2-0
Puerto Rico 1-1
Japan 1-1
Korea 0-2
Chinese Taipei 0-2

Pool A (Final)

Australia 4-1
Puerto Rico 3-2
Chinese Taipei 2-3*
—
Panama 2-3
Czechia 2-3
Nicaragua 2-3

*Chinese Taipei win tiebreaker to advance

Pool B (Final)

Venezuela 5-0
Japan 4-1
Korea 3-2
—
Great Britain 2-3
Cuba 1-2
South Africa 0-5

Tag Cloud:
2026 u23 World Cup

10 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

Game Notes: Australia 4 - Chinese Taipei 0 | 2026 U-23 World Cup

Australia shuts out Chinese Taipei 4-0, moves to top of Pool A at U23 World Cup

recap by Eric Balnar

Australia is in the driver’s seat of Pool A after a commanding 4-0 victory over Chinese Taipei at the WBSC U23 World Cup in Nicaragua.

The Green & Gold impressed with both bat and ball in their third victory of the tournament, and puts them dangerously close to the Super Round.

Led by a four-hit performance from Max Stagg, Australia outhit world No. 2 Chinese Taipei 11-4.

On the mound, Lachlan Rosser, Will Page-Allen and Lachlan Brook combined for the shutout, allowing just four hits and six walks while striking out seven.

The game was scoreless through three innings as Australia struggled to solve Chinese Taipei starting pitcher and Tokyo Giants prospect Chin-Hao Huang.

BOX SCORE: Stats vs Chinese Taipei

Fortunately for the Aussies, starter Lachlan Rosser was equally impressive. He tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out one.

Australia finally broke through in the fourth.

Stagg led off with a single before Quinn Johnson reached on an error. Josh Nati brought home the game’s opening run on a fielder’s choice before Darcy Barry delivered an RBI single to double the advantage.

Australia added two more runs in the fifth.

Nikau Pouaka-Grego doubled, John Lemm collected his second hit of the afternoon with an RBI triple, and Stagg followed with another single to help extend the lead to 4-0.

From there, Australia’s bullpen took care of business.

Page-Allen and Brook each delivered two scoreless innings of relief to complete the shutout.

Stagg finished with four hits, while Lemm continued his outstanding tournament with a 2-for-4 performance, including a triple and an RBI, extending his lead as the tournament’s hit leader.

Solomon Maguire, Pouaka-Grego, Johnson, Barry and Callum Donnelly also contributed hits.

TOURNAMENT HUB: Australia at the U23 World Cup

The victory carries major implications for Australia’s Super Round hopes.

Australia moves to 3-1 and sits atop Pool A, with head-to-head victories already secured over Nicaragua (2-1), Puerto Rico (1-2) and Chinese Taipei (2-2).

The top three teams from each pool advance to the Super Round, where they will fight for a medal.

Australia could clinch a Super Round berth before taking the field again if Puerto Rico defeats Czechia and Nicaragua beats Panama later today***.

Both results would guarantee Australia a top-three finish, regardless of Wednesday’s result against Panama. Australia can also advance directly with a win in their final game vs Panama on Wednesday at 11:00AM AEDT in their final Pool Play match.

If that combination doesn’t eventuate, Australia’s qualification position will depend on the remaining results and potential tiebreakers.

Australia’s next game will be available live on Baseball (Australia only) and Gametime.sport (International)

GAME NOTES

Coach Quotes: Team Manager Shayne Watson on today’s win…

“That was a great response from the group today. We knew coming into the game that both teams understood the significance of the contest at this stage of the World Cup, and the players embraced that challenge.

This was a true team performance.

It’s difficult to single out individuals because every player who put on the Australian jersey today contributed in a meaningful way to the result.

Lachlan Rosser and Will Page-Allen combined well on the mound and made quality pitches when they mattered most. I was particularly pleased with their commitment to executing a clear plan throughout their outings.

Lachlan Brook also delivered another strong performance and displayed the Courage we have been messaging all campaign. His body was feeling good after his big outing against Nicaragua and he gave us everything he had to finish off the game.

Offensively, our approach was disciplined and team-centred. We continued to find ways to create pressure, and when opportunities presented themselves, our hitters delivered some important at-bats with runners on base to help extend the lead.

Most pleasing was the way the group stayed connected and committed throughout a tight game. We played with composure, trusted each other, and continued to execute when the game was on the line.

We’ll enjoy the result, but our focus now shifts quickly to Panama as we prepare for another important challenge tomorrow.”

Starting Line-Up: Australia returned to the exact starting line-up that helped deliver victories on Day 1 and Day 2.

The Three C’s: Shayne Watson wanted to make sure the players weren’t too down after yesterday’s loss to Czechia. Here’s what he said:

Before today’s game, we spent time reflecting on our three big “C’s”- Connected, Committed, and Courageous.

Even in yesterday’s loss, there were plenty of examples of those behaviours, and it was important that our players recognised them.

We wanted to reinforce that our identity isn’t based on results alone. It’s based on how we respond, support each other, and continue to compete. I thought the group carried that mindset into today’s game and produced a really strong team performance.

Everybody Reaches:  Every player in Australia’s batting line-up reached base, whether by hit, walk, hit-by-pitch or error.

Left Them Loaded: Australia won by four runs, but the margin could have been greater. The Green & Gold loaded the bases in the first inning but couldn’t capitalise. They also stranded two runners in the fourth. In total, Australia left eight runners on base. Still, there were plenty of encouraging signs, with Australia consistently creating scoring opportunities and putting pressure on Chinese Taipei.

Keeping Composed: On the flip side, Chinese Taipei pressured in every inning. They had a baserunner in six of seven frames, and generated seven walks. Australia never flinched.

John Lemm (Again and Again and Again): With two outs and nobody on in the first inning, John Lemm singled to extend his hitting streak to four games. He later added an RBI triple. Lemm now leads the tournament with eight hits, batting .571 with an OPS above 1.600. He’s recorded a hit in every game of the tournament.

Rockin’ Rosser: That must have felt great. The New South Welshman committed to the University of Nebraska in 2025 after a stellar debut season in JUCO but was unable to attend due to personal and family circumstances. He’s since been dominating in the NSW State League, including a remarkable 20-strikeout performance for Macarthur a couple weeks ago. Rosser is no stranger to the Green & Gold, having represented Australia at the 2023 U18 World Cup.

Brook and Page-Allen Star Again: Remember these two? On Day 1 against Nicaragua, Lachlan Brook tossed three scoreless innings before Will Page-Allen delivered four shutout innings in relief. The pair were called upon again in another crucial game against Chinese Taipei, combining for four more scoreless innings. Through four games, Brook and Page-Allen have combined for 11.0 innings without allowing an earned run, maintaining a sterling 0.00 ERA.

Super Round Scenario: Australia is one step closer to the Super Round after improving to 3-1, with head-to-head victories over Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei. The top three teams from Pool A advance to the Super Round, and Australia could secure its place before Wednesday’s final opening-round game against Panama.

For that to happen, Australia needs two results to fall its way later today: Puerto Rico must defeat Czechia, and Nicaragua must beat Panama.

That combination would guarantee Australia a top-three finish regardless of its result against Panama.

If those results don’t eventuate, Australia will head into its final game with qualification still to be determined. A victory over Panama would guarantee a Super Round berth, while a loss could leave Australia relying on other results and tiebreakers.

**Note: this is the writer’s interpretation of the Super Round Scenarios and not an official ruling by the WBSC

GROUP STAGE STANDINGS

End of Day 4
*denotes clinched Super Round

Pool A

Australia 3-1
Nicaragua 2-2
Chinese Taipei 2-2
Puerto Rico 2-2
Panama 2-2
Czechia 1-3

Pool B

Venezuela 4-0*
Japan 4-0*
Korea 2-2*
Great Britain 1-3
Cuba 1-3
South Africa 0-4

The top three teams in each group advance to the Super Round to compete for a medal. The bottom three will play in the Placement Round.

Full Tournament Info: WBSC Website 

 

Tag Cloud:
2026 u23 World Cup

09 November 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Team Australia Team Australia - Men

Rain Can't Dampen Team Australia's Spirits in Fuchu

FUCHU, JAPAN: Cold weather and steady rain disrupted Team Australia’s training today and pushed back the squad’s practice game against local side Gold’s Gym Baseball.

The weather may have changed the plans, but it did not stop the work. Thanks to the fantastic facility at Fuchu City Baseball Field, the group moved indoors and still got through a solid block of drills as preparations for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship continue.

Perth catcher Alex Hall said the mood in camp was strong regardless of the conditions.

“Obviously it’s exciting being here, when the team gets to come together, even if it’s first timers or second timers or whatever,” he said. “We all have the same goal in mind. Just win as many games as possible and play the Team Australia way.”

A second home

For Hall, Fuchu has become a familiar and welcoming base.

“Every time we get to come here, everyone’s welcoming,” he said. “You find your little spots where you want to eat and stuff like that, but also try new stuff. The facility here has got so much better, and they put so much love into it for us. It’s just an amazing place.”

Hall said training had been good so far and that the practice game would be a valuable hit out before the tournament begins. He also sees the bigger picture for Australian baseball, with talent spread across the program.

“The future’s going to be bright for Team Australia,” he said. “Not everyone’s going to be on the team. You’ve got to earn your spot, nothing’s going to be given. But just having so many guys available, it’s awesome.”

Chilly, but immaculate

Brisbane outfielder Max Durrington took the weather in his stride.

“It’s been a bit chilly, but other than that, the field’s immaculate. The turf is great,” he said. “Just really looking forward to playing with these boys again. You get to play with them maybe once a year, which is really fortunate.”

Durrington arrives in Japan after a season of professional baseball in California.

“I was in California most of the year. That was a lot of fun. Playing professional ball, I just improved a lot in my game,” he said. “I got back about three or four weeks ago, which was nice. Spent some time with the family, went to the beach and stuff like that.”

Open arms

Adelaide pitcher Cooper Morgan was confident the rain would not keep the group off the field for long.

“The weather sort of got the best of us today, but I think we’ll still get the game in,” he said.

Like Hall, Morgan said the welcome in Fuchu makes a big difference, especially for the new players.

“It’s really good coming back to the open arms community here, and really good for the new guys,” he said. “I think it’s easy to play in front of the Fuchu community because it’s always open arms.”

Having been one of the fresh faces at the WBC camp, Morgan now finds himself on the older side of the group.

“I can take a role of not so much leadership, but just let the guys know how to get ready,” he said. “Everyone’s a professional. Once they step on these fields in front of these teams, they know what they’ve got to do. I think it’s more so just getting used to the style of baseball that they play here, and getting the nerves out.”

He was clear on what the group is chasing this week.

“These guys really just love putting on the green and gold,” Morgan said. “Everyone’s got their personal goals, but everyone’s got a collective goal to win the entire thing. That’s going to put us in the best spot for the Premier12, the Olympic qualifiers and everything beyond that as well.”

Ready for the Dome

With eight or nine players set to experience the Tokyo Dome for the first time, all three players had simple advice for the newcomers.

“Everyone’s going to have each other’s back. You’re not going to be out there alone,” Hall said. “Just be in the moment, do what you have to do. Just play your baseball, play the Australian way. We’re fighters, so we’re just going to keep fighting the whole way.”

Durrington urged the debutants to enjoy it.

“The biggest thing is taking it in. It’s a surreal moment,” he said. “Don’t let the game get to you, play free. At the end of the day, the game’s the game, and the more you have fun, probably the better you’re going to do.”

Morgan is passing on the same advice he was given by Mitch Neunborn.

“My advice is pretty much what Mitch Neunborn said to me: you can’t go out there and act like it’s not happening,” he said. “Guys get really tunnel vision, but it’s one of those opportunities where you need to soak it all in.”

“They’re on this team for a reason. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t deserve it,” Morgan added. “Even against Japan, with 40 or 50,000 there, you’ve got to bring it in, and then it’s time to lock in. It’s really just a baseball game at the end of the day.”

Hall and Durrington both see the APBC as an important step toward next year’s Premier12 and a potential Olympic campaign.

“This tournament in general and playing in Japan, I think, is crucial for us,” Durrington said. “Just getting everyone used to the feel of playing in Japan, in the Tokyo Dome, in front of a big crowd. Any time we can get the team together is great.”

Hall agreed. “Obviously we want to perform to our best, and it’s a pretty serious tournament for Australian baseball,” he said. “Leading to the future, it’s just good to get guys experience in world class baseball, out of their normal routines.”

Hall also pointed to the strength of the wider program, with Australia’s U-23 side currently competing at the U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua.

“We’ve got two teams going on at the same time, so it’s so good to have two teams going on,” he said. “Hopefully we can put our best foot forward and play many games.”

Tune in Thursday 12pm Local | 2pm AEDT to watch Team Australia take on Korea at the APBC for free on Baseball+

09 November 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Team Australia - U23

Game Notes: Czechia 9 - Australia 6 | 2026 U-23 World Cup

Australia paid dearly for walks, errors and costly mistakes as Czechia claimed a 9-6 victory, handing Australia their first loss at the WBSC U23 Baseball World Cup.

Australia falls to 2-1 while Czechia improves to 1-2, with two days of pool play remaining.

The story of the game was Australia’s inability to limit free bases.

Of Czechia’s nine runs, only one was driven in by a hit. Three came on bases-loaded walks, three on wild pitches, one on a sacrifice fly and another on an error.

In total, Australian pitchers issued 11 walks.

BOX SCORE: Australia fall to Czechia

Things seemed promising for Australia early on. John Lemm and Cal Fingleson each delivered RBI singles in the first inning to give the Aussies an early 2-0 lead.

But Czech pitching settled in from there, while a patient Czech lineup capitalised on Australia’s struggles to find the strike zone.

Czechia scored once in the first, three times in the second, once in the third, once in the fourth and three more in the fifth to build a commanding lead.

Australia threatened to turn the game around in the fifth.

Trailing 6-2, Callum Donnelly drove in a run before Australia loaded the bases with just one out. However, Matyas Novotny induced an inning-ending double play to escape the jam.

Czechia promptly responded with three runs of their own to extend the lead to 9-3.

Deakin Filko, Ben Karakasis, Jesse Neretlis and Josh Beazley all took the mound for Australia. Beazley delivered Australia’s only scoreless inning, facing the minimum three batters with the help of a 6-4-3 double play.

Australia refused to go quietly, scoring the final runs of the game and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh.

However, Tadeas Zavadil shut the door to secure Czechia’s first victory of the tournament.

Australia outhit Czechia 9-6. Eight different Australians recorded a hit, led by Darcy Barry with two.

Despite the loss, Australia remains in a strong position to advance to the Super Round.

Australia sits at 2-1 with two pool games remaining. The top three teams in Pool A will advance.

Both remaining opponents currently sit with 1-1 records. The standings are below.

Australia faces Chinese Taipei on Tuesday at 3:30AM AEDT before wrapping up pool play against Panama on Wednesday at 11:00AM AEDT.

Both games can be watched live and free in Australia on Baseball+ and on Gametime.Sport around the world.

GAME NOTES

Coach Quotes: Here’s what Manager Shayne Watson had to say after the game…

“Credit to Czechia, they played a strong game and capitalised on their opportunities.

We felt well prepared and got off to a good start scoring two in the first inning. However, we gave them too many opportunities early in the game.

We fought hard to stay in the game and gave ourselves opportunities late, but Czechia were able to execute when it mattered and did enough to maintain their lead.

The good thing about tournament baseball is that you don’t have to wait long for your next opportunity.

We’ll learn from today’s performance, reset and connect quickly, and turn our full attention to Chinese Taipei tomorrow.”

A slight lineup shuffle: Australia made a few adjustments to its starting lineup. Josh Nati moved from designated hitter to catcher, swapping roles with John Lemm, while Callum Donnelly moved into the leadoff spot.

Consistent Cal: Cal Fingleson delivered an RBI single in the first inning, marking his third consecutive game with an RBI. The 20-year-old plays his college baseball at Tyler Junior College in Texas.

Filko makes the leap: At just 18 years old, Deakin Filko is one of the youngest players in the tournament. The South Australian represented the Green & Gold at the 2025 U18 World Cup and has made the jump to the U23 national team just one year later. Filko made his Australian Baseball League debut with the Adelaide Giants in 2026 and is signed to return for the upcoming season.

Neretlis the converted pitcher: Jesse Neretlis entered the game in the fourth inning for Australia. Originally committed to college as a catcher, Neretlis has since transitioned to the mound, representing Australia as a pitcher at the U23 World Cup.

Lemm leads the way: With another hit today, John Lemm has taken sole possession of the tournament hit lead through two and a half days (6).

GROUP STAGE STANDINGS

As of 6:30AM AEDT

Pool A

Australia 2-1
Chinese Taipei 1-1
Puerto Rico 1-1
Panama 1-1
Nicaragua 1-1
Czechia 1-2

Pool B

Venezuela 2-0
Japan 2-0
Korea 1-1
Cuba 1-1
Great Britain 0-1
South Africa 0-1

The top three teams in each group advance to the Super Round to compete for a medal. The bottom three will play in the Placement Round.

Full Tournament Info: WBSC Website 

Tag Cloud:
2026 u23 World Cup

08 November 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Team Australia Team Australia - Men

Team Australia arrives in Tokyo with eyes on the APBC and beyond

日本語訳は記事の下部にあります。

—

TOKYO – For Team Australia, the Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) is about much more than a few games at the Tokyo Dome. It is a proving ground, a classroom and the first step on a road that could lead all the way to the LA 2028 Olympics.

The squad came together for its first day of camp this week. With eight players representing Australia for the first time, Manager David Nilsson, pitcher Ky Hampton and outfielder Chris Burke all described the same thing: a group learning about each other fast, ahead of their first game on November 11.

“[It was a] good first day,” Nilsson said. “We’ve seen names on paper, but every time you get on the field, we’re in the uniform and you start working through stuff, it brings a whole different depth to it.”

ROSTER: Meet the members of Team Australia at the APBC

Burke said the energy around the group was obvious from the first session.

“There’s a big buzz around the group at the moment,” he said. “Everyone’s reconnecting and catching up. A lot of hard work today. Focus on being disciplined and deliberate with what we do. And it was a lot of fun – very relaxed, but intense at the same time.”

More than a result

Nilsson was clear that the aim of winning does not change from one tournament to the next. “We want to play good. You want to win every game you play,” he said. “That doesn’t change from any tournament you play in, and it’ll be no different here.”

He sees the APBC working on several levels of international competition at once.

“It’s really [about wanting] to teach the guys the process of preparing for the tournament – expose them to the Tokyo Dome, expose them to where we play and what’s needed for success on the big stage,” he said. “Being around them, seeing them perform in different environments helps me make decisions down the track. It helps them learn as individuals. It helps the team collectively. I just think it achieves so many things. But when it really comes down to it, we want to get a performance.”

From rookie to leader

For Adelaide pitcher Ky Hampton, this camp marks a change of role. At the last APBC he was one of the young players being guided by experienced teammates. Now he is one of the senior heads.

“The last time this one was on, I was one of those younger guys coming through, and I had the likes of Sam Holland coming in and helping us out,” Hampton said. “So being able to switch that and be one of the older guys for the new guys coming through the program – it’s a little role change for me, but something I’m willing to embrace.”

Hampton said the camp felt familiar, with day one “very similar to a lot of our WBC training camp days.”

He admitted there were still plenty of introductions to make.

“A lot of these guys I hadn’t even met until today, so it’s learning names, putting names to faces,” he said. “But that’s tournament baseball. We’ll be ready to go by game one.”

What he has seen so far has him excited.

“Where this program is going, it’s very exciting,” he said. “Seeing these guys come through, all the talent that they have – the future’s very bright.”

The best preparation

Melbourne outfielder Chris Burke knows exactly what the APBC can do for a player. He credits his last APBC with preparing him for this year’s World Baseball Classic, also played at the Tokyo Dome.

“For me personally, the APBC was the best prep for the WBC,” Burke said. “It was the best tournament I’d been involved in as a junior or senior player, [before making] the men’s national team. You get exposed to those high-pressure situations and a big atmosphere, a packed-out stadium. It’s just going to do us all wonders, because I took a lot from that. It made me more comfortable for the Classic.”

His own approach this time is simple.

“For myself, it stays the same. Just be ready – whatever my role is, be ready,” he said. “I’m excited to talk to a lot of the guys that haven’t had an experience of the Tokyo Dome atmosphere, and to give them a few insights as to what helped get me through it.”

Welcome to the Tokyo Dome

For the debutants, the biggest test may be the setting itself: a crowd of up to 50,000 at the Tokyo Dome.

All three had the same message: embrace it, and lean on each other.

“Japanese fans are great. It was very loud in that dome,” Burke said. “Something that I really liked and got help from was to trust yourself, trust those around you. Really look at each other when you’re a bit confused or it might be getting a bit overwhelming, but just embrace it. It’s a great atmosphere. We’re out there together, so play together and win together.”

Hampton told the new players not to be overawed.

“Go out there and soak it all in, especially against Team Japan with 50,000 in the Tokyo Dome,” he said. “Soak it in, but don’t be intimidated, because there’s a reason you’re here. You’re just as good as the guys on the other side. It’s basically just believing in yourself, trusting the process, and knowing that everything’s going to take care of itself.”

Nilsson pointed to process.

“You just try to stick to your process,” he said. “Regardless of whether there’s zero people in the stands or 50,000. But the reality is, when there’s big crowds, you get adrenaline, you get nerves, and you have all these different emotions you have to deal with. They’re human, so that’s going to pop up every now and then.”

“Really, I just want them to experience it,” he added. “I just want them to focus on being a good teammate, playing for the team, and being in the moment for themselves with what they have to do.”

The road to LA

The APBC also starts a significant two-year run for Australian baseball. Next year’s Premier12 doubles as an Olympic qualifier, with a place at LA 2028 the prize.

For Nilsson, the tournament is a chance to see more players under pressure before he names those squads.

“I have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to rosters in the future – the Premier12 Olympic qualifier next year,” he said. “The depth in Australia is growing, which makes it very tough when you’re in my position, because you have to make tough decisions. That’s a really healthy thing.”

“The more eyes I can get on more different players in this environment, it’s going to help me make that calculated decision – not just myself, but all the other coaches as well, when they contribute to that selection process.”

Hampton sees it the same way. “This is really big. It’s another opportunity to show what we can do on the world stage,” he said. “It shows the talent we’ve got coming through and how we stack up against the rest of the world. We’re probably going to be back here for Premier12, and I imagine we’ll probably be back here for the next WBC and even the Olympics. So getting everyone used to this environment – it’s only going to lead to good things for the future.”

Burke agreed.

“It’s pretty exciting what’s on the road ahead,” he said. “These tournaments coming up, it’s going to be just the same as the Classic.”

Watch All the APBC games for free. on Baseball+ starting 11th of November.

JAPANESE VERSION
—-

ロサンゼルス五輪への第一歩。オーストラリア代表がAPBCに向けて始動

東京発 — オーストラリア代表にとって、アジアプロ野球チャンピオンシップ（APBC）は、東京ドームで数試合を戦うだけの大会ではない。

それは選手たちが自らの実力を証明する舞台であり、国際大会で戦うための学びの場でもある。そして、2028年ロサンゼルス五輪へと続く道の第一歩でもある。

今週、代表チームは初日の合宿を行った。今回のメンバーには、初めてオーストラリア代表に選出された選手が8人含まれている。

11月11日の初戦を前に、デーブ・ニルソン監督、投手のカイ・ハンプトン、外野手のクリス・バークが共通して語ったのは、短い時間の中で互いを知り、チームとしての結束を深めていくことの重要性だった。

「良い初日になりました」とニルソン監督は振り返る。

「これまでは紙の上で選手の名前を見ていただけでした。でも、実際に同じユニフォームを着てグラウンドに立ち、一緒に練習を始めると、選手たちへの理解がまったく違う深さになります」

代表メンバー：APBCオーストラリア代表の選手紹介はこちら

バークも、初日からチーム全体に良い雰囲気が生まれていると話す。

「今、チームにはすごく良い活気があります。みんな久しぶりに再会して、近況を話し合っています。今日はしっかり練習しました。一つひとつのプレーに意図を持ち、規律を大切にすることを意識しました。とても楽しかったですし、リラックスした雰囲気の中にも集中力がありました」

勝敗だけではない大会の価値

ニルソン監督は、どの大会でも勝利を目指す姿勢は変わらないと強調する。

「良い野球をしたいですし、出場するすべての試合に勝ちたいと思っています。それはどの大会でも変わりません。今回も同じです」

一方で、ニルソン監督はAPBCには勝敗以外にも、国際大会に向けたさまざまな意義があると考えている。

「大切なのは、大会に向けてどのように準備するのか、そのプロセスを選手たちに教えることです。東京ドームという舞台を経験させ、どのような環境でプレーするのか、そして大舞台で成功するために何が必要なのかを知ってもらいたいのです」

「選手たちと一緒に過ごし、さまざまな環境でのプレーを見ることは、今後の選考にも役立ちます。選手自身の成長にもつながりますし、チーム全体にとってもプラスになります。この大会には本当に多くの意味があります。ただ、最終的にはしっかりと結果を出したいと思っています」

カイ・ハンプトン

若手からリーダーへ

アデレード出身の投手、カイ・ハンプトンにとって、今回の合宿は自身の役割が変わる機会でもある。

前回のAPBCでは、経験豊富な先輩選手たちから指導を受ける若手の一人だった。しかし今回は、チームを支えるベテランの立場になった。

「前回この大会に出場した時は、僕が若手の一人でした。サム・ホランドのような経験豊富な選手が来て、僕たちを助けてくれました」とハンプトンは話す。

「今回は立場が逆になって、僕が新しく代表に入ってきた若い選手たちをサポートする側になりました。少し役割は変わりましたが、喜んで引き受けたいと思っています」

ハンプトンによると、初日の練習は「WBCに向けた代表合宿と非常によく似ていた」という。

一方で、初めて顔を合わせる選手も多かった。

「今日初めて会った選手もたくさんいます。まずは名前を覚えて、顔と一致させるところからですね。でも、それが国際大会の野球です。初戦までにはしっかり準備が整うと思います」

ここまで見てきた若手選手たちの姿に、ハンプトンは大きな期待を寄せている。

「この代表プログラムが向かっている方向は、本当に楽しみです。若い選手たちが次々と出てきて、その才能を見ることができています。オーストラリア野球の未来はとても明るいと思います」

クリス・バーク

最高の準備の場

メルボルン出身の外野手、クリス・バークは、APBCが選手にどれほど大きな経験をもたらすかをよく知っている。

バークは前回のAPBCでの経験が、同じ東京ドームで開催された今年のワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（WBC）に向けた最高の準備になったと振り返る。

「個人的には、APBCはWBCに向けた最高の準備でした」とバークは話す。

「男子代表に入るまで、ジュニアでもシニアでもさまざまな大会に出場しましたが、APBCはその中で最高の大会でした。大きなプレッシャーのかかる場面や、満員の球場の雰囲気を経験できます」

「あの経験は僕たち全員にとって大きな財産になります。僕自身も多くのことを学びましたし、そのおかげでWBCではより落ち着いてプレーすることができました」

今回の大会に向けた自身の姿勢はシンプルだ。

「僕自身の考え方は変わりません。どんな役割を任されても、いつでも準備ができていることです」

「東京ドームの雰囲気をまだ経験していない選手たちと話すのが楽しみです。自分があの環境でプレーする時に役立ったことを、少しでも伝えたいと思っています」

デーブ・ニルソン監督

東京ドームという大舞台へようこそ

代表デビューを迎える選手たちにとって、最大の試練は東京ドームという舞台そのものかもしれない。最大5万人の観客が詰めかける球場でのプレーが待っている。

ニルソン、ハンプトン、バークの3人が共通して伝えたメッセージは、その雰囲気を楽しみ、仲間を信頼することだった。

「日本のファンは素晴らしいです。東京ドームは本当に大きな歓声に包まれます」とバークは話す。

「僕が大切にしていたのは、自分自身を信じ、周りの仲間を信じることでした。少し混乱したり、圧倒されそうになったりした時には、チームメートと顔を見合わせて、お互いを頼りにすることです」

「でも、何よりその雰囲気を楽しんでほしいです。本当に素晴らしい環境です。僕たちは一緒にグラウンドに立っているのだから、一緒にプレーして、一緒に勝つんです」

ハンプトンも、若い選手たちには物怖じせずにプレーしてほしいと語る。

「特に日本代表との試合では、東京ドームに5万人の観客が入るかもしれません。その雰囲気を存分に味わってほしいです」

「でも、怖がる必要はありません。ここに選ばれたのには理由があります。相手の選手たちと同じように、自分たちにも実力があるんです」

「大切なのは自分を信じ、これまで積み重ねてきたことを信じることです。そうすれば、結果は自然についてくると思います」

ニルソン監督は、普段通りの準備とプレーを続けることが重要だと説明する。

「観客が一人もいなくても、5万人いても、自分たちのプロセスを守ることが大切です」

「ただ、実際には大観衆の前に立つとアドレナリンが出ますし、緊張もします。さまざまな感情に対処しなければなりません。選手たちも人間ですから、そうしたことは当然起こります」

「何より、選手たちにはその経験をしてほしいと思っています。良いチームメートであること、チームのためにプレーすること、そして自分がやるべきことに集中し、その瞬間を大切にしてほしいです」

ロサンゼルスへの道

今回のAPBCは、オーストラリア野球にとって重要な2年間の始まりでもある。

来年のプレミア12はオリンピック予選も兼ねており、2028年ロサンゼルス五輪への出場権が懸かっている。

ニルソン監督にとって、今回の大会は将来の代表メンバーを決める前に、より多くの選手がプレッシャーのかかる環境でどのようにプレーするかを見極める機会でもある。

「今後の代表メンバーの選考では、多くの決断をしなければなりません。来年にはオリンピック予選を兼ねたプレミア12もあります」とニルソン監督は話す。

「オーストラリアの選手層は厚くなっています。それは監督の立場からすると、難しい決断を迫られるということでもあります。でも、それは非常に健全なことです」

「このような環境で、できるだけ多くの選手を自分の目で見ることができれば、より的確な判断につながります。それは私だけでなく、選考に関わる他のコーチたちにとっても同じです」

ハンプトンも、この大会の重要性を強く感じている。

「これは本当に大きな機会です。世界の舞台で自分たちに何ができるのかを示す、もう一つのチャンスです」

「オーストラリアからどれほどの才能ある選手が育っているのか、そして世界の強豪国と比べて自分たちがどの位置にいるのかを示すことができます」

「プレミア12でも、おそらくまたここに戻ってくるでしょうし、次のWBCやオリンピックでも、このような舞台で戦うことになると思います」

「だからこそ、今のうちに選手たちがこの環境に慣れることは、将来に向けて必ずプラスになるはずです」

バークも同じ思いだ。

「これから先に待っていることを考えると、本当にワクワクします。今後の大会も、WBCと同じような大舞台になると思います」

APBCの全試合は、11月11日からBaseball+で無料視聴できます。

Baseball.com.au Logo

Baseball.com.au is a division of The Australian Baseball Federation. The Australian Baseball Federation is the peak representative body for baseball in Australia. The Australian Baseball Federation has national and international regulatory and coordination responsibilities. In performing those functions, the Australian Baseball Federation uses the descriptor: "Baseball Australia". (0.0.0)

Subscribe to monthly newsletter
Baseball.com.au Shop
Play Baseball
© 2026 Baseball.com.au. All rights reserved. (0.0.0) Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
Website design by Thirst Creative