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This story is written by Eric Balnar, with photos from Scott Powick. We are filing daily stories from Australia’s ten-day training camp in Fuchu, Japan as they prepare to play in the Premier12. For more stories, visit www.baseball.com.au/premier12.

The last time we saw Australian right-handed pitcher Ky Jackson was September, 2024. He was carving up opponents while wearing the Green & Gold at the Under 23 World Cup in China.

In fact, you could make the argument Jackson has been Australia’s U23 ‘Ace’ over the last three years. 

In two World Cups, Jackson has posted a 1.69 ERA across six games and 20.2 innings.

But today, he was his own national program’s opponent.

Ky was playing for his professional team in Japan, but against Australia.

“I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous,” said Jackson. “Nerves, but the excitement part of it wins because I obviously know all the boys. It was weird. Because you never get an opportunity to pitch against Team Australia, I’ve always been with them. It was weird. But exciting.”

Above: Jackson pitching for Australia at the U23 World Cup

Australia is playing a series of five exhibition games against five different Industrial Japanese League opponents as part of their 10-day training camp in Fuchu City.

These teams are effectively baseball playing divisions of companies owned by mega-Japanese companies, featuring a groundswell of young Japanese talent and former NPB professionals.

Jackson, a 23-year-old who was born, raised and developed in the New South Wales baseball system, moved to Japan when he was 18-years-old to pursue his baseball dream.

His mother is Japanese, his father in Australia, so he has a passport.

At 18, Ky moved to Japan to attend university, to play baseball, and to earn sports psychology degree.

Now, Jackson finds himself playing for Nippon Express – today’s Industrial League opponent for Team Australia.

He opened the game, tossing 2.0 innings allowing a couple hits and a run.

Above: Ky Jackson on the mound on Friday for Nippon Express. Photo: Scott Powick.

He says he was maybe more nervous to face his friends than he was to play with them at a World Cup.

“It’s waaaay different nerves,” says Jackson. “But yeah, probably more. It’s just because I know all the boys. This was really fun and probably a one-of-a-kind experience. Bragging rights, you know?”

His Aussie mates were ‘heaps keen’ to face a fellow national team brother.

Solomon Maguire, Rixon Wingrove, Coen Wynne, Alex Hall, Will Sheriff, Blake Townsend & Jarryd Dale were all once U23 World Cup teammates with Jackson, either in 2022 or 2024, in addition to their Aussie domestic exploits.

Now that group is on Australia’s Premier12 roster.

Ky’s first at-bat of the game was against Travis Bazzana – a player he played charter baseball at Ryde with growing up.

“I saw [Travis] before the game and I asked him what pitch he wanted. He said give me a fastball. So, I said ‘you got it’ and I gave him a fastball,” laughs Jackson.

Bazzana ambushed the pitch of the game and found himself on base.

“That’s what he does,” says Jackson.

“Yeah, it was kind of a cheap one,” says Bazzana. “But Ky, he’s always been such a great and competitive player growing up. One of the best pitchers in the state kind of thing.”

Outfielder Solomon Maguire says it was a cool moment for him on a personal level. It was another instance in an ever growing list of moments the two have helped each other out. He shares insights as to just how Australian baseball players help each other out.

“Me and Ky are close so whenever we end up back [on the same team], we talk about what we’ve been working on, talk about the path we are on and if we can get pointers from each other. We are in two different baseball countries that play the game completely different,” he says.

Maguire says this game felt special for a number of reasons.

“At the last World Cup, I sat down and asked him how he would pitch to me knowing my weaknesses,” says Maguire. “He broke it down for me and I was like, ‘yeah you would completely get me out.’ But those conversations are healthy because now I can go away and work and figure out how to overcome that. I know for me and a lot of guys it’s a fun experience to test your stuff at this level against a mate.”

Above: Blake Townsend, Solomon Maguire, Ky Jackson, Travis Bazzana and Will Sherriff have all played for Australia together at the U23 or junior levels. Photo: Scott Powick.

Jackson and his Aussie mates all shared a hug and laugh before the game.

“We grew up together, we love each other, yeah it was special,” he says.

Jackson is draft eligible for the NPB next season. He says that’s what he’s working towards right now.

 That, and reaching the senior national team.

“Since I was 12 or 13 I’ve always wanted to play for Australia. I always do and still want to play for Australia. One day hopefully I am good enough to be on one of these senior teams in the future. That’s definitely on my mind. I just have to keep working towards it,” he says.

LENDING A HELPING HAND

Jackson has a big smile on his face when reflecting on the experience.

“Everybody was so pumped,” says Jackson of the Nippon Express. “They were all asking me about all the players and the level. I would say this is a big memory for a lot of them.”

Above: Group Photo – Nippon Express x Team Australia. 

“When we found out we were playing Team Australia it was such a huge honour for everyone. You know, we watch those tournaments in our dorm rooms, with each other, at work. Everyone knows this is Team Australia,” he says.

Jackson says he could tell it meant a lot for those on Nippon Express to play today.

“It’s a surreal thing for my teammates too. Now we’ve played them, now we can go cheer for them knowing we’ve done our part to help get them ready to play [a major tournament],” he says.

Baseball Australia CEO Glenn Williams says it is another great example of how the Japanese community rallies around Team Australia. 

He says these exhibition games are crucial in preparing the team.

“We give Fuchu City a schedule and say we would like to play five games in these time slots and they go and get it done,” he says. “It’s remarkable because some times games are at funny times. They’re not on weekends. They go out of their way for us.”

Players from SegaSammy, another Industrial League team, working on the field pre-game to help Australia prepare for the Premier12. Photo: Scott Powick.

Williams says the games are an important part of the process.

“Guys need to play. They need to have at-bats, they need to face high quality opponents and that’s the quality of the opposition we are facing. We are very appreciative,” he says.

But for Ky, it was a merging of two worlds.

“Japanese people love the game, respect the game, support the game and respect the opponent,” he says. “Now we are part of the journey.”

“For me it was good. Kind of felt like I was in both my homes.”

Solomon Maguire let his play do the talking in Australia’s 9-2 win over South Africa on the final day of the World Cup.

Australia’s centerfielder went 2-for-4 with a home run, four runs batted in and a diving catch.

He had enough game changing moments today to create his own highlight reel, but Maguire says the team wanted to leave the tournament with a statement.

“After we had a few tough loses in the last few days it was easy for any of us to check out and think of home time,” he says. “I was impressed by the team today and shows the fight our country has no matter the situation. That’s what gives us continuous chances at all tournaments over and over again.”
Maguire may have played the leading role but there were contributions from everywhere. All nine players in the starting nine reached base. Four pitchers combined to allow five hits.

It wasn’t easy – at least early. South Africa took an early 1-0 lead.

Maguire installed an Australian advantage with a two-out, 2-RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second to give Australia their first lead.

Australia muscled in a six run third inning to soar ahead 9-2. Maguire punctuated the damaging frame with a two-run homer.
He left his final signature on the game – and the tournament – by making an incredible diving catch in the outfield to end the game.

Maguire was quick to credit his teammates.

“Tournament play is about trusting what we have. Our whole team is good enough to get the job done in any of the situations that were presented in front of us,” he says. “I was lucky enough that my trust led to me helping out of team when we needed it.”

Once Australia had the lead they made sure not to relinquish it. Some tidy defense and excellent work from the pitching staff closed the door.

Left-handed pitcher Conor Myles was particularly impressive. In his third appearance of the tournament, Myles tossed 3.0 innings with five strike outs and no runs.

He finishes the tournament as Australia’s pitching leader: 7.0 innings with no runs allowed.

Chris Burke and Cayden Nicoletto joined Maguire with two hits.

Australia used four pitchers in the win – Zak Elvy, Dylan Clarke, Conor Myles and Lachlan Brook.

The big win marks the end of Australia’s World Cup campaign – with a 4-4 record vs eight different countries. They will finish ninth in the World Cup, and pick up a projected 207 World Ranking Points.

You can read about the game flow below.

BOX SCORE: Stats, scores & play-by-play
U23 WORLD CUP HUB: All your Team Australia news
WBSC PAGE: Official WBSC U23 World Cup Page

PLACEMENT ROUND STANDINGS

7. Netherlands 4-1
8. Chinese Taipei 4-1
9. Australia 3-2
10. Colombia 2-3
11. South Africa 1-4
12. Great Britain 1-4

Game Recap – As It Happened

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After teams traded scoreless innings, South Africa struck first in the second.

They barely had to put a ball in play. Zak Elvy walked two batters before Dylan Clarke entered in relief. A pair more of walks, and South Africa scored a run thanks to four base on balls.

Australia responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second.

A single to Cayden Nicoletto, walk to Jake Burns and a Ben Fierenzi hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Solomon Maguire knocked in a pair of runs with a checked swing that deflected the ball up the middle for a 2-RBI single.

Fierenzi scored on a double steal attempt to push the score to 3-1.

South Africa pegged one back in the top of the third.

But Australia did the bulk of their day’s damage in the bottom of the third.

Australia played six runs, punctuated by a two-run Solomon Maguire, to steam ahead.

Cayden Nicoletto started the scoring by driving in a run with an RBI double that was cranked off the top of the wall. JAKE BURNS followed with an RBI single.

Australia scored on a wild pitch and passed ball to push the score to 7-2. That’s when Maguire blew it open with his two-run homer – his second long ball in as many days and fourth RBI of the afternoon.

From there, it was one for the pitchers.

Conor Myles was particularly impressive, going 3.0 innings with five strike outs and no runs. Lachlan Brook pitched a clean final inning, helped by an amazing Solomon Maguire diving catch.

FINAL SCORE: Australia 9 def South Africa 2

Some pretty defensive plays, excellent bullpen work, and a pair of homers wasn’t enough for Australia as Chinese Taipei took Friday’s Placement Round game.

The win drops Australia’s record to 2-2 in the Placement Round with one game to play vs South Africa. Chinese Taipei improves to 3-1.

Australia’s opponent did all their scoring in the second inning. They rattled off four runs and Australia was on the back foot early.

Zak Skinner’s third inning solo shot and Solomon Maguire’s two-run bomb in the fifth accounted for Australia’s scoring. But that’s all she wrote for Australia, who out hit the Taiwanese by 6-5.

There were numerous nice defensive plays in the field, including Maguire throwing a runner out at home and some smooth infield work by BJay Cooke & Jo Stevens.

Australia’s bullpen of Stuart Tharle, Will Sherriff, Josh Beezley, and Lachlan Brook combined to toss 5.1 relief innings, allowing three hits, no walks and and seven strikeouts.

Chinese Taipei starting pitcher Jia-Hue Zeng turned in an almighty effort. He allowed just two hits in 4.0 innings and the lone run.

It’s the second one run loss in as many days for Australia, who fell 3-2 to Netherlands yesterday.

Australia will look to finish strong with a game vs South Africa tomorrow at 12:00PM AEST>

BOX SCORE: Stats, scores & play-by-play
U23 WORLD CUP HUB: All your Team Australia news
WBSC PAGE: Official WBSC U23 World Cup Page

Other Placement Round Scores
Day 7: Colombia 12 def South Africa 3….Great Britain 2 def Netherlands 1

PLACEMENT ROUND STANDINGS

7. Netherlands 3-1
8. Chinese Taipei 3-1
9. Australia 2-2
10. Colombia 2-2
11. South Africa 1-3
12. Great Britain 1-3

Game Recap – As It Happened

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Taiwan scored first.

They put up a crooked number in the second, scoring four runs. A pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch put runners on all the bases with no outs.

Australian starter Ali Tanner was able to strike out a couple batters, but Chinese Taipei scored thanks to singles from Heng-Yu Ho and Chun-Wei Liu.

Four runs crossed the plate in total. It spelled the end of the day for Tanner, with Stuart Tharle taking the reins.

Zak Skinner crunched a solo shot to start the second to try to ignite the Aussie offence, but it remained their only hit until….

Australia’s defense tried to hold them in it.

Solomon Maguire threw out a runner at home from centre to help Australia complete a double-play and escape the third without allowing a run.

In the fourth, Will Sherriff entered the game with two runners on and one-out. He worked a strike-out and a ground ball to escape with no damage.

He also pitched a clean fifth. Sherriff’s final line read: 1.2 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk and no runs.

Chinese Taipei starter Jia-Hue Zeng finished his afternoon pitching 4.0 innings allowing two hits, two walks and just the lone run.

Kuan-Ying Chen took the ball from there.

Australia wasted little time to strike back closer. Solomon Maguire crunched a two-run shot of Chen over the right-field wall to move the scoreline to 4-3.

Josh Beezley then entered the game as the fourth Australian reliever of the game. He manoeuvred through 1.1 innings, registering three strikeouts, one walk and no runs.

Lachlan Brook took the baton from there – recording two outs including a big strikeout in the seventh with a runner in scoring position.

Australia went down in order in the seventh.

Australia outhit Chinese Taipei 6-5.

FINAL SCORE: Chinese Taipei 4 – Australia 3

A game of missed opportunities for Australia.

Netherlands didn’t have many scoring opportunities in their 3-2 Placement Round game win over Australia at the Under 23 World Cup, but when they had them they took advantage.

The Dutch brought a string of six players to the plate, scoring all three runs in the fifth inning, just moments after breaking up a valiant no-hit attempt from Aussie starter Kieren Hall

The win improves Netherlands’ Placement Round record to 3-0, while Australia falls to 2-0.

Hall (Below) was excellent for the Aussies. In fact, he faced the minimum through four, only succumbing a walk which was promptly erased by a double play. He struck out five.

His no hitter laster until there were two outs in the last.

But the Dutch broke the no-hitter with a double. They followed with a walk, and that was the end of Hall’s day.

Then, off reliever Stuart Tharle, they singled in a pair of runs. Tharle struck out the following batter Raydley Legito.

Australia thought they were out of the inning just giving up the pair. They were in the dugout.

But the ball slipped away from the catcher, ruled a passed ball and a strikeout, and Legito stood on first. The Aussies were called back out from the dugout and Netherlands scored two more runs.

It was their only real scoring opportunity of the game and the Dutch made the most of it.

Australia had their chances.

Bases loaded, no outs in the fourth? One run – and off a passed ball.

Australia trailed 3-2 in the seventh & final inning with two runners on and no outs, but failed to score the tying run.

Each team had four hits in the game, led by BJay Cooke who went 2-for-3.

Both starting pitchers turned in solid performances.

Dutch starter Dylan Farley allowed just two base runners in his first three innings of work, before Australia scored their first run in the fourth.

For Kieren Hall, his stat line reads: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 ER.

There were some nice defensive moments, too.

Australia is currently playing in the Placement Round after missing out on the Super Round following Pool Play despite a 3-2 record. Crucial world ranking points are up for grabs.

Records against teams you’ve already played carry over. For Australia, this means wins over Great Britain and Colombia started their Placement Round campaign with a 2-0 record.

Australia plays Chinese Taipei (2-1) on Friday at 4:30PM AEST. Australia will need to win if they want to finish top eight.

BOX SCORE: Stats, scores & play-by-play
U23 WORLD CUP HUB: All your Team Australia news
WBSC PAGE: Official WBSC U23 World Cup Page

Other Placement Round Scores
Day 6: South Africa 8 def Great Britain 6….Chinese Taipei 5 def Colombia 1

PLACEMENT ROUND STANDINGS

7. Netherlands 3-0
8. Australia 2-1
9. Chinese Taipei 2-1
10. Colombia 1-2
11. South Africa 1-2
12. Great Britain 0-3

RECAP – AS IT HAPPENED

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A pitcher’s duel from the moment the umpire said ‘Play Ball!’.

Dylan Farley turned in a fantastic pitching performance for the Dutch in the early stages. He allowed just two base runners – a hit-by-pitch and a hit – in the first three innings.

Australian starter Kieren Hall (below) was even better. He allowed just one base-runner, a walk, through the first four innings with five strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander sat down 14 of 15 batters, and faced the minimum through four thanks to a double-play.

Australia scored their first runs in the fourth inning. A hit-by-pitch, error and a walk loaded the bases with no outs.

While Australian bats struggled to capitalise, a passed ball between pitcher Pim Vijvinkel and catcher Sem Kuijper put Australia on the board.  A second run was tagged out at home.

1-0 Australia through four.

Netherlands struck gold in the fifth. With two outs, they promptly saw a succession of six straight batters reach and three runs touch home.

Netherlands broke up Kieren Hall’s no-hitter attempt with two outs in the fourth inning. Rushenten Tomsjansen doubled down the line. He walked the next batter.

Stuart Tharle came into relieve for the Australian starter, but Gedionne Marlin singled in a pair of runs to give Netherlands a 2-1 lead.

Then, a bizarre moment. Tharle struck out Raydley Legito but the ball slipped away. Morgan and the Australian defensive walked to the dugout for what they thought was the third out of the inning. Meanwhile, Legito wandered his way down to first base and stood pat.

A stand-off: Australia thought the inning was over, Netherlands did not.

The umpires ruled in favour of the Dutch. Australia sent their squad back out in the field and Cooper Morgan to the mound. A pair of walks, another run, 3-1.

Australia had only one hit entering the seventh.

That changed immediately.

BJay Cooke led off with a double, Alex Skepton had a pinch hit single and Ben Fierenzi drove in a run with a single to cut the lead to 3-2.

But that was all they could muster. The next three batters went down in order.

FINAL: Netherlands 3, Australia 2.

 

Australia has been eliminated from the Super Round at the Under 23 World Cup after a 4-1 loss to China.

The defeat drops Australia’s record to 3-2, unable to win any tiebreakers to break them into the top three of Pool A.

China’s victory was powered by a remarkable starting pitching performance and a three-run fifth inning where the ball never left the infield.

Full credit to Chinese starter Zhao Wei who went 6.0 innings allowing four hits and one run.

The fifth inning started with the scores tied at one.

China scored all fifth inning runs without a ball leaving the infield.

A dropped third strike, two walks, a passed ball, an infield bunt and a ground ball all amounted to three runs and a 4-1 lead late.

Before that, it looked like a pitcher’s duel.

Ky Jackson allowed just one hit and walked only two batters in his 4.2 innings of work, but China were certainly opportunistic.

Zak Skinner had the lone RBI for Australia.

Australia will await their consolation round schedule from September 12-14. They will begin the round with a 2-0 record with wins over Great Britain and Colombia.

BOX SCORE: Stats and Play-by-Play – Australia vs China 

AUSTRALIA’s U23 WORLD CUP HUB: Follow Team Australia 

RECAP

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China sent Wei Zhao to the mound following his impressive performance vs Japan where he allowed just three hits.

He retired the first four batters he faced. The run was broken up by a triple to Jo Stevens, his sixth hit of the tournament, and an RBI-single to Zak Skinner put Australia up 1-0.

China responded with a Yi Zhou solo shot on the first hit of the second inning against starter Ky Jackson.

Both pitchers were otherwise brilliant in the early stages.

Through four innings, Ky Jackson retired twelve of the first 13 batters, with four strikeouts and no walks.

Wei Zhao retired 15 of 18 through five innings with five punch outs.

They matched each other blow-for-blow.

Until the fifth inning for China. They scored three runs without hitting a ball out of the infield.

A dropped third strike and pair of walks put two runners on with one out.

A ground ball to third base scored a run to give China a 2-1 lead with two away in the fifth.

It spelled the end of the afternoon for Jackson, who finished with a final line of 4.2 innings, one hit, two walks, five strikeouts and three earned runs.

Will Sherriff came in to relieve, but his first pitch slipped away from Zak Skinner, scoring another Chinese run from third. The next run came off an infield bunt single.

4-1.

Sherriff pitched a clean seventh inning.

Australia was unable to muster any more with the bat.

In a game with a combined 22 hits and 25 runs, a last inning defensive sequence proved to be the biggest moment in Australia’s 13-12 victory over Great Britain at the Under 23 World Cup.

Australia led 5-0, 10-4 and 13-8 at different moments of the game.

But every time Australia looked like they were about to pull away, Great Britain kept fighting back.

Welcome to your information hub for Australia’s journey at the 2024 Under 23 World Cup.

Tournament Dates: September 6-15 in Shaoxing, China

Here you will find roster information, behind-the-scenes stories, schedule, streaming links, scores and recaps.

WBSC Official World Cup Page: Click here.

Australia is in Pool A with Colombia, Puerto Rico, China, Japan and Great Britain. The top three teams advance to the super-round. Standings.

Australia finished fourth in Pool A with a 3-2 record and played in the Placement Round for valuable World Ranking Points.

Overall, Australia finishes ninth.

Schedule, Scores & Streaming

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Watch all games on the WBSC streaming service Gametime.Sport. 

View Australia’s final stats here. 

PLACEMENT ROUND SCHEDULE / SCORES
Records against teams from your original group carry over to the Placement Round. In this case, wins vs Colombia and Great Britain cross over. Standings below.

 

Netherlands 3 def Australia 2 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

Chinese Taipei 4 def Australia 3 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

Australia 9 def South Africa 2 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

FIRST ROUND – GROUP STAGES

– Game 1: Australia 4 def Colombia 2 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

– Game 2: Australia 5 def Puerto Rico 4 (extra innings) | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

– Game 3: Japan 4 def Australia 1 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

– Game 4: Australia 13 def Great Britain 12 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

– Game 5: China 4 def Australia 1 | RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS | BOX SCORE |

 

Subscribe for a tournament pass for the Under 23 World Cup on Gamete.Sport

Current Standings

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via WBSC website, top three teams from each pool advance to Super Round Sept 12-15

PLACEMENT ROUND STANDINGS

Netherlands  3-1
Chinese Taipei 3-1
Australia  2-2
Colombia 2-2
South Africa 1-2
Great Britain 0-3

Final Standings of Pool Play

POOL A FINAL STANDINGS

1. Puerto Rico 4-1
2. Japan 4-1
3. China 3-2
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4. Australia 3-2
5. Colombia 1-4
6. Great Britain 0-5

POOL B FINAL STANDINGS 

1.  Nicaragua 5-0
2. Venezuela 4-1
3. South Korea 3-2
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4. Netherlands 2-3
5. Chinese Taipei 1-4
6. South Africa 0-5

Stories

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RECAP September 10 – Australia eliminated from U23 medal contention with loss to China

RECAP September 9 – Defense makes play when it mattered the most in Australia’s 13-12 win over Great Britain

RECAP September 8 – Four fifth inning runs paces Japan to 4-1 win over Australia

RECAP September 7 – Australia wins extra innings classic over Puerto Rico

RECAP September 6 – Australia battles their way back to a 4-2 victory over Colombia

About Colombia: Click here to learn about the Colombian team

September 4 – Zak Elvy added to Australia’s World Cup Roster ahead of Friday start

September 1 – Who are Australia’s twelve professional players at the Under 23 World Cup & what lessons can they bring to the team?

August 30 – Conor Myles & Lachlan Brook added to Team Australia’s roster

August 27 – Meet & Hear from Australia’s college players ready to announce themselves at the U23 World Cup

August 22 – Player Bios: Australia names U23 Roster

Roster

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Australia named their 24-man roster in August. You can view the initial story here, with information about each player. Scroll down for the full list.

College Players: We talked to each of our college athletes on the team to find out how they’ve grown as a person and player.

Professional Players: We talked to the 12 players under pro contracts here

Manager: Shayne Watson
Pitching Coach: Graeme Lloyd
Assistant Coaches: Damian Shanahan & Nathan Van Der Linden
EO: Rob Moden

World number one Japan scored all of their runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead of Australia in there 4-1 win at the Under 23 World Cup on Sunday.

Australia falls to 2-1 in Pool A at the World Cup and are now in a four-way tie for first place with Japan, China and Puerto Rico.

The top three teams advance to the Super Round. Australia has two games remaining – vs Great Britain and China – and may need to win both of them to advance.
This one could have been different. Australia had plenty of early chances.

Australia had bases loaded with one out in the second. They loaded the bases again in the third – this time with no outs.

Australia managed to score just one run off a Jo Stevens single.

It allowed Japan to stay in touch and rock four runs in a damaging fifth inning where nine players came to the plate. Takuya Yamada cranked a double off the wall to score to runs and Kota Takata provided the insurance with his two out, two-RBI single.

The full game recap, as it happened, is below.

AUSTRALIA U23 HUB: All the stories, standings and tournament details

Kieren Hall turned in an excellent performance on the mound for Australia. The opening pitcher threw 2.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits & no walks. His fastball regularly touched 93mph.

Conor Myles pitched another two scoreless innings.

Both teams recorded seven hits. Japan was just a little bit more opportunistic.

Jo Stevens led the Australian offence with three hits and the lone RBI.

Australia’s next game is Monday 9 September at 5:00PM AEST vs Great Britain.

BOX SCORE: View the stats

Other Day 3 Results
– Pool A: China 4 def Colombia 3…Puerto Rico 8 def Great Britain 3
– Pool B: Venezuela 10 def South Africa 0…Korea 4 def Netherlands 0

Pool B Standings

T1. Australia 2-1
T1. China 2-1
T1. Japan 2-1
T1. Puerto Rico 2-1
5. Colombia 1-2
6. Great Britain 0-3

Head to WBSC website for official ladder – top three advance to Super Round

RECAP – HOW IT UNFOLDED

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24-year-old Western Australian Kieren Hall delivered a wonderful opening inning for Australia. His fastball sat around 93-miles-per hour, while dealing up a pair of strikeouts.

Industrial League pitcher Ryota Gotoh returned serve with a 1-2-3 inning of his own.

Hall was brilliant for Australia. He finished with six strike strikeouts in his 2.2 innings, conceding two hits and no walks.

Ben Fierenzi lent a helping hand with some sensation defense at second base.

Meanwhile, Australian bats started to pressure.

The Aussies recorded three straight one out singles to load the bases in the second, but Gota struck out Jake Burns and forced Fierenzi into a shallow pop out to escape the jam. All were left stranded.

They loaded the bases again in the third, this time with no outs.

Jo Stevens cashed one run in with an RBI single to centre field, but that is all the Australians managed. Cayden Nicoletto grounded into an inning ending double play and Australia led just by one.

At this point, Australia was 2-for-6 with RISP and left five on-base and scored just one with two bases loaded opportunities.

To his credit, Gotoh weaved his way out of trouble in his start for Japan. He allowed just one run off five hits and two walks in 31.1 innings.

Lachlan Brook, who was a late addition to the World Cup Roster, began his World Cup debut in strong fashion. Brook registered an important first out in the third inning with two runners on and two-outs. He followed it up with a near perfect fourth inning.

The Japanese bats finally came alive in the fifth inning. They sent all nine batters to the plate in a damaging four run inning.

The first two runs came with no outs and two on. Takuya Yamada cranked a double off the wall – one run scored off the hit, the other off an error on the relay. 2-1 Japan.

The booming double signalled the end of the night for Lachlan Brook. He was replaced by Sydney teammate Dylan Clarke.

The right-hander took a couple early outs from Japan but persistent batting eventually loaded the bases. With two-outs, Kota Takata drove a ball up the middle, plating two.

4-1.

From there, the Japanese bullpen kept the game on lockdown. Oga Nishimura threw 1.2 innings with one hit and two strikeouts. Aren Sato tossed a clean sixth inning with a double play. Yuto Hahashida was credited with the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

After Australia’s two glorious bases loaded chances, they managed just two base runners.

Australian lefty Conor Myles was impressive in his two innings. He didn’t allow a hit or run, and struck out three in his Team Australia debut.

Final: 4-1 Japan.

by Eric Balnar

“It’s one of the best moments I have experienced on a baseball field.”

Australia showed their gusto during a highly emotional come-from-behind 5-4 win over Puerto Rico in a second extra-inning on Saturday night at the Under 23 World Cup in China.

If that sound byte from Australian catcher Zak Skinner doesn’t sum up the emotion & magnitude of it all than what does?

The game, played late night in China on Saturday, had everything.

Importantly, the victory improves Australia’s record to 2-0 in Pool A. They are the only unbeaten team left in their group.

The Aussies came from a run down on three different occasions. They trailed 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 at various points in the ball game.

“The intensity was just next level,” says Australian catcher Zak Skinner. “Playing from behind almost the whole game until the last pitch. Close ball games are always the best ball games and we live for moments like tonight.”

It’s hard to pin down just one significant, stand-out moment in a contest that just had so many.

This was a true collection of instances – and an almighty team effort – adding up to a special victory for this group of 24 players.

Nine different players reached base and five different pitchers were used.

“Everyone was needed,” said head coach Shayne Watson after the game. “Everybody played their part. There’s a real bond between the players and this age group.”

Where do I even begin to summarise what happened on a balmy, 33 degree night in Shaoxing?

It’s easy to start with Chris Burke’s sacrifice fly in the second extra tiebreaker. It’s the winning moment, after all.

With the victory run on third base, and a couple outs in his pocket, Burke lifted a ball to straight away centre to cash in the winning run.

“When Chris hit the ball to centre it was one of the best moments I have experienced on a baseball field,” says Skinner. “To come through in a tough situation isn’t easy but we knew we had the right guy and he got it done it done for us.”

But Burke’s moment doesn’t exist without Cooper Morgan.

The pitcher from Canberra was clutch with inherited runners on first and second in both of his extra-innings he pitched.

In the top of the ninth, he struck out a batter to hold Puerto Rico scoreless and keep the game 4-4.

“I knew I had a job to do, that was my only mindset,” says Morgan. “It was fuelled by our home team not giving up. They gave me the opportunity to keep us in the game so I needed to give our opportunity an opportunity to get out front and seal it.”

He also let out an almighty roar.

“I have my loved ones who are here and ones who aren’t supporting the team and I. No one can contain that amount of excitement. I’m so proud of the whole team,” he says.

What’s more impressive is Morgan closed out Australia’s 4-2 win over Colombia the night prior. 

Skinner says Morgan’s performance was the standout for him.

“He located all of his pitchers and was doing exactly what we needed for the hitters to come back up and finish it off for us. He’s got that dog in him,” he says.

Cooper Morgan wouldn’t even have the opportunity to pitch without Jo Stevens’ late game heroics.

Australia was trailing 3-2 in the seventh and final inning and down to their final out.

But Stevens, who made two brilliant defensive plays earlier in the game, extended the game by dumping a game-tying RBI single into left-field.

Stevens may not have even had a chance to swing the lumber if it weren’t for Blake Cavill beating out a throw to first with some big time hustle the batter before.

Then, there’s the pitching staff.

Puerto Rico pressured all evening. There was more traffic on Australian bases than Sydney peak hour. Puerto Rico left 13 batters on base and eight in scoring position.

Will Sheriff tossed a nervy 2.1 relief innings allowing no runs and one hit. He entered in the top of the second in relief of Ali Tanner with two runners on. No damage done. Thanks, Will.

Stuart Tharle allowed a fifth inning homer but his outing was otherwise smooth. He tossed 2.1 innings, allowing just the one run. Side-armer Josh Beezley nailed down a pair of outs.

And then there’s Cooper Morgan’s two innings of relief. Each inning had inherited runners, and he allowed just the one unearned run.

“The pitchers collectively were outstanding,” says Skinner, who has caught every pitch of Australia’s tournament so far. “Each one of them controlled the game in their own way and were ready for every opportunity given. It’s always tough to get a good connection with guys you haven’t worked with before but I couldn’t pick a better group of arms to trust and get the job done.”

Morgan says he loved the intensity of the game.

“I knew it was over when tensions started to flare. Us Aussies thrive in that environment,” he says.

The teams seem to mirror each other throughout the game. Both sides had a myriad of opportunities go by the wayside.

Australia loaded the bases in the first two innings but managed just two runs. They also grounded into two double plays, went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left eight on-base.

Puerto Rico also left the bases loaded. They left thirteen on base and stranded eight in scoring position.

For the second straight night, nine Australians reached base. Jaylin Rae, Jo Stevens and Alex Skepton led the offence with two hits apiece.

John Montes was the big difference maker for Puerto Rico. He went 2-for-4 with a homer, and two RBI. At one stage, it looked like his solo shot in the fifth inning was going to be the game winner.

Australia improves to 2-0 in Pool A with three games to play. The top three teams advance to the Super Round. Australia plays Japan (1-1) tomorrow at 9:00PM AEST. They play Great Britain (0-2) on Monday and hosts China (1-1) on Tuesday.

Read the full game recap (as it happened) below.

Head to our Hub for more tournament information, standings and archived stories.

For full standings, visit the WBSC Website. 

RECAP – HOW IT UNFOLDED

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Australia sent newly turned 18-year-old Ali Tanner to the mound to start this pivotal World Cup contest vs Puerto Rico, a team who beat tournament favourite Japan 6-1 the day before.

Tanner’s first inning was met with mixed results. On one hand, he struck out two Puerto Rican batters. On the other, he conceded a pair of hits and walk. One of those hits was a two-out RBI double to left field off the bat of four-year NCAA veteran John Montes to put the Puerto Ricans up 1-0.

It didn’t take long for the Aussies to respond.

In fact, they chased Puerto Rico’s starting pitcher Omar Melendez from the game before he recorded an out.

Solomon Maguire & Chris Burke walked, Alex Skepton singled home Australia’s first score and Blake Cavill walked to load the bases.

New Puerto Rican pitcher Alejandro Moreno forced a double play ball out of Jo Stevens, but Australia was happy to trade the two outs for a run to lead 2-1 after one.

Puerto Rico strung together a two-out rally in the second to tie the game back up.

Both teams new pitchers settled the ship.

Will Sherriff entered the game with the scores knotted at two, with two on and two out in the second. He promptly worked a ground ball and proceeded to throw 2.1 innings with one hit, one walk and no runs.

Alejandro Gonzalez allowed just three hits and two walks in his 4.0 innings of work. Australia had their chances. They left the bases loaded in the second and grounded into two double-plays.

Cometh the fifth inning, cometh the fireworks.

Jo Stevens made a stellar barehanded play at third base for Australia.

Celebrations were short lived. John Montes blasted a pitch off Stuart Tharle over the left-field fence. The solo shot gave Puerto Rico a 3-2 advantage.

That was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent outing for Tharle. He allowed just two hits and the lone run in his 2.1 innings.

Josh Beezley recorded a pair of outs to close out regulation innings for Australia.

Puerto Rico continued their ‘pitch by committee’ approach. Ramon Melendez & Carlos Roses held Australia scoreless in the fifth and sixth, although Australia left runners on the corners in that fifth inning.

Australia kept the pressure up in seventh inning. Jaylin Rae opened the do-or-die inning with a double. Chris Burke walked. Alex Skepton struck out.

Blake Cavill grounded a ball to third base with Puerto Rico having a chance at a game-ending double play. They retired the first out at second, but Cavill hustled down the line to beat out the throw at first.

It mattered. Greatly.

With his country down to their final strike, Jo Stevens deposited a ball in front of the left-fielder to tie the game and force extra innings.

Australia, down to their final out ties it on the Jo Stevens RBI single! pic.twitter.com/zkIWVkgLRe

— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) September 7, 2024

Puerto Rico added a run via sacrifice fly. It took nearly 20 minutes, but relief pitcher Cooper Morgan did his job in limiting the damage to give the Aussie bats a chance.

In the bottom half of the first extra inning, a wild pitch put runners on second and third with no outs. A glorious opportunity for the Australians.

But, opportunity went wayward again as Jaylin Rae was tagged out at home on a base running error, trying to advance home on a ground ball.

Sometimes the baseball gods give it right back. A wild pitch scored the tying run.

BJay Cooke and Ben Firienzi had a couple cracks at it but with no avail. To the second extra inning we go.

That’s when the Cooper Morgan magic continued. He stranded both base-runners, capped off with a clutch strike out.

Chris Burke wasted no time ending it in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly.

USEFUL LINKS

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WBSC – Official Tournament Home

Game 2 – AUS vs PR BOX SCORE

Team Australia World Cup Hub: Click for all your information.

Live Steram – via Gametime.sport

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POOL A STANDINGS
Top three advance to Super Round, Sept 12-15

1. Puerto Rico 1-0
2. Australia 1-0
3. Japan 1-1
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4. Colombia 1-1
5. China 1-1
6. Great Britain 0-2

Upcoming Australia games: Sept 8 vs JPN, Sept 9 vs GB, Sept 10 vs CHN.

Visit WBSC official event page for complete standings and stats.

A pair of late runs, some clutch defense, and a sublime pitching performance from Ky Jackson, propelled Australia to a gruelling 4-2 comeback victory over Colombia on the first day of the Under 23 Baseball World Cup.

Blake Cavill paced the offence with three hits and Jackson tossed 5.1 innings in the victory. Australia broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning by scoring a pair of winning runs.

This was far from easy. Simply put: Australia just had to battle.

The team sweat through sweltering 39-degree heat at field level in Shaoxing, China.

Jackson fought his way through a shaky first inning to turn in a wonderful final stat line.

The bats earned their way on to the scoreboard, playing both big and small, in finding different methods to score.

The defense worked their way out of some sticky situations, taking Colombian runs off the board with two different inning-ending double-plays.

“Today’s game said a lot about our guys,” said Australia’s head coach Shayne Watson. “Offensively the guys were grinding out at-bats, putting our guys in a good situation. But full credit to Ky Jackson on the mound. With what he did for us in the first game, going as deep as he did with a low pitch count, says a lot for him and his heart around Team Australia.”

Let’s start with Jackson.

The 22-year-old from New South Wales, who is pitching full-time in Japan’s Industrial League, allowed three hits and a pair runs from the first three batters he faced. Those two Colombian scores had the South Americans up 2-1 early.

From there, Jackson was nearly perfect. He retired the next twelve Colombian batters in a row, and 16-of-17, over the next 5+ innings.

You could call his pitching cerebral. The right-hander often raced ahead in counts and used his off-speed pitch to devastating effect.

“I had a lot of nerves coming into the game,” admits Jackson. “I missed a few spots. I just told myself to calm down and do what I’ve been doing all year. After that I started getting ahead in counts and I was all good. I was calm.”

Jackson finished with five strikeouts, four hits, one walk and two earned runs in his 5.1 innings of work.

“I had all my pitches working in the first but the boys made some big plays in the field which calmed me down even more. I knew if I kept putting up zeroes the guys would come through with some runs,” he said. “I really enjoyed my outing.”

Jackson’s performance on the mound allowed Australian bats to come through when it mattered the most.

Blake Cavill (below), who is playing NCAA Division I with Troy University, opened the scoring in the first with a booming two-out RBI triple off the wall.

Down 2-1 in the fourth, Solomon Maguire delivered a ground-rule double to tie the game.

In the fifth inning, Australian small ball did some big damage. Zak Skinner’s bases-loaded-walk and BJay Cooke’s sacrifice fly pushed Australia in front for good.

From there, the defense took over. Colombia had a glorious opportunity in the sixth and penultimate inning. With Jackson out the game, the South Americans loaded the bases with just one out.

But relief pitcher Kieren Hall induced a huge double play – and a jubilant reaction in the Australian dugout – to end the inning and preserve the 4-2 scoreline.

Cooper Morgan closed the door with a pair of outs in the seventh and final inning.

You can read the full recap as it happened below.

Australia is in six-team Pool A with Colombia, Puerto Rico, Japan, Great Britain and hosts China. The top three teams after pool play advance to the Super Round next weekend.

Australia’s next game is against Puerto Rico at 9:00PM AEST on Saturday 7 September. Puerto Rico opens the tournament Friday evening against Japan.

Visit our ‘U23 World Cup Hub’ for schedule, streaming, roster information & archived stories. Full tournament information can be found on the WBSC website. 

BOX SCORE: Click here.

RECAP: HOW IT UNFOLDED

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Blake Cavill drove in Australia’s first run of the game in the top of the first inning, hammering a two-out pitch off the wall in straight-away centre to score Alex Skepton.

He finished with five strikeouts, four hits, one walk and two earned runs in his 5.1 innings of work.

Colombia responded instantly in the bottom half of the inning.

Reds minor leaguer Jorge Puerta capped off a string of three straight Colombia hits to begin the first by scoring two runs with his RBI-double down the right field line.

It was nearly more. Solomon Maguire led an inning ending double play in centrefield by making a catch and doubling off a Colombian runner at second.

Australian starter Ky Jackson settled his nerves quickly. After conceding three straight hits to start the game, he sat down the next twelve in order, and 15 of 16 overall.

His pitching was cerebral, getting himself ahead in counts, attacking the zone and using his curveball to great effect.

Jackson was assisted by some smooth fielding, including a great knock down from Jo Stevens at third, and a double-play from Solomon Maguire in centrefold.

Australian bats pressured Colombian starter from the moment the umpire said “play ball”, bringing a runner into scoring positing each of the first five innings.

They eventually chased the 22-year-old in the top of the fourth inning with two runners on and two outs.

Against new Colombian pitcher David Burgos, Pittsburgh Pirates Solomon Maguire whacked a pitch to right field that one hopped the wall. The ground-rule double scored Skepton to tie the game at two.

The final line for Acevedo read: 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 BB, 2 HPB.

Australia kept the pressure up against the new Colombian pitchers. They loaded the bases in the fifth inning.

Zak Skinner worked a four-pitch walk to push Australia back in front 3-2. BJay Cooke doubled the lead with a sacrifice fly the next batter.

Colombia eventually chased Jackson from the game after the Australian pitcher walked a batter with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

23-year-old Kieren Hall entered in relief. A walk, a single and suddenly Colombia had bases-loaded with the go-ahead run on the tracks.

But, as they say Down Under, … “no worries.”

Hall wiggled his way out of a jam by forcing a 1-2-3 double play on former Pirates prospect Gustavo Arias.

Colombia pressured again in the seventh and final inning.

With one out and a runner on, Australia turned it over to Cooper Morgan. The left-hander from Canberra forced a groundout and a punch out to end the game.

USEFUL LINKS

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TEAM AUSTRALIA U23 WORLD CUP HUB: www.baseball.com.au/u23worldcup/ 

WBSC U23 World Cup Page: Click here

Broadcast & Streaming: Gametime.Sport