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Australia used a pair of Jacks to trump Spain at the Under 18 World Cup.

Two ‘Aussie Jacks’ got the job done when it mattered most for the Green & Gold in their 2-0 win over Spain in Taichung City on Saturday afternoon.

Jack Bushell (South Australia) tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out five.

He even made a Sportscentre-worth highlight reel play. Who needs a glove anyway?

Jack Ratcliffe (VIC) went two-for-three with two key two-out doubles. Each hit drove in an Australian run.

Australia peppered Spanish pitching for seven hits. Josh Nati (NSW) had two hits and Josh Davies (WA) had a pair to his name as well.

Australia improves to 2-2 in the placement round.

Their next game vs Venezuela started about half an hour after the finish of this one. However, the heavens opened up, with rain postponing the already-started game until Sunday morning at 11:00AM AEST.

Australia is trailing 1-0 to Venezuela.

Box Score vs Spain: Click here.

Game Recap

Jack Bushell gave Australia every opportunity to get ahead early with another tremendous start. B

ushell, who pitched 5.0 innings of one-hit work in Australia’s win over Mexico, sprinkled a couple Spanish baserunners in the early innings but used soft contact and a smooth double-play to keep Spain off the board early.

Getting baserunners hasn’t been the issue for Australia – it’s bringing them home. The plague continued vs Spain.

First inning? Two hits – singles to Lachie Smith and Josh Davies – but both runners stranded.

Second inning? A single to Josh Nati and Tom Chessell was hit by a pitch. Two runners on, no outs.

Spain got out of the jam with no damage. Jack Ratcliffe popped out, Nati was caught in a rundown between second and third, and Callum Donnelly flew out.

Bushell continued to hum a long. He needed just six pitches to get a 1-2-3 third inning – and 27 only through three.

He also made a sensational defensive play. On a comebacker that deflected off the South Aussie pitcher, Bushell ranged back and made a super-man style effort to flip the ball to first for the out.

Australia finally broke through in the fourth.

With a runner on third and two outs, Jack Ratcliffe smashed a booming double off the left field wall to put Australia up 1-0.

Ratcliffe came up roses again in the sixth inning. The Victorian registered his second hit of the afternoon with another two-out RBI double, scoring Tom Chessell to make it a 2-0 game going into the last.

Spain pressured in the final frame. They put two runners aboard with just one out.

But Bushell held his nerve, inducing a shallow fly ball for out number two.

The game ended with some nice defense. This time, it was catcher Josh Nati throwing out a Spanish runner trying to steal second to end the game.

A complete game, three-hit, strike-out for Jack Bushell. A win for Australia.

Other offensive standouts for the Australians includes a two-hit performance from both Josh Nati and Josh Davies. Lachlan Smith had the other hit for Australia.

Notes about the Placement Round

Australia is now in the ‘Placement Round’ of the U18 World Cup. The Top 3 teams from each group advanced to the ‘Super Round’, while the bottom three move to the placement round.

To view Australia’s past results, click here.

Australia, from Group A, now plays the bottom three sides from Group B. They are Panama, Venezuela and Spain. Your games vs teams from your original group hold off, meaning Australia gets credit for a win vs Mexico and loss vs Czechia that carries over from Group A action.

At the end of the Placement Round, teams will be ranked from #7-#12 in the competition and world ranking points distributed accordingly. Current standings are:

7. Panama – 4-1 (wins vs Spain, Venezuela, Czechia & Australia, loss to Mexico)
8. Venezuela – 2-1 (loss vs Panama, win vs Spain & Mexico)
9. Mexico – 3-2 (wins vs Spain, Panama & Czechia, losses vs Australia & Venezuela)
10. Czechia – 2-2 (wins vs Australia & Spain, losses vs Mexico & Panama
11. Australia – 2-2 (losses vs Czechia & Venezuela win vs Mexico)
12. Spain – 0-4 (losses vs Venezuela, Panama, Mexico and Czechia)

To see the Top 6 in the Super Round, visit the WBSC Website.

Australia was on the wrong end of a dramatic finish at the U18 World Cup, falling 2-1 to Panama in extra-innings.

The Aussies sensationally tied the game with two-outs in the bottom of the last inning to force extras.

The bats were aneamic up to that point. But, with two outs and two strikes on the board in the final at-bat, Lachie Smith (VIC) hustled out a seemingly routine ground-ball, before Josh Davies (WA) advanced him to second on a hit. Then, Nic Paparella (SA) drove him home.

Down to their final strike, in their final out, in the final inning, Australia tied the game up out of nowhere.

It wasn’t meant to be. Panama scored the winning run in unglamourous fashion – off a fielder’s choice – in extra innings and Australia couldn’t issue a response.

A loss for Australia in their first game of the ‘Placement Round’.

Australia did have some solid pitching.

Alistair Tanner (SA) pitched 5.0 innings of four-hit, one-run ball. Benjamin Karakasis (NSW) and Lachlan Rosser (CNSW) worked three innings of solid relief, not allowing an earned run.

The pitching was fine, but the bats were quiet again. Australia mustered just four hits in the game. Josh Davies had half of them, going 2-for-3 on the afternoon.

Australia made a number of nice defensive plays in the field to back up the pitching. Efforts included:

• Getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth
• A Michael De Gasperis diving catch in the sixth
• A nice spinning move from Lachlan Smith to turn a double play in the seventh

Australia drops to 1-2 in the Placement Round, and 1-5 in the tournament. Panama improves to 3-0 in the Placement Round and 3-3 in the tournament.

While Australia is now in the Placement Group (scroll down to bottom for explanation) portion of the tournament, the games are still important for final ranking in the event.

Australia will have to regroup and find a way to beat Venezuela (2-1) tomorrow.

Box Score: Click here. 

Game Recap

Australia’s starting pitcher Alistair Tanner came out flying in the first inning. He needed just 11 pitches to retire Panama in order.

Panama took the lead in the second. A walk to Edwin Walden and hit to Dimas Oda put runners on the corner with just one out. They converted the first run on a sacrifice fly.

The game quickly turned into a defensive and pitching tussle. Tanner induced a lot of ground balls and Panama couldn’t generate momentum.

Australia didn’t fare much better than Panama with the bat.

Declan Speirs doubled in the first inning and then Panama starter Benjamin Gonzalez got in a groove. He retired the next 11 straight batters he faced.

Tanner, meanwhile, bent but never broke. He held his nerve in a critical moment during the fifth inning.

A single and an error put Panama in prime position to score, with two on and nobody out.

Tanner struck out the next batter but the one that followed singled to load the bases.  That’s when Alistair Tanner and the Australian defense had their finest moment.

Tanner worked a fly-out to Michael De Gasperis and a ground-out to Jayden Kim to keep Panama off the scoreboard and Australia still down by one.

The final line for Tanner: 5.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB and 3SO. A fine performance from the South Australian, who had another 5.0 inning, one-run outing earlier in the tournament.

Australia put some pressure on Panama right after the grand defensive effort. Josh Davies sent a hard-hit double to centrefield that popped in-and-out of the defender’s glove to put a runner in scoring position.

Gonzalez got right back to work, striking out the next to Aussie batters and leaving the runner stranded. His final line read 5.0 innings with 2 hits, no runs and five strikeouts.

Benjamin Karakasis stepped on to the mound for Australia in the sixth. It was clean – although helped by a glorious Michael De Gasperis diving catch in right field – and it kept Australia alive with a chance.

Lachlan Smith then helped Karakasis escape the seventh by way of a slick, spinning double-play he did all himself.

On to the seventh. Where there is life, there is hope.  Australia had to use every last breath.

The Aussie bats were anemic at best until a last gasp effort tied the game in Taiwan.

Down 1-0, with two outs and nobody on, Lachlan Smith hustled down the line and took advantage of a Panama field error to reach first. It should have been the game ending out, but it wasn’t.

Josh Davies singled, advancing Smith to second. Nic Paparella then chopped a hard-hit ball towards third. It took a big bounce, and Davies hustled around third, sliding in safe at home to force extras.

🇦🇺 Australia manage to tie the score with two outs in the seventh! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/SiEBDIoucf

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 7, 2023

It was just the break the Aussies needed.

In extra innings, Panama struck first. Keep in mind: runners start at first and second with no outs in the tiebreaker. A past ball and a fielder’s choice put Panama back up 2-1, but with two outs on the board.

Lachlan Rosser popped out the next batter to keep it 2-1 and Australia in with a good shot to steal the win in the bottom half of the tiebreaker inning.

But Australia couldn’t find a hit in the eighth inning, or advance the lead runner past second.

Victory for Panama, heartbreak for Australia.

Notes about the Placement Round

Australia is now in the ‘Placement Round’ of the U18 World Cup. The Top 3 teams from each group advanced to the ‘Super Round’, while the bottom three move to the placement round.

Australia, from Group A, now plays the bottom three sides from Group B. They are Panama, Venezuela and Spain. Your games vs teams from your original group hold off, meaning Australia gets credit for a win vs Mexico and loss vs Czechia.

At the end of the Placement Round, teams will be ranked from #7-#12 in the competition and world ranking points distributed accordingly. Current standings are:

1. Panama – 3-0 (wins vs Spain, Venezuela and Australia)
2. Czechia – 2-0 (wins vs Australia & Spain)
3. Venezuela – 2-1 (loss vs Panama, win vs Spain & Mexico)
4. Australia – 1-2 (losses vs Czechia & Venezuela win vs Mexico)
5. Mexico – 0-2 (loss vs Australia & Venezuela)
6. Spain – 0-3 (losses vs Venezuela, Panama and Czechia)

Team Australia will return to the famous Tokyo Dome in November to take on some of the world’s best, as the country has agreed to take part in November’s Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 presented by Carnext.

The championship pits the best Under-24 players from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB, Japan), Korean Baseball Organization (KBO, South Korea), Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, Taiwan) and Australian Baseball League (ABL) against each other.

The tournament will be played from November 16-19.

Australian manager David Nilsson says this tournament is an important event to be part of when it comes to the national team program.

“I think it’s important that any time there is an event on the world stage, we are there. We want to be included in that,” he says. “Team Australia is a tournament team. Our objective is to be the best tournament team in the world. The more tournaments we play, the better we will get and improve as a country. This is an incredible event on a great stage.”

The competition will be fierce. All of Australia’s opponents are ranked in the Top 5 in the World.

The much-anticipated event is expected to attract a huge global audience. All of Australia’s matches will be available to watch on Baseball OnDemand.

Australia is coming off an impressive showing at the World Baseball Classic, where they powered through to the quarter-finals before going down in a thriller vs Cuba.

While the success should be celebrated, Nilsson says it’s important to not get complacent and to keep building at this event.

“We keep repeating our focus – and that is to become the best tournament team in the world. We don’t want to feel content, we don’t want to feel entitled, after the last event. We need to find ways to keep preparing being consistent at what do,” he says.

The tournament gets underway for Team Australia with clash against Korea on November 16 – a thrilling rematch of the game won by Australia in the WBC Group Stages.

Australia will follow with a game vs Chinese Taipei the next day. The pool stage culminates with a colossal match against reigning champions and world number one ranked Japan, on November 18.

Importantly, teams will be playing for crucial World Ranking Points, with the Australians targeting a coveted place within the Top 12 of the WBSC World Rankings by December 31, 2023. This achievement would secure a berth in the prestigious Premier-12 World Championship in 2024.

While the roster remains under wraps, the buzz surrounding the youthful Australian talent cannot be ignored.

“There’s going to be a large group of the young players from the World Baseball Classic team who could be on this team,” says Nilsson. “There will also be a group below who will be available.”

Nilsson says there is a list of over 130 Australian players that is constantly evolving and being evaluated. But when it comes to roster construction, there is one thing in mind.

“This program is not about participation – it’s about winning,” Nilsson says. “Every event we go to we have that in mind and young players will learn that by being part of events like this.”

For the latest updates, comprehensive coverage, and an insider’s perspective on Team Australia’s journey to the Championships, stay tuned to the official Baseball Australia website.

Australia fell behind early and couldn’t recover in time during a 5-2 defeat to the hands of Czechia at the U18 Baseball World Cup.

Czechia scored two early first-inning runs and padded their lead with two more in the third and one in the fifth.  Jakub Winkler led the offensive charge for Czechia, going 2-for-4 with two separate RBI singles.

Michael Senay pitched 5.0 innings of two-hit baseball, allowing just one earned run, in an impressive start for the victors.

At one point, Australia was down 5-1. The offense had trouble stringing together hits and coming through with runners in scoring position. Australia had the tying run to the plate in the seventh and final inning but couldn’t manufacture a run.

Josh Davies (WA) had the lone RBI-single for Australia in the second inning.

Australia used five pitchers in the game. Jacob Palmer (NSW) was the standout, throwing 2.0 innings of shutout baseball.

The loss leaves Australia with a 1-4 record after Group Play. They’ll move to the placement section of the tournament, hoping to seize as many World Ranking points as they can to qualify for the 2024 Premier-12 tournament.

Czechia improve to 1-3. They finish their Round 1 tomorrow.

The Placement Round begins on Thursday. The schedule will be released late Wednesday.

BOX SCORE: Click here.

Game Recap

Czechia applied pressure on Australia immediately.

Simon Klacl led off with a single, before Australian starter Daniel Mills issued a pair of walks. One of the pitches slipped away to score Klacl and put the Czechs up 1-0.

📋Game 27 Lineups – WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2023

⚾🏆 🇨🇿 🆚 🇦🇺
📺Watch on https://t.co/soado4PumL#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/lQZzHaR8vL

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 5, 2023

Trailing 1-0, and with two runners on and nobody out, Australia made an early pitching change. South Australia’s Jack Bushell entered the contest in a pressure filled moment, coming off a 5.0 inning performance vs Mexico where he allowed just one earned run.

Jakub Winkler sent a single to left field to push the Czech advantage to 2-0.

Bushell locked it in from there. He worked a shallow fly ball and two strike-outs to keep the Aussies within striking distance.

Nic Paparella helped issue an Australian response in the second. He walked, stole two bases, put himself in scoring position and let a Josh Davies single drive him in.

2-1 Czechia.

The Czechs extended their lead in the third. After a hit and a walk started off the inning well for Czechia, Jakub Winkler drove in the third run on an RBI single. Motous Bubenik made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly moments later.

Australia tried to respond in the third. They had runners on first and second with one out. Czech starter Michael Senay got a fly-ball and a strike-out to get out of the inning.

Filip Kubicek had an RBI double in the fourth inning to really turn the screws in the fourth, putting the Czechs up 4-1.

Callum Donnelly continued his impressive World Cup in the fifth inning. The speedster from country New South Wales reached on a walk and then used his wheels to round the bases, scoring on a past ball.

Jacob Palmer and Jai Hewitt provided stability on the mound for Australia in the late part of the games. Palmer threw two innings of scoreless relief and Hewitt got a pair of clutch outs.

Australia pressured in the seventh in a last gasp effort. A walk from Jack Ratcliffe and a pinch-hit single from Blake Barlow put two runners on with nobody out.

But Czech relief pitcher Matyas Trcka induced a momentum killing double play to end the threat.

Australia out-hit South Korea but fell 3-0 to South Korea on a rainy Monday night in Taiwan at the Under 18 World Cup.

Australia recorded five hits and had seven baserunners during the game but couldn’t generate a run.

South Korea only had two hits. They had three runs and that’s all that matters.

Yulye Lee had a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning to account for all of South Korea’s scores.

The bats went dry again for Australia, who were shutout for the third time this tournament.

South Korean starter Sunyeop Yook pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless ball in the win.

Josh Nati provided a little spark, going 2-for-3 for the Green & Gold. Nic Paparella, Josh Davies and Declan Speirs had the other hits.

Australia used four pitchers in the loss.

Australia falls to 1-3 on the tournament and are unlikely to advance to the Super Round.

The remaining games are still of vital importance as Australia battles for crucial World Ranking Points to stay in the Top 12 and remain eligible for the 2024 World Championships.

Australia concludes Group A action tomorrow at 4:30PM AEST vs Czechia.

BOX SCORE: Click here.

Game Recap

Hitting with runners in scoring position has plagued Australia all tournament long. That trend continued in the first inning.

Josh Nati and Declan Speirs slashed a couple hits in the first inning, but Korean starter Sunyeop Yook induced an inning ending ground ball to eliminate the threat.

Blake Barlow kept things steady for Australia on the mound. The opener used a paralysing breaking ball to strong effect and navigated through the first two innings cleanly.

Josh Davies provided some nice help on the defensive side of things. His efforts included a magnificent throw to second base to gun down a Korean runner trying to steal a bag.

🇦🇺 Catcher Josh Davies throws out the runner at the second base! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/N6wlFwNy3H

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 4, 2023

Australia took a “bullpen game” approach. Western Australian arm Jai Hewitt took over from Barlow after the opener went once through the line-up. Hewitt helped Australia get through the third inning without any damage.

The final line on Barlow: 2.1 innings of 1 hit work, allowing no runs with one strikeout.

Korea made their move in the fourth.

Tongkeon Yeo reached on a dropped third strike. A walk to Jihwan Park followed. Then, a sacrifice bunt. Two runners in scoring position, one out.

Sensing the magnitude of the moment, Australia brought in one of their premier arms in relief – Adam Bates. The New South Wales teenager, who is in his second straight World Cup and started Thursday’s opener in brilliant fashion, came into the contest in a big spot.

They chose to walk the bases loaded and look for a double play.

Instead, Yulye Lee, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Korea’s win over Czechia, whipped a double down the line to score all three base runners.

3-0 Korea.

Australia did get the double-play they were looking for later in the fourth, however, to help limit the damage and keep a nose in the fight.

🇦🇺 Infielders turn a smooth 6-4-3 double play to end the inning! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/2NxzBj3Mer

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 4, 2023

Bates pitched the fifth inning and notched a pair of strikeouts.

Yook kept humming along for South Korea. The starter finished with a tidy line of 6.1 innings with five hits, two walks, eight strikeouts and no runs.

Lachlan Rosser assumed pitching duties in the sixth inning for Australia. He allowed a couple base runners but prevented a South Korean score.

Nic Paparella tried to spark the Australians in the seventh and final inning. He had a double to left-field that rattled all the way to the wall and chased Yook from the game.

The South Korean was able to close out the game.

Australia finishes Group A play tomorrow vs Czechia at 4:30PM AEST.

A more opportunistic Puerto Rico downed Australia 6-0 at the U18 World Cup in Taiwan on Sunday morning to stay unbeaten in the tournament.

The game was much closer than the scoreline suggests.
Puerto Rico held a 2-0 edge for much of the afternoon, until they pulled away with a four-run sixth inning. Games at the U18 World Cup are 7-innings.

Australia had multiple baserunners in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t find a critical scoring hit to push ahead.

Puerto Rico took advantage of walks and a couple defensive miscues to score two in the first before their monstrous penultimate inning.

Puerto Rico had six hits in the game to Australia’s four. Australia did have nine baserunners but couldn’t convert any of them into runs.

On the mound, Puerto Rican pitchers Byron Madero and Jarrette Bonet combined for eight strike outs.

Ali Tanner (South Australia) pitched 4.1 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball in his start for Australia.

Callum Donnelly (CNSW), Declan Speirs (VIC), Tom Chessell (QLD) and Michael De Gasperis had hits for Australia.

The loss drops Australia to 1-2. They have two games remaining in Group A – Monday vs South Korea and Tuesday vs Czechia. Australia needs to finish within the Top 3 to advance to next weekend’s Super Round and contend for a medal.

Standings are below.

Box Score: Click here.

Game Recap

Australia didn’t exactly put the best foot forward in the field.

Puerto Rico scored their first run before they even had a full-swing base hit or a recorded out.

Hiram Bocachica walked, Jan Rayes reached on an infield bunt. A passed ball, an errant throw that sprayed wide of second base, and a sacrifice fly moved the runners around. 2-0, just like that.

Despite some defensive bumbles in the field, and a pair of walks, Australian starting pitcher Ali Tanner helped his side settle down. He recorded a couple strike-outs to keep the game at a 2-0 scoreline after one.

🇵🇷 Right fielder Yeriel Pastrana makes a long running catch in the foul territory to end the 2nd inning! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/28i8Npyeqe

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 3, 2023

Tanner kept getting comfortable. The South Australian pitched 1-2-3 innings in the second, third and fourth to keep his team in it.

At one point, Tanner retired 11 Puerto Rican batters in a row.

The Australian bats took a while to get rumbling. They applied their first pressure in the fourth. A Tom Chessell hit and a walk to Josh Nati put two runners in scoring position with two-outs.

A solid start from Ali Tanner (photo: WBSC)

Byron Madero delivered a huge strike-out to get out of the jam.

Madero’s final line read: 4.0IP, 2H, 3SO and crucially 0 earned runs.

🇵🇷 Starting pitcher Byron Madero strikes out the batter with a late-movement-breaking ball to end the inning! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/Gk9Y0NqHz7

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 3, 2023

Tanner delivered a wonderful performance of his own. He went 4.1 innings allowing just one earned run, two hits, three walks while striking out three.

Benjamin Karakasis took over from Tanner in the fifth inning and scored a massive strike-out to end the frame and strand a Puerto Rican runner at third.

Australia tried to turn the screws again in the fifth, this time vs new pitcher Jarrette Bonet. They had two runners on with nobody out, but Bonet retired Jack Ratcliffe and Declan Speirs on strikes to end the threat.

Puerto Rico piled it on in the sixth inning to pull away.

The island nation tallied three hits and an error in the sixth. The devastating blow came off the hands of Diego Garcia. His two-out RBI double brought in two runs to push the score to an unsurmountable 6-0 advantage.

Australia got a baserunner on in the seventh, but couldn’t bring him around.

In total, Australia left eight batters on during the game.

Australia has to regroup and get ready for a clash vs South Korea on Monday afternoon at 4:30PM AEST. The Aussies likely need to win the game to have any shot at progressing to the group stage.

STANDINGS (AS OF 1:00PM AEST, SUNDAY)

For up-to-date standings head to the WBSC Official Website.

A clutch late two-out rally and solid pitching were big contributors to Australia’s 4-2 win over Mexico at the Under 18 World Cup on Saturday.

Australian bats were stymied by sensational Taiwanese pitching in a 3-0 loss at the Under 18 World Cup opener in Taipei.

Highly touted Chinese Taipei pitching prospect Sun Yi-Lei was exactly as advertised for the host-nation. The Taiwanese pitcher, who comes equipped with a fastball that charts up to 95mph, was simply brilliant.

Sun pitched a complete game shutout, going 7.0 innings, allowing just one hit, two walks and eight strike-outs.

Australian starting pitcher Adam Bates (NSW) did a good job of controlling a tricky Chinese Taipei line-up. He allowed just four hits and one run in his 4.0 innings of work.

“I thought Adam was outstanding tonight,” said Australian head coach Andy Kyle. “He really set the tone and attacked the strike zone. He kept hitters off-balance and produced some weak contact. He was unlucky to not leave the game with 0-0 score-line.”

Chinese Taipei scored the winning run in the fourth inning off back-to-back soft contact hits.

They added two more off Australian miscues in the sixth.

The Under 18 World Cup is arguably the most prestigious of all junior international events, consistently featuring future household names and global stars. Read the game recap, as it happened, below.

Australia has an off day on Friday. They play Mexico next at 12:30PM on Saturday morning.

Box Score: Click here.

Game Recap – As It Happened

Above: Adam Bates (Photo provided by WBSC)

To use an age-old analogy, this World Cup opener had the feel of a heavyweight match-up. Especially when it comes to the battle between the two pitchers.

In Australia’s corner was Adam Bates. The experienced teenager from New South Wales is returning for his second U18 World Cup after posting a sub-2.00 ERA in last year’s tournament. There’s a big reason why scouts from major US colleges and MLB teams are circling.

In Chinese Taipei’s corner is Sun Yi-Lei. Widely regarded as the “Ace” of the Taiwanese staff, Sun comes equipped with a 95mph fast-ball, a buckling change-up and a devasting curveball.

⚾Day 1 is underway! ⚾🏆 Australia take on Chinese Taipei in Game 1 of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup!

📺Watch on https://t.co/soado4PumL#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/0TfTULxi13

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 31, 2023

Both prized fighters delivered for their country.

Sun was everything as advertised and more. He got off to a stunning start by holding Australian batters hitless through the first four innings while stacking up six strike-outs.

The Taiwanese Ace was landing his first pitch for strikes, often using his breaking ball to get ahead in counts. He used his off-speed to compliment his buzzing mid-90s fastball.

If Sun was attacking with devasting, swinging, right-handed punches, Australia’s Adam Bates was countering with tactful jabs in the World Cup ring.

View more stories, meet the U18 team, and find the schedule at our International Hub.

Taiwan may have pressured early but Bates found ways to get Australia out of jams. The hosts had baserunners in the first and second innings but couldn’t capitalise.

Bates worked counts, kept composure, and kept the hosts scoreless through the first three innings.

He mixed his pitches well, especially landing his curve ball, to induce soft contact. Bates moved his fastball up-down-and-around the strike zone to keep the Taiwanese offense off balance.

Australia also got some help from the defense, too.

A tough play was executed by the Australia catcher to beat the Chinese Taipei runner at first base for the out. – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/RBP0aMaJl6

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 31, 2023

At one point, Bates retired eight batters in a row.

Despite his efforts, Chinese Taipei went ahead in the fourth inning. It was a matter of “where” the ball seemed to bounce.

Bates got the first two outs of the inning with ease. Then, a walk.

Chinese-Taipei got a homefield kick with an infield single to put two runners on with two outs.

Lee Hsun-Chieh then put the hosts ahead with a dribbling ball that had eyes for a gap between shortstop and third.

Hsun-Chieh Lee drove in the first run in the 2023 edition of the U-18 Baseball World Cup to give Chinese Taipei a 1-0 lead! – XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup#BaseballWorldCupU18 pic.twitter.com/v0uPqmXqsv

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) August 31, 2023

Australia, meanwhile, struggled to build something defensively. They couldn’t find a way to move a runner past second base.

Lachlan Smith did break up Sun’s no-hitter in the fifth inning.

Bates got the hook after four innings. His final line? A fantastic 4.0IP with just four hits, three strikeouts and only one earned run.

Jai Hewitt (WA) grabbed the reigns in the fifth-inning. He immediately worked a 1-2-3 inning.

Sun, meanwhile, just found a way to keep on rolling.

“Obviously he was dominant,” said head coach Andy Kyle after the game. “A fastball in the 90s, a change-up and a split was always going to be tough. I thought we competed well in the box and had some hard-hit balls, but we couldn’t find that big hit tonight.

Chinese Taipei pulled away in the sixth. Two misplays in the Australian outfield helped scored two runs before the boys from Down Under could record an out.

3-0.

Benjamin Karakasis took over from Lachlan Rosser in the sixth. He entered with two runners on-base and nobody out. He needed just needed four pitches to get out of the jam and stop the hosts from pulling further away.

Australia fell in order in the seventh inning, sealing the complete game for Sun and the victory for Chinese Taipei.

Despite the loss, Kyle remains optimistic about the rest of the tournament, as focus shifts to Mexico on Saturday.

“We will stay positive,” he says. “We did a lot of things well in the ballgame and have arms fresh and ready to go for Mexico. Hopefully we can build some momentum and start well in the next game.”

Catch up on all stories at our International Hub.

On the night players from Australia’s Under-18 roster were informed they made they made the prestigious World Cup squad, longtime senior team member Sam Holland surprised the group for a chat.

He brought with him something incredibly special and deeply personal to this country’s baseball community – an Australian flag with a unique history.

“What I showed the players was the Senior Team’s Australian flag. It has the signatures of our past and present senior team players, with the earliest dating back to 2004,” says Holland. “It is there at all Team Australia names and embodies the respect and passion we all share when we put on the uniform.”

The message was simple. From a senior Team Australia member to the up-and-coming players in our sport – you are part of family, and nothing will change that.

“It was awesome to share this small piece of our country’s more recent baseball history with the U18 group. It was also mentioned that there is plenty of space left to be filled and if they continue to play the game the right way and represent our country with pride and passion, they may one day get the privilege of adding there names right there beside some of our nation’s greats,” says Holland.

When you’re part of Australian baseball community you’re part of a family.

This is represented on the national team’s uniform, with an indigenous designed emblem telling exactly that story and presenting a message of community, gathering and sharing knowledge between generations.

This Under 18 World Cup squad playing this week in Tawian has more than a few more family links. This is in the literal and metaphorical sense – the next generation is quite literally coming through.

Let’s look at infielder Nic Paparella. The South Australian infielder is about to put on the Green & Gold at World Cup for the first time. He’s following in the footsteps of his father Mark, who also played for Australia’s Under 18 team in 1995.

Mark flourished in the 1995 World Cup, helping Australia to a Bronze Medal, and being named to the tournament’s All Star team.

Above: Mark Paparella in 1995.

“It’s pretty uncanny,” said Mark to an Adelaide newspaper this week. “Chinese Taipei has always been huge in baseball – we actually played against them in the bronze medal games all those year ago.”

Mark says Nic has the potential to do more damage than himself.

“Nic’s a bit bigger than me,” says Mark. “He’s got a bit more pop.”

Other generational links from South Australia? Jack Bushell’s father James played baseball for the Adelaide Giants in the 1990s. His mum Selena won a bronze medal in softball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“The reason I started playing was because dad played baseball and mum played softball, I didn‘t really have an option,” Jack Bushell told CODE Sports earlier in the week.

The most famous link of all comes from the West.

Under 18 member Jai Hewitt is following in the footsteps of his dad Jason, who doesn’t need much of an introduction to Australian baseball fans.

Jason became the youngest player selected for the Australian National Team in the 1994 Baseball World Cup held in Managua, Nicaragua. He also played for Australia at the 1996 Olympics, was an ABL All Star in 1998 (Perth Heat), a Heat MVP and a three-time Claxton Shield winner.

“My dad definitely influenced me to play,” says young Jai. “My goal is to play for the Perth Heat in the ABL, [like my Dad].”

Victorian infielder Jayden Kim comes from great stocks, too. His dad David played in the Australian Baseball League and is now a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He wasn’t forced into anything, but fell in love with the game. After exploring other sports, Jayden landed on baseball, he told a local newspaper.

“I began playing when I was 10 years old after a short stint playing soccer and tennis. I like them both but I love baseball,” he said.

Jack Ratcliffe’s (VIC) father played for Team Australia at a World Cup too.

“I first started playing baseball at age 6 at Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club [in Vic],” Ratcliffe says.  “I wanted to follow my dad’s footsteps and aspire to be like him and represent Australia.”

How about the literal brotherly connection? Josh Nati’s brother James played for an U15 Australian side a few years ago. Jimmy now plays college baseball in the USA at high-end Pac-12 program Stanford.

But family links don’t just have to come from past Team Australia members. There are other ways people found their way into the game. And once you’re part of the Australian Baseball community, you become family.

Koby Chesterton’s father played baseball so he signed up his son to play t-ball in the ACT. Now he’s the only U18 national team member from the Capital.

Benjamin Karakasis (NSW) watched his brother play. That’s how he started.

Other kids like Tom Chessell had their parents sign them up. Now, he’s in Taiwan playing for his country.

Lachlan Smith stumbled upon the game when at a friend’s ninth birthday party. Who would have thought that part would have led Smith to representing Australia?

“You never know where baseball can take you,” says Baseball Australia’s high performance manager Andrew Riddell. “The powerful thing here is that when you put on that Green & Gold you are forever and always part of that special family. Teams are bonded by it.”

Riddell says the night of the team selection was moving.

We’re not stereotypically Australian at all…. 🦘🐨 (sound on) #BaseballWorldCupU18 @WBSC pic.twitter.com/0szVTNkjnI

— Team Australia (@TeamAusBaseball) August 29, 2023

“It was a big deal,” he says. “We had a cool video where we had previous players from U18 teams – guys from 2019 and 2022, some of them are playing pro now – send us a video congratulation the players on making the team and wishing them luck. You could just tell how much it meant.”

This family goes to battle as a unit starting Thursday night in front of an anticipated full house vs tournament hosts Taiwan. Australia plays five games in the six-team Pool A of the Under 18 World Cup. They need to finish Top 3 to advance to the Super Round to contend for a medal.

You can watch all games via the WBSC’s streaming service at www.gametime.sport.

First pitch is 8:30PM AEST Thursday night vs. Taiwan. You can read all our stories on the U18 team at our International Hub.

The Under 18 Baseball World Cup starts this time next week.

Australia’s contingent of top young talent flies out late Thursday to Taiwan. They’ll have a week to prepare for the tournament.

They’ll need every second of preparation they can get – the competition is top notch.