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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.

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
—
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

21-year-old pitcher Zak Elvy has been added to Australia’s Under-23 World Cup roster ahead of Friday’s tournament opener.

He replaces Jack Waters on the 24-man list, after it was revealed the right-hander had an injury and was unable to attend.

Elvy, from New South Wales, has experience pitching for Cochise Junior College in the United States.

He pitched for Australia at the Under-23 World Cup qualifiers last December.

Australia starts their 2024 World Cup campaign on Friday at 12:00PM AEST vs Colombia.

Head to the Under 23 World Cup Hub for roster, stories and schedule.

You can watch the game on Gametime.Sport

Getting paid to play baseball. Ain’t that the dream?

When the Under 23 World Cup in China on Friday with a match vs Colombia, Team Australia will look to their twelve professional baseball players to help steady the ship and perform under pressure where required.

Exactly half of the 24-man squad is either grinding away in the USA’s minor league system, or playing professionally vs top international talent in the Australian Baseball League.

The other half? College Australians ready to make their mark (you can read about the twelve of them here).

Each pathway and professional experience offers a different tool, a different resource or mindset, and different perspective on different game aspects to draw upon when things get hard at an international tournament.

Let’s take a look at who the twelve professional players are, learn about their journeys, how they are preparing for the World Cup, and hear from them directly on how their unique pro-ball experience can help Australia when it matters most.

For more stories, schedule and information, visit our Under 23 World Cup Hub.

JAKE BURNS – CATCHER

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Professional Experience: Sydney Blue Sox (3 seasons), St. Louis Cardinals Minor Leagues (3 seasons)
Current Team: Brisbane Bandits

He’s only 21, but Jake Burns has a decade of international experience.

Burns was crushing homers as a 12-year-old in front of millions of people on ESPN at the Little League World Series. He played for Australia at the Under-15 World Cup in 2018 and the Under-18 World Cup in 2019. Burns represented Australia at the Asia Professional Baseball Championships in 2023.

He’s spent three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals minor leagues from 2021-2023, and has three years experience in the ABL with the Sydney Blue Sox.

Although, he just announced he signed with the Brisbane Bandits for the next two years. 

World Cups. Major international tournaments. Professional experience.

Did we mention he’s just 21?

He says he has learned a lot from some pretty influential people in the baseball world.

“I was lucky enough to spend some time learning from Yadier Molina with the Cardinals,” says Burns. “He taught me many concepts & strategies in regards to game within the game. Stuff like reading swings, controlling the run game, leading the pitching staff. These are all things I can use in the tournament.”

Burns says he will also use his tournament experience to lead the team.

“Great tournament teams do the little things right. They stay consistent. They make the plays that need to be made. At the international level there is no margin for error,” he says. “So, if we can play perfect defense and play our brand of baseball we can compete with the best in the world.”

Burns has been training and playing winter ball in New South Wales during the tournament build up.

BYRON ARMSTRONG – INFIELDER

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Professional Experience: Perth Heat (1 seasons)
Current Team: Perth Heat

The 22-year-old returned from a stint in college and played his rookie season with the Perth Heat in 2023-24. Armstrong hit .250 with four RBI in 15 games while playing multiple positions in the field.

He also has experience at the 2019 Under-18 World Cup.

Amstrong says his first full-season around the Perth Heat taught him valuable lessons, from playing with top prospects, former MLB players, Australian national team stars and against international calibre competition.

“From being around a lot of the older guys in the squad, they really teach you that you are going to have days that are tough. But just stick with it because you never know when your time will come in a big spot. The say to trust your preparation,” he says.

Amstrong lives in Perth full-time and has been making sure he’s in the right shape for the upcoming tournament, despite not playing a professional game since February.

“The build up to the tournament has been intense,” he says. “It’s all about getting my body set up for tournament baseball – weather that’s on a field or at the gym. I feel ready to go.”

When it comes to tournament baseball, Armstrong adds it’s all about being in the moment.

“From my own experience sometimes things can be intense and feel overwhelming so you just have to give it your all, and most importantly have fun.”

BJay Cooke – Infielder

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Professional Experience: Perth Heat (1 season), Athletics minor leagues (3 seasons)
Current Team: Oakland Athletics minor leagues

21-year-old Cooke is living out his first full season above rookie ball. He’s spent most of the season with the Stockton Ports in Class-A.

While it’s been an adjustment to the new level, Cooke has particularly impressed with some big moments defensively.

“Different situations can arise throughout the course of a professional season that you don’t see coming. You have to be able to adapt to them,” says Cooke. “Tournament baseball is similar. We have to be able to take the field and compete to win no matter the circumstances.”

He also brings tournament experience to the fold, playing for Australia at the 2022 U-23 World Cup.

“Physically, I am in a great place. Making sure I am mentally prepared has been important coming off a long season of ups, downs and some injury set backs,” he says. “Having the experience in 2022, I feel like I was able to put a plan in place to be ready this year.”

Cooke says he feels optimistic about Australia’s chances.

“For me, being able to reset every day – win or lose – playing every game with that Australian grit we have deep down. If we do that as a collective, we have a chance to win gold in China,” he says.

Chris Burke – Outfielder

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Professional Experience: Melbourne Aces (6 seasons), Philadelphia Phillies minors (2 seasons), Kansas City Royals minors (1 season).
Current Team: Melbourne Aces (unconfirmed)

Chris Burke had a phenomenal 2022 Under-23 World Cup. He had an OPS of 1.047 with two homers and five RBI in seven games to claim the tournament Batting Champion Award.

Burke returns in 2024 with more experience at the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championship where he once again starred with the bat, as well as a lengthy ABL career. Plus, he has three years in the minor leagues.

“Playing professionally taught me the importance of taking outs that are given to you. At a high level everyone can hit and execute so taking care of the baseball wins games,” he says.

He says that care for the baseball needs to be replicated come tournament time.

“You never know when your name will be called to execute and get the job done. You must be ready at all times to do the team thing. You could be having a tough day at the plate or defensively and still be a hero in the late innings – that’s the beauty of tournament baseball,’ he says.

Burke says he’s spent the build-up to the tournament training with the Performance Pathways program in Victoria, simulating a lot of intense game scenarios.

“[Things like] crucial situation training, and crucial plays we will see in China have been a focus,” he says. “Bat to ball skills have been a big focus. Damian Shanahan and Keli Zablan have been running a great Performance Pathways program in Victoria that I’ve been taken part of and it’s got me to the point where I feel prepared and ready to compete.”

Solomon Maguire – Outfielder

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Professional Experience: Sydney Blue Sox (2 seasons), Pittsburgh Pirates minor leagues (4 seasons)
Current Team: Pittsburgh Pirates Minor Leagues

Maguire spent 2024 in his first season above Rookie Ball – and one of his first year’s healthy. He played in Single-A with the Bradenton Marauders.

He made a name for himself by making consistent diving plays in the outfield, while throwing out the occasional runner.

Going back to the start of the ABL season in November, Maguire has played baseball nearly every day.

He says while that will serve him well, it’s the team camaraderie that he’s focused on.

“Our preparation in that sense is second to none on the field, but it’s mentally what we have done in the lead up. It’s talking amongst each other and repeatedly throwing words like gold medal and world champions into conversations as if they are common terms for us,” he says.

He’s also picked up some valuable lessons in his first full season above Rookie Ball.

“Lingering in the past will eat you up fast. We all know failure is part of the game, so letting a previous pitch, at-bat, or game get to me is something I’ve had to work hard on to let go,” he says. “We are about to enter a tournament where every game is playoff baseball. One at bat could be the difference.”

21-year-old Maguire played for Australia at the last Under-23 World Cup. He says he learned a lot there too.

“About two years ago Dave Nilsson told me to slow the heart rate down. Any team can drop the ball, whether it’s one that we have previously beaten or a powerhouse with tons of names and prospects. Figuring out how to relax in the moments will maximise our chances of getting our best stuff in these games,” he says. “That’s what I think the key will be to tournament baseball.”

ALEX SKEPTON – OF

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Professional Experience: Brisbane Bandits (1 season)
Current Team: Brisbane Bandits

Skepton was one of the stories of the 2023-24 Australian Baseball League season.

He started the year as a development player and ended the year finishing third in voting for the MVP Award. That’s what you get when you hit .330 with eight homers and 23 RBI in 31 games.

He says he learned how to slow things down in his breakout ABL season.

“In pressured situations it is easy for things to spin out in your own head and make it seem like the task at hand is harder than it is,” he says. “You need to trust your preparation and find a way to simplify the game in your own way to compete to the best of your ability. Simple cues and approaches makes that happen.

Skepton says he learned that having the right mindset was important. That approach needs to carry over from ABL to the World Cup.

“I had come across some big player names in the ABL this year. If I didn’t have the believe in myself that I could compete with and against the best, I never would have had the success from last season,” he says.

Skepton played for Australia at the 2019 U18 World Cup and the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championships.

He says he learned to be adaptable from those experiences.

“Be ready for everything. Tournament baseball is fast paced and you need to be thinking steps ahead of the play or opportunities could be missed,” he adds.

Skepton says preparation for the World Cup began shortly after the ABL ended in February. On field preparations have involved working with the state baseball programs Queensland to become mentally and physically prepared.

“After reflecting on [the ABL] season I knew there were a few areas I had to improve on in the gym. I got to work on these almost immediately,” he says.

Will Sherriff

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Experience: Perth Heat (4 seasons), Arizona Diamondbacks (1 season), Rakuten Golden Eagles (training squad)
Current Team: Perth Heat, Rakuten Golden Eagles training player

Will brings some of the most diverse experience to Team Australia.

He is the only player on the roster to have appeared in the World Baseball Classic. He did so in a cauldron – starting a game vs Japan in Tokyo front of a Shohei-Ohtani crazed audience.

He’s also pitched for Australia at the U18 and U23 World Cup and the Asia Professional Baseball Championships.

Sherriff says he is in great form because he has been in Japan for the last six weeks training with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the NPB.

He has a career 3.52 ERA in four seasons with the Perth Heat in Australia.

“It’s all about trust,” says Sherriff of the lessons he’s learned. “Trust in every single player and coaching staff in the team. You play with so many different players and coaches all the time and most of the time you only spend a little bit of time with those guys before jumping into a tournament. Having trust that everyone wants to achieve the same thing and is putting 100% into it makes it easier to compete.”

Sheriff has lots of experience with international tournaments. He says the key is to be perfect on the “one percenters.”

“So many times in big games you win or lose over those little plays you make or don’t make,” he says. “That’s why Japan is the number one team in the world. They play the small ball game perfectly and make the easy plays all the time. If we can do that too we will be successful.”

DYLAN CLARKE – RHP

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Professional Experience: Sydney Blue Sox (2 seasons)
Current Team: Sydney Blue Sox

22-year-old Clarke has been busy the past two years.

He played in the 2022 Under-23 World Cup, pitched two seasons in the ABL for the Blue Sox, and for Team Australia at the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championships.

“Having experience in the ABL has taught me how to better prepare. I have a greater understanding of how I need to approach this and these months of preparation have put me in a good spot,” he says.

Clarke rattled off nine strike outs in 4.2 innings at the last Under-23 World Cup.

He adds that time with Blue Sox and in tournaments has also shown him how it’s important to be in the moment.

“Whatever good or bad happened yesterday means nothing to competing in the present,” he says. “Most importantly – enjoy what you are doing. Take it in and embrace those games and moments.”

The ABL finished in February but Clarke has been playing winter ball in the build up.

“It’s allowed me to keep the arm in shape on the mound and take the time to play more long toss to work on my craft,” he says.

KIEREN HALL – RHP

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Professional Experience: Perth Heat (1 season)
Current Team: Perth Heat

The 23-year-old returned to Australia after graduating from NCAA Division I program Evansville.

He played in nine games for the Heat during their run to the ABL Championship Series.

“I think my biggest takeaway from my rookie season is just having to trust the preparation I’ve put in and having a good routine before and during games,” he says. “I think what this does for me is it just lets me relax and compete. Quite simply: Controlling what I can control.”

Hall says once the ABL season ended in February focus shifted to this tournament. He’s been working with former Major Leaguer and Team Australia co-captain Warwick Saupold.

“He’s been a great mentor and teammate to me. He’s been helping me with my transition to the ABL, widening my knowledge of of tournament style baseball,” he says. “It’s been a huge help for my growth as a player.”

Hall has also been working with Heat coach Andy Kyle and throwing bullpens to senior team catcher Alex Hall.

“I think surrounding myself with like-minded people and taking on anything a teammate or coach has said has been the best thing for my preparation,” says Hall.

He’s also says it’s all about the team-first mentality.

“Every Australian baseball tournament I’ve been part of, the biggest thing is ‘all hands on deck.’ I truly believe that is the key to tournament baseball,” says Hall. “It’s going to take each person on this team at any given time of the tournament to do their part in reaching our goal of bringing home the hardware.”

Hall played for Australia at the 2019 Under-18 World Cup and the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championships.

Ky Jackson

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Experience: Industrial League in Japan, 1 season
Current Team: Hoping to be drafted in NPB

While the Industrial League in Japan isn’t technically professional, it may seem like it to an Australia. Jackson is playing baseball every day with Nippon Express.

He and his teammates play against all the major corporations in Japan like Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda and Subaru.

They play in big tournaments in Japan’s biggest stadiums like Jingu Stadium, Kyocera Dome and the Tokyo Dome.

Once they have spent two years in the system there is an opportunity to be drafted into the NPB (pro). Ky is eligible next year.

“The lessons I learned in Japan and the previous Under 23 World Cup is about communication with the catcher and trusting, having confidence with my stuff. [It’s about] attacking the strike zone with all pitches as the opponent has likely never faced me,” he says.

Jackson graduated from university in Japan and has been pitching in the Industrial League since February which he says is a big step up in level.

“Playing in big tournaments over here has been great for what to expect at the World Cup,” he says.

Ali Tanner

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Experience: Adelaide Giants (1 season)
Current Team: Development player for Adelaide Giants, committed to Arizona State

As a newly turned 18-year-old, Tanner is the youngest member of the Under-23 squad. He played one season as a development player with the Adelaide Giants and is committed to Arizona State University in 2024-25.

Tanner’s lone season in a professional environment was impressive.

He appeared in four games, tossing 4.1 innings and did not allow a run in the Giants’ championship winning season.

Tanner can throw 95mph and starred for Australia at the 2023 Under 18 World Cup.

“I want to soak up all the experiences this tournament has to offer. I want to learn as much as possible and keep proving myself against talented opposition,” he says.

Ali’s life has been busy. His typical day consists of school at Year 12, 2-3 hours of baseball training, the gym and casual work.

Lachlan Brook – Left Handed Pitcher

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Professional Experience: Sydney Blue Sox (1 season)
Current Team: Sydney Blue Sox

The newly turned 21-year-old product of New South Wales was uber impressive in his first year as a pro.

He was a development player with the Blue Sox but after strong club ball showings he earned some play time. He pitched 4.2 innings later in the season and didn’t allow a run.

He says he learned more about the importance of pitch selection and location while being in the professional environment.

“You’re facing good hitters every at-bat,” he says. “I had to learn how to best prepare myself as a relieve because in club ball I’ve been a starter. Players like Josh Guyer and Chris Oxspring taught me how to warm up properly and understand where I might be used in a game as baseball is unpredictable.”

Brook was initially a reserve for the Under 23 World Cup squad but was called up to replace one of Kailen Hamson / Adam Bates.

Still,

“I’ve been following our pitching coach Josh Tols’ throwing program. I’m in the Gym four days a week, throwing five times, and working with Tread Athletics,” he says. “I’ve been working on my lower half mechanics and doing ply ball drills to help my arm path.”

Bonus – ADAM BATES – RHP

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Professional Experience: Boston Red Sox minor leagues (1 season)
Current Team: Boston Red Sox minor leagues

While Adam is no longer able to play in the World Cup, we still want to highlight where he’s come from.

19-year-old Bates just finished his first season as a professional. He pitched in 11 games for the Boston Red Sox Rookie Ball team in the Florida Complex League. In 36.2 innings, Bates posted a 3.96 ERA.

Bates, who played on Australia’s Under-18 World Cup team in 2023, grew stronger as the season progressed. He allowed just three earned runs in his last 14.2 innings.

“I’ve learnt that you have to attack the strike zone and not become timid,” he says of his first year experience. “This allows you to keep the pitch count low and make the hitter uncomfortable as they go into attack mode from the start. Don’t stress over the hits – keep attacking and trust the team behind you.”

Bates’ build-up has consisted of throwing bullpens and playing in practice games against the Twins’ minor league squad.

“This has put me in a good place. It gives me the ability to define my pitches in-game under pressure to ensure I can perform,” he says.