Held in Tainan, Taipei, the Under 12 World Cup has attracted twelve teams drawn into two groups, with the top three from each group to progress to the Super Round. Australia will play Opening Round games against United States, South Korea, Germany, Panama and Nicaragua.

 

While we will aim to provide game summaries, team progress can be followed via the following links. Not all games will be streamed live.

 

WBSC U12 WORLD CUP HOME PAGE            BASEBALL AUSTRALIA          UNDER 12 FACEBOOK PAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aussies end campaign in stunning fashion

 

Producing consistent offence and grand defence in support of a stellar start by Brendan Regan, Australia has wrapped up its Under 12 World Cup with a thumping 9-1 win over South Africa in Tainan Taipei this afternoon.

 

GAME EIGHT:     AUSTRALIA 9 defeated SOUTH AFRICA 1     BOX SCORES        TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

Starting for Australia in its final game, Brendan Regan tossed a scoreless first and was accorded immediate offensive support when his side amassed six hits and forced a fielding error to blast six in the equaliser.

 

Whiffing three in the second, Regan continued to stifle the South Africa offence and the Aussie hitters sparked up again in the bottom of three, when Angus Catt smacked a lead-off double, advanced on a balk and scored on a Hayden Purchase sacrifice fly before Will Baker drove in Jett Watson for an eighth run.

 

Backed by some great defence, Regan breezed through the fourth and was relieved by Jack Bushell after a terrific outing for two hits and seven strikeouts.

 

Continuing to pressure the South African defence, Australia scored again in the bottom of five before closing out a thumping win that saw Australia amass eleven hits to two – with the most prominent being Watson (two hits, two RBIs and a walk), Purchase (two hits and two ribbies), Oscar Hyde (two and one), Catt (two hits), Baker and Josh Davies.

 

Australian Baseball Alumni extends its congratulations to the Australian Under 12 World Cup squad and its support staff on representing Australia with distinction at this prestigious international event. Travelling overseas together and playing, often against the odds, against the very best eleven and twelve year olds in the world – especially from powerhouse baseball nations – will surely be of enormous benefit to our youngsters, both to their personal and sporting development. Well done, all!

 

 

Brazil downs Aussies in a tight contest

 

Not able to convert its limited scoring opportunities early on, Australia battled valiantly without doing enough in offence to challenge a Brazilian side that was slick in defence and ran out an 8-1 winner at the Under 12 World Cup this afternoon.

 

GAME SEVEN:     BRAZIL 8 defeated AUSTRALIA 1                 BOX SCORES        TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

After retiring Brazil in order in the first, starter Oscar Hyde and centrefielder Jack Bushell hit safely but were stranded on base before their opponent opened scoring with two in the second.

 

While both teams continued to create opportunities, Australia managed to hit into two double plays as Hyde and reliever Jye Burns settled into some terrific work on the hill - until the Brazilians took advantage of a pair of walks to plate another couple in the fifth.

 

A two-out double by Liam Padovan gave the Aussies a chance in the equaliser but the Brazilians – playing errorless defence - were able to get out of the innings and post four insurance runs in the top of the last as late reliever Josh Davies struggled for control.

 

Will Baker and Bushell both walked in the bottom of the frame, with the former scoring on a wild pitch and Jack Hutton swatting a two out double when the game was effectively gone.

 

Collecting just five hits to seven and conceding five walks, Australia was not at its best in this contest but will be surely be keen to wrap up its World Cup campaign on a strong note when it meets South Africa on Saturday 5 August, starting at 4.00 PM (AEST).

 

Czech hitters exploit scoring opportunities

 

Coming off a late finish on Wednesday evening, Australia generated productive offence but was unable to contain a Czech Republic outfit that scored in each innings played – for an 11-5 win over our team in the first of its Consolation Round games.

 

GAME SIX:    CZECH REPUBLIC 11 defeated AUSTRALIA 5           BOX SCORES     TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

While Australia was first on the board in this game – when Will Baker doubled and scored on an Oscar Hyde single in the top of the first - Czech Republic hit back with two of its own off Aussie starter Jack Hutton.

 

A Jye Burns double sparked a two-out rally in the second – when Jack Bushell swatted an RBI double, advanced and scored on two wild pitches – although the Czech team again responded with a couple to regain the lead and stretch the break to two before Angus Catt was called upon to relieve Hutton in the bottom of three.

 

A wild pitch allowed a sixth Czech run to cross the plate and the Australian task was rendered even more difficult when three hits, a walk, a wild pitch, some aggressive baserunning and an infield play conspired to produce four more in the bottom of five.

 

With their side running out of chances, Baker, Liam Padovan (RBI double) and Kyan Roach (RBI single hit safely in the fifth to bridge the gap by two, although the Czech side was up to the task in closing out the game despite the Aussies matching their opponent with nine hits.

 

Australia’s next game will be against Brazil, starting at 4.00 PM (AEST) on Friday 4 August.

 

Panama too strong in final group game

 

GAME FIVE:     PANAMA 15 defeated AUSTRALIA 2                 BOX SCORES      TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

Facing a tough task after Panama plated four in the first, Australia scored in the bottom of the third  and again in the fifth, but was overpowered by an offensive assault in the fourth and fifth that placed the game beyond reach.

 

While four of the Aussie pitchers were given invaluable mound time against a powerful Panama offence, team bats were well held, with Kyan Roach, Liam Padovan, Hayden Purchase and Cole Buck – who smacked a solo home run as a pinch hitter -  the only players to register hits.

 

Now out of contention for the Super Round, Australia will regroup for a strong showing in the Consolation Round, where our team has the opportunity to accrue further ranking points when it faces Czech Republic, Brazil and South Africa over the next three days.

 

Nicaragua loss a setback for Australia

 

Delayed several hours by rain, the all-important game between Australia and Nicaragua was a tight and intense contest until one big innings by the central American nation for a lead that proved a bridge too far for a valiant Aussie outfit that will meet Panama for its last Opening Round clash on Wednesday.  

 

GAME FOUR:     NICARAGUA 10 defeated AUSTRALIA 4          BOX SCORES     TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

Finally getting on the field after torrential rain throughout Monday and Tuesday morning, Australia was behind the eight-ball early, when starter Jett Watson conceded a walk and four hits that gleaned two for Nicaragua in the top of the first.

 

Settling into his work to pitch two scoreless frames, Watson was accorded scoring support in the bottom of three, when hits to Brendan Regan, Oscar Hyde, Josh Davies and Jack Bushell combined with a walk and an error to give the Aussies a one-run lead before a rain delay.

 

The resumption proved far less than kind for Australia, with Nicaragua putting up a six spot, with two out– including a two-run homer – before Watson was relieved by Cameron Bieker.

 

While Will Baker hit safely, stole second and advanced on a grounder before Kyan Roach drew a walk, Australia was unable to convert in the equaliser, although Bieker subsequently retired the Nicaraguan side in order and the Aussies shaved the lead by one when Baker drove in Davies in the bottom of five.

 

It was a short-lived revival, however, with a second two-run homer stretching the Nicaragua lead to six – the final winning margin despite the Aussies landing runners on base towards the end.

 

While the early innings were promising, the Aussie side – which again played solid defence - was unable to contain the Nicaragua offence despite the contributions of Baker (two hits and an RBI), Hyde (two and one), Davies (two and one), Regan (two hits) and Bushell in a team total of ten hits.

 

Australia’s final Opening Round game – against Panama - is scheduled for Wednesday 2 August, 12.00 PM start (AEST), although that may be subject to change to accommodate a string of postponed games from both Monday and Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aussies dominate with massive win

 

Rebounding from two tough losses against United States and Korea, Australia played a terrific all-round brand of baseball to crush Germany 9-1 and keep alive their prospects of advancing to the Super Round of the Under 12 World Cup that resumed in Taiwan today.

 

GAME THREE:     AUSTRALIA 9 defeated GERMANY 1         BOX SCORES          TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE

 

Australia was off to a bright start, when Brendan Regan walked in the top of the first, stole second and scored on a double by starting pitcher Oscar Hyde, who proceeded to retire the German offence with no damage done in the first two frames.

 

The Aussies pressed on in the third, when a Will Baker single, a Regan double, a wild pitch, a walk and a throwing error gleaned another two for a side gaining in offensive confidence.

 

While Germany landed a pair of runners on base in the equaliser, Hyde was well up to the task in retiring the side before his own team applied match-breaking pressure in the fourth – when Josh Davies singled and Jack Bushell walked, with both runners stealing.

 

As if on cue, Liam Padovan spanked a two-RBI double into leftfield that launched an Aussie scoring breakout as Hayden Purchase singled and Baker, Hyde and Kyan Roche all doubled in a five-run blast that was comfortably protected as the Australian team continued to play solid defence.

 

Regan walked in the top of six, advanced on a wild pitch and a ground ball to then score on a balk for a ninth Australian score before Germany finally hit the scoreboard with an unearned run.

 

Scattering three hits over five innings, Hyde (two hits and a walk for two RBIs) was a standout for Australia along with closing pitcher Baker (two and two), Padovan (one and two – with a walk), Roach (one and one, with a walk), Regan (hit and two walks) and Bushell.

 

Rightly buoyant after a strong win, Australia will face another tough assignment on Monday (4.00 PM start AEST), when it meets Panama  – the team that held Korea scoreless on opening day.

 

Aussie offence well held as Korea edges away

 

GAME TWO:    KOREA 8 defeated AUSTRALIA 0                                           BOX SCORES

 

With both teams held scoreless in their opening games, Korea struck in the top of the first, when a hit, an error, a HPB and a double gleaned two early runs.

 

While Australia loaded the bases with two out in the equaliser, the team came up empty and the Koreans again challenged with runners at second and third in the second before Aussie starter Jack Hutton – the son of former Major Leaguer Mark Hutton – produced the big pitches to escape the innings.

 

Another error in the top of three proved costly for Australia, which conceded a third run before turning two important infield outs – although Korea continued to apply offensive pressure with two more in the fourth.

 

With runners at the corners in the top of five, Hutton was relieved by southpaw Oscar Hyde – who induced an infield double and a deep outfield flyball while conceding a couple of base hits that stretched the lead to seven zip.

 

Replacing Hyde on the hill, Cameron Bieker held sway through the top of six, although Korea managed an eighth run on a sacrifice fly.

 

While Australian management would be proud of its pitchers – who tossed a high percentage of strikes – defensive slipups and one solitary hit to a Korean dozen told the tale of this contest.

 

After playing probably the two strongest teams its group, Australia will be keen to open its winning account when it faces Germany on Sunday, starting at 12.00 PM (AEST).

 

 

Tough going first-up for Aussies

 

Facing the reigning champion in its opening game of the Under 12 World Cup, Australia was no match for a powerful United States combination that plated three in the first and a game-breaking nine in the second to set the base for a thumping 16-0 win in Tainan, Taiwan, this afternoon.

 

GAME ONE:     UNITED STATES 16 defeated AUSTRALIA 0                                       BOX SCORES

 

A two-run homer in the first, a grand slam in the second and further round-trippers in the third and the fourth did the bulk of the scoring damage as Australian pitchers Angus Catt and Lucas Burnell toiled wholeheartedly to keep their side in the contest.

 

Although the Aussies landed two runners on base in the top of three – when Liam Padovan drew a walk and William Baker forced a defensive error - they struggled in offence against U.S.A. starter Bryce Rainer, who struck out five over three innings before Ashton Larson closed the game.

 

While the tournament favourite exerted its early dominance, Australia will look to rebound when it meets South Korea on Saturday 29 July, starting at 12.00 (AEST).

 

Baseball Australia names squad for World Cup

Kingsley Collins

11 July 2017

 

Australian Baseball Alumni management extends its congratulations and best wishes to the young men (see below) selected to represent Australia at the 2017 WBSC Under 12 World Cup.

 

The tournament will be played in Tainan, Taipei, from 28 July to 6 August.

 

Qualifying for its second appearance at the tournament – after winning the inaugural Oceania Championship earlier this year - Australia will play United States, South Korea, Germany, Panama and Nicaragua in the Opening Round, with three wins likely to be the minimum to earn a berth in the Super Round.  

 

Although winning just two of its eight games at the 2015 tournament, Australia pushed South Korea to the limit and was ultra-competitive in other games against Mexico, Japan and Brazil.

 

“It was our first time in the tournament, and it was a big eye opener,” Baseball Australia High Performance Manager Glenn Williams told Australian Baseball Alumni in an interview earlier this month.

 

“It was a tough tournament for us, although there were plenty of learning experiences coming out of it that will make us better this time around.”

 

“This tournament will always be a difficult one to anticipate – given the quality of the baseball nations involved - but the Oceania Qualifier was a real test for the team that went there and came through for us,” he said.

 

“The staff did a great job, and being Brian Murphy’s second time as Head Coach at this World Cup I have no doubt they will know what to expect from the competition.”

 

Of its five first-round games, Australia will face reigning gold-medallist United States and bronze medallist Nicaragua, with the top three teams from each group of six qualifying for the Super Round.

 

“Getting to the Super Round would be an amazing achievement for us,” Glenn Williams said.

 

The winner of the Under 12 World Cup will receive 345 points towards its WBSC ranking and there will be a sliding points allocation for other nations depending on the final placings.

 

Currently listed eighth in the world – our highest ever ranking – Australia is 360 points ahead of ninth-placed Netherlands and 370 points behind Venezuela (seventh). With neither of those nations entered for the Under 12 tournament, Australia has the opportunity to consolidate its position and to potentially make further headway through our participation at the Under 18 World Cup later this year.

 

The WBSC Under 12 World Cup will be comprehensively covered by Baseball Australia, which has named the following squad.

 

William BAKER (Queensland)

Cameron BIEKER (Victoria)

Cole BUCK (New South Wales)

Lucas BURNELL (South Australia)

Jye BURNS (New South Wales)

Jack BUSHELL (South Australia)

Angus CATT (South Australia)

Joshua DAVIES (Western Australia)

Jack HUTTON (South Australia)

Oscar HYDE (Queensland)

Ryan LANGWORTHY (Victoria)

Rorke MILES (Western Australia)

Liam PADOVAN (New South Wales)

Finn RAMANAUSKAS (New South Wales)

Brendan REGAN (New South Wales)

Kyan ROACH (New South Wales)

Hayden PURCHASE (New South Wales)

Jett WATSON (New South Wales)

 

Brian MURPHY – Head Coach

Matt O’NEILL – Assistant Coach

Shayne WATSON – Assistant Coach

Louise RIDDELL – Executive Officer

 

LINKS.

 

Baseball Australia Under 12 Home Page

WBSC Under 12 Tournament