Preview: WBSC Premier12 Bronze, Global Championship Finale

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<p>TOKYO – Game 37 and Game 38 at the Tokyo Dome will close the first-ever WBSC Premier12 global tournament. Looking ahead to today’s finals, here’s a look at the past encourters between the National Teams of USA and South Korea, and Japan and Mexico.</p>

<p><strong>Premier12 Global Championship</strong></p>

<p>World No. 2 United States vs No. 8 South Korea</p>

<p>In the Opening Round, the United States recorded a 3-2 extra-inning victory over South Korea. It was in their final group stage match. An RBI single in the 10th inning by Brett Eibner was the decider.</p>

<p>The United States, current No. 2 in the world rankings, are the reigning world champions across the U-12 and U-18 categories, winning the U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cups this year.</p>

<p>The National Teams of South Korea and United States met at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup. The U.S. scored 4 runs in the 9th inning to defeat South Korea, 7-4. South Korea eventually earned the bronze medal.</p>

<p>The U.S. U-12 National Team defeated South Korea in the 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup, 18-1.</p>

<p>The last time South Korea defeated the U.S. at the Men’s level was at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (8-7).</p>

<p><strong>Bronze Medal Game</strong></p>

<p>World No. 1 Japan vs No. 12 Mexico</p>

<p>Japan beat Mexico 6-5 in the Opening Round of the WBSC Premier12. Sho Nakata hit the   game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nakata had 5 RBIs in the game.</p>

<p>Japan, the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic winners, and Mexico also clashed this year at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in Osaka — Japan won 12-0.</p>

<p>In nine meetings, including games from the WBSC Premier12 (1), Baseball World Cups (7) and the World Baseball Classic (1), Japan has won on all nine occasions.</p>

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