WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group A - Exciting day 4 in play: Czechia defeat Australia. Venezuela beat Philippines in extras. Mexico over Dominican Republic. Czechia vs Philippines underway
The final day of the Opening Round at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A will be an exciting one, with four teams vying for two spots in the playoffs. With Venezuela (4-0) and Dominican Republic (3-1) set in the top two positions, Australia (2-2), Philippines (1-2), Mexico (1-3) and Czechia (0-3) will battle for the third and fourth places in the standings.
Standings XVIII Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group A
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 |
| 3 |  |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 3 |  |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 5 |  |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 3.5 |
| 5 |  |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 3.5 |
- Top four Opening Round teams advance to Sunday's Playoffs
- Two tickets on the line for next year's Finals
- World No. 2 Australia are defending champions
- Czechia are the European Champions
- All six teams in the Top-15 of the WBSC/KONAMI Men's Softball World Ranking
- First time two-stage format used for WBSC Men's Softball World Cup - Group Stage in 2024 followed by Finals in 2025
- After Group A in Hermosillo, Mexico, Group B will take place in Prince Albert, Canada from 10-14 July followed by Group C in Oklahoma City, USA from 17-21 September
- WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group A - Day 2: Dominican Republic on top after wins over Czechia & Australia. Venezuela beat Mexico; Australia edge Philippines
- WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group A - Day 1: Pimentel guides Venezuela to win over Australia; two homers lift Dominican Republic over Philippines. Mexico earn five-inning win against Czechia
- WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group A live on GameTime; TV rights awarded in Mexico, Czechia & Nicaragua
- Six teams chasing two tickets: Head coaches discuss WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A
- WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup - Group A Preview: Australia face stern challenge as world title defence starts in Hermosillo
- Six players to follow at WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A in Hermosillo
- Two WBSC Softball World Cups leave meaningful legacy - two world-class stadiums in Hermosillo
Up Next XVIII Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group A
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Winner Game#17
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Loser Game#18
16/06/2024 21:00 (UTC -7)
Czechia came from behind to claim a much needed win against Australia, 7-6, in their first game of today's doubleheader. Losing 4-2 in the fourth inning, the European Champions tied the game in the fourth and took a three-run lead in the fifth, including a two-run homer by George Harris.
Australia made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, with back-to-back homers from Hayden Matthews and Scott Patterson, and was very close to tie the game, when James Todhunter hit a long ball that landed just outside the foul pole.
Jakub Osicka pitched the complete game, giving up six hits and six runs, with 13 strikeouts. The losing pitcher was Mathew Becket who tossed three innings in relief and gave up six hits and three runs.
Venezuela had to fight until the eighth inning to defeat Philippines, 3-2, and finish the Opening Round undefeated. Veteran Rafael Flores went 4-for-4 and hit the game-winning RBI single in the top of the eighth to score Carlos Alvarez, who started the inning as the tie-breaking runner. Luis Colombo claimed the win in 2.2 innings of work, striking out six against three walks.
With this win, Venezuela swept the Opening Round and will advance to the Playoffs as the first seeded team. Tomorrow, Sunday 16 at 17:00, Venezuela will play Venezuela with the winner earning a ticket to next year's Finals.
For the Philippines this was be the first of two games today. Philippines will also face Czechia in the last game of the Opening Round.
Mexico and Dominican Republic will close the Opening Round at 20:00 at Fernando Ortiz. The Caribbean squad is already qualified as second place, while Mexico need a win to improve their options to be in the playoffs. In any case, they must wait for other scores to see if they advance to the playoffs.
Philippines 0 - 0 Czechia - Play by play
Mexico 4 - 0 Dominican Republic - Play by play
Top 7th - Christian del Valle homers again. The hosts are leading now 4-0.
Top 6th - Jesus Cardona adds one with an RBI single. Mexico is leading now 3-0.
Top 2nd - Christian del Valle hit a mammoth homer over center field to tie Mexico a 2-0 lead.
Venezuela 3 - 2 Philippines - Box score
Top 8th - Rafael Flores hit an RBI single to plate the go-ahead run.
Bottom 6th - A line drive double off the bat of Justine Rosales drove in the game-tying run from first base. We go to the seventh, the game is 2-2.
Top 3rd - Venezuela take the lead with only one swing. Carlos Alvarez crushed a two-run monster shot to give the South Americans a one-run lead.
Bottom 2nd - Kenneth Torres tripled to the right field line, and scored on an error by catcher Jose Dorantes.
Venezuela and Philippines are underway. Venezuela has secured the first place in the standings, while Philippines will play twice today, aiming to advance to the playoffs.
Czechia 7 - 6 Australia - Box score
Bottom 7th - Back to back homers by Hayden Matthews and Scott Patterson make it a one run ballgame. With two outs, James Todhunter hit a long foul ball that barely missed the foul pole.
Top 5th - Tomas Klein gives the European Champions the lead with an RBI single, followed by a two-run double down the left field line. Czechia is now ahead 7-4.
Top 4th - Czechia tie the game at 4. A sac fly by George Harris made it a one-run ballgame, and then Martin Magula hit a bloop to no man's land to plate Adam Lunak.
Bottom 2nd - Matthews puts Australia again ahead in the scoreboard. He crushed a Jakub Osicka rise ball and sent it to the street. Australia is ahead, 4-2
Top 2nd - Beorge Harris with a two-run shot! Czechia takes a 2-1 lead.
Bottom 1st - Australia takes the lead with an RBI single off the bat of James Todhunter. Hayden Matthews hit a leadoff single, and moved to second on a defensive error by Jake Vacisek. Todhunter connected a 3-2 pitch in the outside part of the plate and sent it to the right field to produce the first run of the game.
