WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup: Kristian Valadez lifts USA over Mexico with three run homer
Day 1 of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS second round is underway at the Asia Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centre (ASPAC).
The United States defeated Mexico in the first game of the Super Round. Mexico struck first with Gaston Gaixola's solo shot, but the defending World Champions took the lead, thriving on a defensive error and broke the score open on a three-run shot by Kristian Valadez, the first player to reach three home runs in the tournament.
Korea will face Japan at 14:30 and Chinese Taipei-Dominican Republic will close the day at 18:30.
The Placement Round, places 7 to 12, opened with Germany.beating South Africa. It was the first overall win for Germany.
All times are local.
All Games are Live on GameTime, the WBSC OTT platform
- Exceptions may apply in Taiwan, Korea and Japan
Standings WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | JPN | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 0 |
| 2 |  | MEX | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 0 |
| 3 |  | TPE | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 0 |
| 4 |  | CUB | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 2 |
| 5 |  | AUS | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 3 |
| 6 |  | GER | 0 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 4 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | KOR | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | USA | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 1 |
| 3 |  | DOM | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 |
| 4 |  | PAN | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 5 |  | CZE | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 |
| 6 |  | RSA | 0 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 5 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | KOR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 | | USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 0.5 |
| 3 | | JPN | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 3 | | TPE | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 5 | | MEX | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1.5 |
| 6 | | DOM | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | CUB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 1 | | PAN | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 3 | | AUS | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 3 | | CZE | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 5 | | GER | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 1.5 |
| 6 | | RSA | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 2.5 |
Super Round Games
USA-Mexico 7-1
Mexico struck first. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Gaston Gaxiola got to the second pitch by starter Barret Schell and turned it into a solo homer that put Mexico ahead.
The USA reversed the lead in the top of the third. With Russell McGee at first and one out, Nolan Hatch bunted to third. Eduard Miranda's throw went beyond the first base bag and McGee scored the tying run. Hatch reached third on the play and scored beating the throw home on a grounded by Christopher Chikodroff.
Kristian Valadez hit a three-run homer off reliever Jose Romano in the top of the fifth to break the score open for the US. Valadez became the first player to reach three home runs in the tournament.
After a rain delay, Jack Carson extended the USA's lead with a two-RBI double.
Brock Bliss and David Romejko allowed only one hit and one walk to Mexico in the final three innings.
Placement Round Games
Germany-South Africa 6-3
Germany scored three runs in the bottom of the first against Mason Sage and didn't need to look back on the way to their first win. Felix Kaneko, Jonah Rousseau and Milos Schumacher led off the game with three consecutive hits. Rousseau had two of the five German hits.
Kaneko pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two walks and two hits. South Africa got to him in the top of the sixth and Mona Brauch stepped to the mound to save his win.
Key links
- Tournament website
- Schedule/Live scoring
- Live streaming
- Live clips on X
- Videos
- Photos
- WBSC Men's Baseball World Ranking
Read also
- Super Round and Placement Round schedule
- Statistic snapshot-Super Round teams
- Double the Passion, Double the Power: The story behind South Africa's Mphahlele Twins
- Day 5 recap
- Three Girls, One Dream: Germany's Mona Brauch at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025
- Day 4 recap
- Chinese Taipei and Japan managers discuss emotions around rivalry
- Day 3 recap
- Three Girls, One Dream: Mexico's Renee Murillo at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup
- Day 2 recap
- U-12 Baseball World Cup winner Nick Kurtz makes MLB history
- South Africa's manager Shawn Schwartz "proud and excited" about his team
- Day 1 recap
- The Opening Ceremony
- U-12 Baseball World Cup preview
- The pre-tournament press conference
- Where to watch
- All U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 news