WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup - Day 3: Japan shut out Cuba to lead Group A undefeated
Day 3 of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUSItal is underway in Naha and Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
Puerto Rico opened the day at Cellular Stadium in Naha with a win over Italy. Australia outscored China in five innings in Itoman's Nishizaki Stadium.
Japan used three left-handed pitchers to blank Cuba's lineup, which could get only a pair of singles. With the shutout win, the defending World Champions are now in sole possession of first place in Group A.
The other afternoon game, USA-Germany, started at 14:30 in Itoman.
Both night games will start at 18:30. Korea will face South Africa at Okinawa Cellular Field, while Panama will play Chinese Taipei at Nishizaki Stadium.
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-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | JPN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | CUB | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 2 |  | PUR | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 4 |  | KOR | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 |
| 5 |  | RSA | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.5 |
| 6 |  | ITA | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 3 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | USA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | AUS | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 2 |  | GER | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1 |
| 4 |  | TPE | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.5 |
| 5 |  | PAN | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2.5 |
| 6 |  | CHN | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 3 |
USA @ Germany
Japan-Cuba 3-0
Japan took the lead against left-hander Dyosdenis Penton in the top of the third. Hikaru Tamenaga led off with a single. Yota Abe reached on a swinging bunt to the pitcher. Penton missed the first base bag with the throw. Tamenaga scored on the play, whoòe Abe reached third and scored on Ryota Okumura's RBI single. Cuba handed the ball to right-hander Jesus Lopez, who ended the at-bat on a groundout and a strikeout.
Cuba got the first hit against left-hander Kenshin Shimosige in the bottom of the fourth. Daniel Santos reached on a two-out single, and Yaidel Ruiz followed with a single to right field. Shimosige got Samuel Matos looking at the third strike to end the inning.
Yu Yokohama made it 3-0 for Japan with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth.
Lefty Ikki Nishimura took the mound for Japan in the top of the fifth. He allowed only one walk over 2.2 innings of work. Raito Okumura, another left-hander, took care of the final out.
Australia-China 15-3
Australia needed only five innings to beat China. Five Chinese pitchers allowed the Aussies a combined 13 hits. Second baseman Eita Samukawa led the offence, going 3-for-3.
Patrick Crotty and Deakin Filko didn't allow a hit over the first three innings. China reached with their first hit only in the fourth, when Australia already had a 13-run lead, against Nate Quigg.
Puerto Rico-Italy 6-2
A bases-loaded and two-out defensive error in the top of the first set the tone. It costed Italy three runs before Puerto Rico could get an hit and spoiled their chances after starter Mattia Muscio had managed to end a threat getting a routine ground ball.
Muscio left after one inning and 54 pitches. Puerto Rico added three runs on four hits against reliever Christian Tontini.
Puerto Rico's starter Keniel Miranda pitched four scoreless innings. Italy got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Reliever Joniel Cuadrado led off the at-bat with back-to-back walks and Italy thrived on an error to score their first run. Patrick Silva battend in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
John Gonzalez and Joniel Miranda took care of the six final outs.
Key links
- Tournament website
- Schedule/Live scoring
- Live Streaming
- Live clips on X
- Highlights
- Photos
- WBSC Men's Baseball World Ranking
The tournament day by day
- Day 2 Recap
- Day 1 Recap
- The Pre-Tournament Press Conference
- U-18 Baseball World Cup preview
- Where to watch
Feature articles
- Kids step up to the plate - the future of international baseball is bright
- Italy's coach Daniele Santolupo, a former All-World Team centre fielder
- Yu Darvish: "The U-18 Baseball World Cup was a tremendous experience"
- Ten things to know about the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025
- The U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 by the Numbers
- A look at the historical records
- Meet the Okinawa Prefecture
- The Trophy is on display in Japan
- WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup trains on Okinawa Monorail
- All news