2025 Under-18 World Cup Day 4: South Africa Out-Hits Europe

By Gabriel Fidler, Managing Editor.

Despite a loss on the fourth day of play at the Under-18 Baseball World Cup, Germany’s chance for a spot in the Super Round remains open. It will have to rebound from a hitless day against Panamá, a fate that Italy also suffered in its game with South Korea. Meanwhile, South Africa broke up a no-hit bid against Japan and came tantalizingly close to breaking out against the World No. 1, but fell short on the penultimate day of round robin play from Okinawa.

Germany – Panamá
After opening the Under-18 Baseball World Cup with a trio of solid performances, Germany had a tough time against winless Panamá, which no-hit the Deutschlanders, and took advantage of six errors and seven walks.

Panamá wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. German starter Emilio Götz did not make it out of the first. Luis Rivera bunted for a hit to start the bottom of the first, Götz allowed back-to-back walks, and Panamá scored twice on a throwing error. Another run scored when Juan Rujano grounded into a double play, and Panamá made it 4-0 on Carlos Castillo’s RBI-double. After another run in the second, the worst was yet to come for Germany. Panamá scored nine runs—only two earned—on four hits and three errors in the bottom of the third against relievers Samuel Redle and Lukas Köttig.

Italy – South Korea
Europe’s other representative at the U18 World Cup fared no better, although South Korea waited until the second to strike. The four-run rally on four hits, including Jiho Park’s double, was more than it needed to win. Dongkun Shin, Taeyang Lee, and Junsang Eom no-hit Italy, combining for nine strikeouts. In fact, had it not been for the walk that Pablo Suárez drew in the top of the first, South Korea would have tossed a perfect game.

Alessandro Gamberini and Gabriele Cirini only surrendered five hits and four earned runs in the game, with just one going for extra bases, but nine walks and four errors sabotaged their efforts.

South Africa – Japan
Heading into the top of the fourth inning, Japan had taken a 5-0 lead and Daito Nakano had yet to surrender a hit, but Jordan Pinto started the frame with something no European hitter managed on Day Four—a base hit. Aiden McKenzie followed with another safety, but Kaito Fujimori then caught Pinto stealing third. After a strikeout, South Africa continued to threaten, as Stiaan Henning singled up the middle, putting runenrs on the corners, and Travis Hoffman was hit by a pitch. Nakano pitched his way out of the jam with another K, and the rally was over.

Japan added another run in the fourth, before South Africa once again made things interesting in the top of the fifth. With one out, Pinch hitter Joshua Botha hustled to first on a grounder to second, making it safely. He moved to second on a walk by fellow pinch hitter Aydee Osman, but Nakano once more got out of the jam. Japan would then score to four to walk off the game via the mercy rule. South Africa used three moundsmen in the defeat, while Nakano fired five shutout innings, whiffing nine.

Other Games
The U.S.A. one-hit China in a 10-0 mercy rule victory in one of two games to start the day, but at the same time, Cuba and Puerto Rico tangled in a thrilling 1-0 victory for the U.S. territory. Each nation managed only two hits in the game. Taiwan bested Australia, 10-2.

Day 5 Schedule
Despite consecutive losses, Germany still has a chance to advance to the Super Round, but will almost certainly have to defeat World No. 2 Taiwan. There appears to be a scenario in which Germany could lose, but China beat Panamá and the U.S.A. set down Australia, which might also result in advancement, but the path is still in Germany’s hands. Italy and South Africa have already been eliminated from the discussion, and each will seek its first win tomorrow, when the two nations match up on the final day of pool play.

Group A Standings
Japan: 4-0
Puerto Rico: 3-1
South Korea: 2-1
Cuba: 2-2
South Africa: 0-3
Italy: 0-4

Group B Standings
U.S.A.: 4-0
Taiwan: 3-1
Australia: 2-2
Germany: 2-2
Panamá: 1-3
China: 0-4

See our other Under-18 Baseball World Cup coverage:
Preview [link].
Day 1 Results [link].
Day 2 Results [link].
Day 3 Results [link].