WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup: USA have solid lead over Puerto Rico
The third and final day of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025, presented by RAXUS, Super Round is underway in Naha and Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
Puerto Rico and the USA took the field at 15:15 (local time) at Okinawa Cellular Stadium. A shower delayed the first pitch after the pre-game ceremony..
The night games, Panama vs. Korea at Nishizaki Stadium and Chinese Taipei vs. Japan at Okinawa Cellular Field, will start at 18:30.
The Placement Round games day started with a surprise. South Africa defeated Germany to earn their first win.
Australia came back from an early deficit to beat Italy and claim eighth place..
The afternoon game between China and Cuba, which started at 15:45 (local time) due to a thunderstorm, won't change the placement from seventh to twelfth place:
7th Cuba
8th Australia
9th Italy
10th Germany
11th China
12th South Africa
All games are live on GameTime, the WBSC OTT platform
- Exceptions may apply in Japan, Korea and Taiwan
Standings WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | JPN | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | KOR | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 1 |
| 3 |  | PUR | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 |
| 4 |  | CUB | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 5 |  | ITA | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 |
| 6 |  | RSA | 0 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 5 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | USA | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 |  | TPE | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 1 |
| 3 |  | PAN | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 4 |  | AUS | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 5 |  | GER | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 6 |  | CHN | 0 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 5 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | JPN | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 | | USA | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 0.5 |
| 3 | | KOR | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 2 |
| 3 | | TPE | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 2 |
| 5 | | PUR | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 3.5 |
| 6 | | PAN | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 4 |
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | CUB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 2 | | AUS | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 |
| 2 | | ITA | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 2 |
| 4 | | GER | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 3 |
| 5 | | CHN | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 |
| 5 | | RSA | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 4 |
SUPER ROUND GAMES
Puerto Rico @ USA
PLACEMENT ROUND GAMES
China @ Cuba
South Africa-Germany 6-4
A six-run top of the sixth brought South Africa over Germany for the first South African win in the tournament.
Germany had a 3-1 lead entering the at-bat. Reliever Jacob Huber, the third German pitcher of the day, walked leadoff hitter Joshua Botha. Junaid Bedford followed with a single. Both advanced to third and scored when pinch-hitter Jaden Du Preez grounded into a forceout. With two outs, Imaad Hassiem singled and Luca Orgill doubled to give South Africa the lead.
Germany handed the ball to Vincent Arebalo. Liam Van der Westhuizen got to the newcomer with a two-RBI single, extending the lead to 6-3.
South Africa's starter Stiaan Henning and left took a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh and left with a 92-pitch count. Reliever Connor Stander got a quick out, then allowed a walk and a single. He allowed a two-out walk to Benito Bull to load the bases and went to the showers.
Caelum Stroberg took the mound and struck out Robin Spies on four pitches to end the game.
Australia-Italy 12-3
Italy took an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the third against starter Mitchell Evans.
Australia took control of the game with an eight-run fourth inning. Italian starter Filippo Brunelli allowed a leadoff single and a walk and left for Frelonil Carrasco. The reliever got a quick first out, then hit a batter and allowed an RBI single to Benjamin Nesmith. Carrasco collapsed under an error, two singles and a walk. He left for Christian Tontini with Australia leading 4-3. Tontini got the second out, then Josh Nati drove his fourth pitch down the left field line for a three-RBI double that opened the score to 8-3.
Ethan Brickel, who had closed the top of the third, and Patrick Crotty limited Italy to four hits in what remained of the game.
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
- Super Round Day 2
- Super Round Day 1
- Super Round teams through stats
- Super Round and Placement Round scbedule
- Korea beat South Africa to complete Opening Round
- Day 5 Recap
- Day 4 Recap
- Day 3 Recap
- Day 2 Recap
- Day 1 Recap
- The Pre-Tournament Press Conference
- U-18 Baseball World Cup preview
- Where to watch
Feature articles
- Hyuma Okabe on leading Japan over USA
- Jiho Park: "Korea can win it all"
- NPB Superstar Livan Moinelo visits Cuban National Team in Okinawa
- A Trophy for the ages
- China aim to be proud host of XXXIII U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2027
- Frederich Cepeda Jr.: "We are Cubans, baseball is in our blood"
- Sponsors power WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup
- Manager Georg Bull speaks about Germany's Development Programme
- 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