WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup 2026 - Day 4: Australia clinch Group B; Mexico edge Venezuela in extras; Japan beat New Zealand; Czechia, Canada, Argentina triumph
Day 4 of the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup 2026 in Sincelejo, Colombia, is in the books. Around 11,000 fans filled Estadio 20 de Enero and Estadio Eduardo Porras for the fourth consecutive day to witness six games.
Tuesday's schedule featured key games. At Eduardo Porras stadium, Venezuela will face Mexico at 16:00; and New Zealand will meet Japan at 19:00.
At 20 de Enero stadium, Canada will face Singapore at 17:00; and Colombia will take on Argentina at 20:00.
In Group A, Czechia claimed their third consecutive win in the tournament, with an 8-0 win against South Africa in five innings. Japan defeated New Zealand, 3-1, in the final game at Estadio Eduardo Porras, creating a three-way tie atop the standings with Czechia and New Zealand. Argentina closed the day with an 8-0 win over hosts Colombia in front of a packed Estadio 20 de Enero for the fourth consecutive game.
Australia secured first place in Group B with a 9-1 win agains Denmark in the first game of the day. Mexico came from behind to claim a key 2-1 win over Venezuela, in eight innings. They tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a Christian Del Valle homer, and then walked it off with a throwing error by catcher, Jaiker Quintero. Canada set a new tournament record for runs scored in a game, defeating Singapore, 20-0.
Denmark 1 - 9 Australia
Australia were the first team to qualify for the Super Round with a five-inning, 9-1 win over Denmark at Estadio Eduardo Porras. With one game remaining in the Opening Round, the Aussies have already secured first place in Group B.
Kayne Richmann went 2-for-3 with a home run, leading Australia’s six-hit effort. The team also drew seven walks in the game.
Joel Byrne earned the win, striking out 10 over five innings while allowing one run on two hits.
Magnus Kirstein took the loss, surrendering nine runs on six hits and six walks in 3.2 innings of work.
South Africa 0 - 8 Czechia
Hynek Mika tossed a five-inning no-hitter to lead Czechia to an 8-0 win over South Africa at Estadio 20 de Enero, as the European champions secured their third consecutive victory in the tournament. Mika struck out 12 and walked two.
Czechia scored four runs in the first inning and added four more in the third. The lineup produced a balanced offensive effort, with six players combining for seven hits. Catcher David Pokorny was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Sebotse Ledwaba took the loss for South Africa.
Mexico 2 – 1 Venezuela (8 inn.)
Mexico secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Venezuela in eight innings, strengthening their position in the race for a Super Round spot.
Venezuela opened the scoring with a solo home run by Yeferson Colmenarez, who launched a no-doubter to left field off Carlos Parra.
Venezuela held the lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Christian Del Valle tied the game with an opposite-field home run.
In the top of the eighth, Venezuela threatened to score, but the tie-break runner was thrown out at home on a wild pitch in a close play. (Under the international tie-break rule, extra innings begin with a runner on second base.)
In the bottom half of the inning, Edwin Galvan was placed on second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run when catcher Jaiker Quintero’s throw went into left field.
Carlos Parra earned the win for Mexico, striking out 13 over eight innings while allowing one run on two hits. Eduardo Juarez took the loss for Venezuela, working 7.0+ innings and allowing two runs on one hit with eight strikeouts.
Canada 20 – 0 Singapore
Canada set a new tournament record for most runs scored in a game with a three-inning, 20-0 win over Singapore.
Alex McGillivray went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, leading Canada’s 13-hit offensive output.
Bradley Barker earned the win, pitching two innings and striking out three while allowing one hit.
New Zealand 1 - 3 Japan
Japan defeated New Zealand, 3-1, in the final game at Estadio Eduardo Porras, creating a three-way tie atop the standings with Czechia and New Zealand.
A two-run home run by Masaya Usuki in the bottom of the first inning proved to be the difference. He drove a towering shot to left field off Liam Potts to give Japan an early lead.
New Zealand cut the deficit in the top of the third. Tane Mumu reached on a throwing error and later scored on an infield hit by Dallas Clifton. Kyogo Agata made a diving stop, but his throw pulled first baseman Rikuto Yamamoto off the bag.
Japan restored their two-run lead in the fifth inning, with Hitto Nagayoshi scoring on a wild pitch.
Rio Takahashi went the distance for Japan, striking out 14 while allowing two hits and one run. He issued five walks.
Liam Potts took the loss, pitching six innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing two hits and three runs.
Colombia 0 - 8 Argentina
Joshua Poblete and Khalil Luna homered for Argentina in an 8-0, five-inning win over Colombia.
Argentina broke the game open with six runs in the third inning, collecting five hits, including Poblete’s home run. They added two more in the fourth, highlighted by Luna’s solo shot.
Nahuel Saenz earned the win, pitching a five-inning one-hitter while striking out 10.
Colombia’s lone hit came on a leadoff single by Duan Garcia in the fourth inning. Sergio Aragon took the loss.
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