USA (4-1) and Venezuela (4-1) advance to Gold Medal / Championship Game, Argentina (3-2) and Canada (3-2) to Bronze Medal Game
Host Colombia and Peru will play in the “Placement Game” for seeding in the next U-18 Competition.
The top four teams (USA, Venezuela, Argentina and Canada have qualified for the 2023 WBSC U-18 World Cup, to be held in Hermosillo Mexico, November 11-19, 2023. These teams will join countries who qualified in different regional competitions, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
Japan is the defending U-18 Softball World Champions after winning the 2020 edition in Palmerston North City, New Zealand.
Other Teams Qualifying for 2023 WBSC U-18 World Cup in Hermosillo in November
Mexico
Mexico is the host team for the 2023 WBSC U-18 Men’s World Cup in Hermosillo Mexico
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia
World No. 12 South Africa became the third qualified nation for the XIV WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup after winning a seven-game series played in Kampala, Uganda, against the host team. South Africa prevailed 4-3 in the series and advanced to the World Cup.
South Africa took the first game of the series on Friday with a 15-5 win over Uganda. On Saturday, the green and yellow team won games two and four, 13-10 and 7-6 respectively, with Uganda winning Game 3 by a score of 13-5.
With a 3-1 advantage in the series, South Africa clinched their ticket to the World Cup on Sunday with a 13-2 victory. Uganda grabbed the last two games of the series, 20-11 and 15-10.
The XIV U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup will be South Africa’s sixth appearance in the tournament, and the fourth in a row. Their best position has been a sixth place in St. Johns, Canada, in 1997, when the Africans made their debut in the competition.
South Africa join No. 4 Australia and No. 6 New Zealand – who will represent Oceania, to participate in the next edition of the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup.
The Asian qualifier for this event will be held in June this year, while the European qualifier will be staged in Sezimonovo Usti, Czech Republic, from 3-8 July. Both events will award two berths in the World Cup. The host and dates of the Americas qualifier, with four available spots, is still to be determined.
Japan and Singapore
From the WBSC:
Japan beat Singapore in the final, 12-0 in four innings, to clinch the continental title. Both National Teams will represent Asia in the World Cup, set to be played from 11 to 19 November in Hermosillo, Mexico.
World No. 3 Japan and No. 12 Singapore qualified for the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup as the top two teams in the Asian qualifier, staged at the Kochi Softball Fields at Kochi Athletic Recreation Park, Haruno in Kochi City, Japan. The two teams met in the final game of the tournament, with Japan grabbing the title after a 12-0, four-inning victory.
For the bronze medal, world No. 20 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 22 India, 7-0. Hong Kong, China closed the standings in fifth place.
Japan’s coach Tanaka Yukihiro was naturally delighted with his players. “The team has been improving with each match and today they rose to the occasion to shut out Singapore,” said Yukihiro. “I am relieved because I had expected a closer match with Singapore, especially with their strong pitchers, but they did not show up today which made it easier for us. But credit also must be given to my players for raising their game to give their best performance in the tournament.
“It is going to be tough tournament, with the likes of Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand and Canada being strong contenders, but we will try our best to wrest the title and do Japan and Asia proud,” he said.
Japanese pitcher Arai Yamato was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). “It was certainly not my best game and owe to my teammates and fellow pitcher Aso Kanta, who kept giving me encouragement to keep calm, pace myself and remain focused,” said Yamato.
Japan and Singapore join world No. 2 Australia, No. 7 New Zealand, No. 10 Mexico (hosts) and No. 14 South Africa at the XIV WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup.
FINAL STANDINGS
Japan
Singapore
Chinese Taipei
India
Hong KongCzechia and Israel
The Czechs defeated Israel in the final of the European Championship.
World No. 6 Czechia defeated No. 17 Israel in the final, 10-0, to claim the U-18 Men’s Softball European Championship. No. 11 Denmark defeated No. 32 Great Britain in the third-place game, 4-1.
Results, scores, standings and stats are available on WBSC Europe website.
List of Teams Qualified for World Cup in November
- USA
- Venezuela
- Argentina
- Canada
- Mexico
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Japan
- Singapore
- Czechia
- Israel