2008 WUC Baseball: Day 3
July 20th, 2008
TPE vs. JPN
Yesterday, July 19th, 3 games were played. Korea overpowerd Lithuania with 11-0. USA outclassed host Czech Republic with 8-2 and the Asian derby between Japan and Chinese Taipei ended in a 2-1 victory for Japan.
JPN vs. TPE: 2-1
A clash of two Asian superpowers promised to be a spectacular show to the Brno fans and it proved to be just that. It was the Japanese defense that dominated the game and did not allow its rival to score more than once. Japan scored with the lead off batter, but for next five frames no runner had passed the second base. Japan then scrambled three hits together in the seventh to make it 2:0. Chinese Taipei came back storming in the ninth with a hit and a walk, followed by a bomb to the left field which scored one. The runner from first was gunned down to third, however and routine 6-3 groundout secured the first win for Japan.
KOR vs. LTU: 11-0
It was only a question of how long the Lithuanian team would be able to stay alive in the afternoon game in front of a 600 spectators. Team Lithuania lasted for four innings, thanks to a solid pitching by Matszevicius, by that time Korea started to show its power. It was the first seven innings contest of the tournament, by a score of 11:0.
USA vs. CZE: 8-2
It was the second meeting for both teams, only this time it was real, no "friendly". The stands in Ostrava field were packed from seats to bleachers, people all around, attendance going over 1,500. Fans were cheering for the home team but did the same for Team USA as well. The crowd played a huge role in great baseball atmosphere. The Czech team scored right in the top of the first after three hits and shut the American offense in the bottom with catcher Vojak nailing two runners at second, assuring himself no steal try till the end of the game. USA tied in the second and took a lead for good in the fourth, thanks to a two run homerun by Clark. The Czech team scored a second run in the sixth to make it 5:2 but the mighty US team added three more runs for the final score of 8:2.
Daily Scores
LTU vs. KOR: 0-11 JPN vs. TPE: 2-1 USA vs. CZE: 8-2
Website OC
More info can be found on the website of the Organising Committee at http://www.baseball.cz/wubc2008.
