OSAKA, Japan – Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, BC) struck out ten batters and Canada’s offence exploded for ten runs on 15 hits as they earned a 10-3 win over Australia at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.
The win improves Canada’s record to 1-3 in the Super Round with one game remaining tomorrow against the United States. Canada must win to have any hope of playing in the bronze medal game that is scheduled for Sunday.
Prior to the World Cup, Canada played Australia in an eight-game exhibition series and dropped all but one of the contests so todays win had extra meaning.
“We had to battle to keep a stiff upper lip when we were in Australia so it’s nice to win when it counts,” said Canadian Manager Greg Hamilton. “(The win) keeps us alive for a medal which is great.”
Box Score – Canada 10 Australia 3
Adam Hall (London, ON) and Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, ON) each fell a home run short of the cycle as Hall went 4-for-5 with a double, triple and four RBI, while Pompey went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and two RBI.
“It was nice to see our offence hit the ball around the park and Tristan and Adam were a big part of that today,” continued Hamilton. “We got a great effort on the mound today, Burgmann did a super job, he stabilized things early and gave our offence a chance to get going. Both pieces worked today.”
Canada got things going in the top of the second as Pompey led off with a double down the left field line and came around to score when Isaac Deveaux (Montréal, QC) drilled a two out single to centre.
The Aussies came back in the home half of the frame as they loaded the bases on three consecutive singles to open the inning before a run scored on a 6-3 double play.
Pompey was at it again in the fifth as he drilled a triple to the gap in right centre that brought in both Hall and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON).
Canada gave the Aussies a run back in the bottom of the inning as Kobe Hyland mishandled a potential double play ball at shortstop putting runners on the corners with nobody out. After Burgmann recorded a strikeout, a fly ball lifted to deep centerfield cashed the runner in from third to pull the Aussies within one.
After failing to capitalize on an opportunity earlier in the game, Canada wasn’t about to let it happen a second time and it was Adam Hall who came up big as he doubled down the left field line with two out that scored two runs to put the Canucks in front by three.
Canada salted the game away in the seventh using five hits, including a two run triple from Hall, to score five runs and increase their lead to eight.
Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, ON) took over for Burgmann in the eighth and got a double play to get out of the inning before RJ Freure (Burlington, ON) pitched a scoreless ninth.
Canada will now face the United States with
“Anytime you get the United States in baseball it’s a special opportunity for your program, they’re the standard,” said Hamilton. “We look forward to the opportunity to compete tomorrow, I think we belong on the field with them and we’re going to give them a game.”
UP NEXT
Canada will face the United States tomorrow (6pm JST/5am EDT) at historic Hanshin Koshien Stadium…The game will be streamed live and can be seen by clicking on the link below.
Live Stream
Live Scoring
Tournament website (Standings, Results, Stats)
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