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XVIII Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group A - Official Payoff
WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group A - Day 4: Mexico defeat Dominican Republic, advance to Playoffs to play Australia. Venezuela sweep Opening Round, Czechia win two to finish fifth
15/06/2024 4 Minute Read

WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group A - Day 4: Mexico defeat Dominican Republic, advance to Playoffs to play Australia. Venezuela sweep Opening Round, Czechia win two to finish fifth

Australia, Mexico, and Czechia each finished the Opening Round with 2-3 records, tying them for third place. However, due to the tie-break system, Czechia finished in fifth place. As a result, Mexico and Australia will face off in an elimination game at 17:00 at Fernando Ortiz Stadium.

The Playoffs of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A are now set after four more exciting games concluded the Opening Round in Hermosillo, Mexico on Saturday. Venezuela will face Dominican Republic on Sunday for a ticket to next year's Finals while Australia will play Mexico in an elimination game.

Men's Softball World Cop Group A Bracket

On Saturday's final day of pool play, Venezuela defeated Philippines, 3-2 in eight innings, and finished the Opening Round with a perfect record. The Dominican Republic, meanwhile, lost to hosts Mexico 4-0 to finish second in the standings with a 3-2 record.

Australia, Mexico and Czechia tied in third place with identical 2-3 records, but the Europeans finished fifth due to the tie-break system. As a result, Mexico and Australia will meet at 17:00 at Fernando Ortiz stadium, in an elimination game.

GameTime

Czechia came from behind to claim a much needed win against Australia, 7-6, in their first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Losing 4-2 in the fourth inning, the European champions tied the game in the fourth and took a three-run lead in the fifth, including a two-run homer by George Harris.

Australia made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, with back-to-back homers from Hayden Matthews and Scott Patterson, and were nearly close to tie the game, when James Todhunter hit a long ball that landed just outside the foul pole.

Jakub Osicka pitched the complete game, giving up six hits and six runs, with 13 strikeouts. The losing pitcher was Mathew Becket who tossed three innings in relief and gave up six hits and three runs.

Venezuela had to fight until the eighth inning to defeat the Philippines, 3-2, finishin the Opening Round undefeated. Veteran Rafael Flores went 4-for-4 and hit the game-winning RBI single in the top of the eighth to score Carlos Alvarez, who started the inning as the tie-breaking runner. Luis Colombo claimed the win in 2.2 innings of work, striking out six against three walks. 

With this win, Venezuela swept the Opening Round and will advance to the Playoffs as the first seeded team. On Sunday, June 16 at 17:00, Venezuela will play the Dominican Republic to determine the winner of the ticket to next year's Finals. 

For the Philippines this was the first of two games on Saturday. They will also face Czechia in the last game of the Opening Round.

Young Christian del Castillo homered twice today to lead Mexico to a key 4-0 win against the Dominican Republic, to keep Mexico in contention for a spot in the Playoffs. Gustavo Valdez went the distance for Mexico, striking out seven and allowing only three hits and two walks. 

For Dominican Republic, which have secured the second place in the standings, sent Luigi Rosario to the circle. The lefty gave up six hits and three runs, with three strikeouts, and was charged with the loss.

With this result, Dominican Republic finished the Opening Round with a 3-2 record, and on Sunday will play Venezuela. Mexico finished 2-3, and advanced in fourth place.

Mikulas Klas and Tomas Klein homered for Czechia, and Michal Holobradek pitched the complete game to lead Czechia to their second win in the tournament. The Europeans defeated Philippines, 4-2, in the last game of the Opening Round. However, they finished fifth in the standings, and were eliminated from the Playoffs. 

Philippines 2 - 4 Czechia - Box score

Top 6th - Justine Rosales hit a triple to the right field, and one out later scored on a grounder to shortstop by Mark Sarmiento. Philippines reduce the deficit to 4-2.

Bottom 5th - Third baseman Mikulas Klas blasted a solo shot over the center field fence, mounting a 4-1 advantage.

Bottom 4th - A costly mistake by right fielder Francis Generoso, who dropped a two-out fly ball, allowed Czechia to score a run and regain a two-run lead. Czechia is winning now 3-1.

Top 4th - Francis Generoso drove in the first run for the Philippines. Mark Sarmiento reached on an error, advanced on a sac bunt and scored with Generoso's hit. Czechia gained the 2-1 lead in the game.

Bottom 3rd - First baseman Tomas Klein hit a bomb to left field with a runner on to give Czechia a 2-0 lead.

Mexico 4 - 0 Dominican Republic - Play by play

Top 7th - Christian del Valle homered again. The hosts led 4-0.

Top 6th - Jesus Cardona added one with an RBI single for Mexico to increase the lead to 3-0.

Top 2nd - Christian del Valle hit a mammoth homer over center field that gave Mexico a 2-0 lead.

Venezuela 3 - 2 Philippines - Box score

Top 8th - Rafael Flores hit an RBI single to plate the go-ahead run.

Bottom 6th - A line drive double off the bat of Justine Rosales drove in the game-tying run from first base, going to the seventh with the game tied at 2-2.

Top 3rd - Venezuela took the lead with only one swing. Carlos Alvarez crushed a two-run monster shot to give the South Americans a one-run lead.

Bottom 2nd - Kenneth Torres tripled to the right field line, and scored on an error by catcher Jose Dorantes.

Venezuela are first place in the standings, and the Philippines played twice on Saturday, aiming to advance to the playoffs.

Czechia 7 - 6 Australia - Box score

Bottom 7th - Back-to-back homers by Hayden Matthews and Scott Patterson made it a one-run ballgame. With two outs, James Todhunter hit a long foul ball that nearly missed the foul pole.

Top 5th - Tomas Klein gave the European Champions the lead with an RBI single, followed by a two-run double down the left field line for the 7-4 lead.

Top 4th - Czechia tied the game at 4-4. A sac fly by George Harris made it a one-run ballgame, and then Martin Magula hit a bloop to no man's land to plate Adam Lunak.

Bottom 2nd - Matthews puts Australia again ahead in the scoreboard. He crushed a Jakub Osicka rise ball and sent it to the street. Australia led 4-2

Top 2nd - George Harris with a two-run shot! Czechia grabbed a 2-1 lead.

Bottom 1st - Australia took the lead with an RBI single off the bat of James Todhunter. Hayden Matthews hit a leadoff single, and moved to second on a defensive error by Jake Vacisek. Todhunter connected a 3-2 pitch in the outside part of the plate and sent it to the right field to produce the first run of the game.

2024 Men's Softball World Cup Group A - Game 12: CZE vs AUS

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