USA advance to WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 in Prince Albert with 10-0 win over Japan

USA became the sixth team to secure a spot at the Finals 2025 by defeating Japan 10-0 in WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C Final on Saturday at Devon Park – OGE Energy Field. USA join Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and New Zealand as the confirmed teams playing in Prince Albert, Canada next year.

The hosts broke the game wide open in the bottom of the first, sending 12 hitters to the plate and scoring nine runs on five hits and five walks, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Jeff Lewis.

Japan’s starter Hiroki Ikeda struggled to find his rhythm and was pulled after recording just one out. He surrendered three hits, five walks and eight runs, taking the loss. Shota Onodera came in to retire the final two outs of the first inning, but not before allowing an additional run on two hits.

USA's 10th run came in the bottom of the third, a solo home run by Zach Shaw off Fuga Nagai.

From the circle, Marco Diaz pitched four scoreless innings for USA, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out five. He finished the tournament with a 1.27 ERA over 22 innings and a 1.18 WHIP.

USA finished Group C undefeated, outscoring their opponents 51-9 with four shutouts in six games. This marks the 17th time in 18 editions of the World Cup that USA have reached the top eight. The only time they failed was in 2015 in Saskatoon, Canada, where they finished in ninth place.

They will head to Prince Albert next year, aiming to secure the nation's 11th medal. USA have won five world titles, one silver medal and four bronze medals, the most recent being in Auckland 2022.