21/09/2024 3 Minute Read

WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Day 5: USA, Japan book spots at Finals 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada

USA defeated Japan 10-0 in four innings, booking their ticket to the Finals 2025. Japan, after their loss, played Guatemala in the Repechage and secured a 3-0 win, earning the second spot in Prince Albert next year.

USA and Japan secured their spots for the Finals 2025 at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C tournament, held on Saturday at OGE Energy Field in Devon Park. USA claimed their place with a 10-0 victory over Japan, while Japan earned the second spot after defeating Guatemala 3-0 in the Repechage Game.

Guatemala defeated Colombia 3-2 in a dramatic play-off to advance to the Repechage game. South Africa secured fifth place with an 8-4 victory over the Netherlands, with the latter finishing sixth in the final standings.

With the Group C final standings confirmed, Venezuela have officially secured a spot at the Finals 2025 as the second wild card. Finishing third in Group A, they earned the wild card as the highest-ranked (Venezuela finished in 6th place in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022, Guatemala didn't participate) third-place team across all three group stage tournaments.

After 57 games in the Group Stage, the eight teams for the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals 2025 are confirmed: No. 1 Argentina, No. 2 Australia, No. 3 Canada, No. 4 Japan, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 7 USA, No. 10 New Zealand and No. 14 Dominican Republic will compete for the world title next year in Prince Albert, Canada.

Up Next WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group C

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19/09/2024 10:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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19/09/2024 19:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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20/09/2024 16:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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20/09/2024 19:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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NED

21/09/2024 10:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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21/09/2024 13:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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0 : 10

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21/09/2024 16:00 (UTC -5) - Final

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21/09/2024 19:00 (UTC -5) - Final

Schedule & Results

- Two tickets on offer to the Finals 2025, which will be played in Prince Albert, Canada in July next year
- Group C completes the group stage of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024/2025
- Group A, was played in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 12 to 16 June with Dominican Republic and Australia earning a ticket to the Finals.
- Group B was hosted in Prince Albert, Canada, from 10 to 14 July; with No. 1 Argentina and No. 10 New Zealand advancing to the Finals. No. 3 Canada secured a wild card
- World No. 4 Japan, No. 7 USA, No. 13 Guatemala, No. 17 Colombia, No. 18 South Africa and No. 19 Netherlands go head to head in Group C at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park, Oklahoma, USA.
- Group C features two medallists - five-time World Champions USA, and three-time medallists Japan (two silvers, one bronze).
- OGE Energy Field at Devon Park will host the women's softball competition at the LA28 Olympic Games
- Japan & USA start as favourites in Oklahoma City
- WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group C - By the numbers
- All about OGE Energy at Devon Park
- WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C live on GameTime
- Six players to watch
- New tie-break system for Softball World Cups in play

In the first game of the day, South Africa defeated Netherlands 8-4, securing fifth place in the final standings and earning valuable points for the World Ranking. The South Africans overcame a 4-0 deficit in the top of the second with a six-run rally and never looked back. South Africa tallied 12 hits in the game, with Brandon Bouillon and Morgan Thupudi each driving in two runs.

Read the match report here. See the box score here.

A game-winning home run by Guatemalan designated player Dennis Hurtarte in the bottom of the sixth was the highlight of a dramatic 3-2 win over Colombia, sending his team to the Repechage Game. With the score tied at two, Hurtarte launched a solo shot over the centre field fence, giving Guatemala the decisive lead.

Jorge Segura was stellar in the circle, striking out 14 batters over seven innings, while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.

Read the full story here. Check the box score and play-by-play here.

USA defeated Japan 10-0 in four innings, securing their ticket to the Finals 2025. They took control in their first at-bat, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs on five hits. Jeffrey Lewis delivered a bases-clearing triple in the first inning.

Marco Diaz pitched four innings for USA, striking out five while allowing three hits and one walk.

The hosts finished the tournament undefeated, outscoring their opponents 51-9.

Read the match report here. See the box score and play-by-play here.

Japan defeated Guatemala 3-0 in the Repechage Game, securing their ticket to the Finals 2025 as Group C's second-place team. The Asian champions prevailed in a pitching duel, outlasting Guatemala.

Japan's Hiroki Ikeda delivered a three-hit masterpiece, striking out nine without issuing a walk. He needed just 79 pitches to complete the shutout, 57 of them for strikes (a 72.15 per cent strike rate).

On the other side, Jorge Segura pitched six strong innings for Guatemala, allowing three runs on three hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.

All three of Japan's runs came on a three-run home run from pinch hitter Koki Sato in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Match report here. Boxscore and play-by-play here.

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