With one day remaining in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C, USA (4-0) have secured first place in the Opening Round, their spot in Saturday's Final and a double life in the Play-Offs.
Four other teams remain in contention for the remaining three spots in Friday's decisive Play-Offs stage, with Guatemala and Japan tied for second at 2-1, followed closely by Colombia at 2-2 and the Netherlands at 1-3. South Africa (0-4) are the only team eliminated from Finals 2025 contention.
Guatemala defeated Colombia 9-2 in six innings in the first game of the day at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park. In the second game, Colombia beat the Netherlands 7-0 in five innings, evening their record at 2-2. The European team then completed a 6-4 comeback win against South Africa. USA remain undefeated with a 9-5 win over Japan, securing first place in the Opening Round standings.
- 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 Thursday's first game, Guatemala and Colombia met for the first time in a Men's Softball World Cup. The teams previously faced off in April during the Americas Qualifier, where Guatemala edged Colombia 6-5 in an eight-inning thriller. Jorge Segura pitched seven innings for Colombia, recording 11 strikeouts, while Juan Diego Morales closed the game in the eighth.
A two-run homer by Luis Pedro Villeda in the first inning set the tone for Guatemala's 9-2 win against Colombia, a crucial result in the Play-Offs race. Dennis Hurtarte and Pedro Dieguez also homered for the Central American team, while Segura pitched six innings, striking out seven. Guatemala now sit at 2-1 and will close the Opening Round with a doubleheader on Friday.
Read the full report here. You can check the box score and play-by-play here.
In the second game of the day, Colombia defeated the Netherlands 7-0 in five innings. All six of Colombia's hits came from Mateo Luna (2-for-3), Aldo Navia (2-for-2), and Jorge Martinez (2-for-3). Martinez also drove in three runs. Ramiro Escorcia tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out five.
Colombia and the Netherlands last met on 3 March 2013 in Auckland, with Colombia winning 6-1.
Read the match report here. You can see the box score and play-by-play here.
The Netherlands overcame a three-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, mounting a five-run rally to secure a 6-4 comeback win against South Africa in their second game of the day. The African side committed a pair of costly errors, opening the door for the Netherlands' big inning.
Brandon Bouillon homered for South Africa in the top of the sixth, going 2-for-3 in the game. Both teams recorded six hits.
This marks the Netherlands' first win in a Men's Softball World Cup in more than five years. The Europeans closed their 2019 campaign with a 6-5 victory over Botswana on 21 June 2019, finishing in 13th place. It's their second consecutive win against an African side.
Read the full recap here. You can see the box score and play-by-play here.
The final game of the day featured USA and Japan, the only two undefeated teams in the competition.
USA beat Japan 9-5, clinching one of the top two spots in the Opening Round standings and securing a double chance to qualify for the Finals 2025. USA's lineup once again showcased its power, combining for 12 hits across six innings.
Jeffrey Lewis went 3-for-3 with a homer, three runs scored and three RBIs, earning him Player of the Day honours. Jonathan Lynch also homered, going yard for the third consecutive game, while Lynch and Cameron Schiller each drove in two runs.
It was the first meeting between these two rivals in nine years. Their last World Cup encounter was on 28 June 2015 in Whitehorse, Canada, where Japan defeated USA 5-4.
Read the full game recap here. You can see the box score and play-by-play here.
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