The latest results, news and information from the WBSC Premier12
Daily Review
Super Round - Day 5 of 6
15.11.2019
Stellar day of baseball as Korea books Premier12 finals spot against Japan and 2020 Olympic ticket
Welcome to this daily summary of the Premier12, giving you the latest and greatest from the WBSC's flagship baseball tournament.
An impressive
7-3 win by Korea over Mexico saw the defending champions book a spot in the Premier12 2019 final against Japan in what will be a rematch of the WBSC Premier12 2015 final.
With potential Premier12 medal matches opponents and Olympic qualification permutations all up in the air, the penultimate day of the Super Round ended with Korea and Japan - who didn't play on Friday - confirming their spots in Sunday's final. With Japan already qualified for Tokyo 2020 as hosts, the Olympic qualification ticket to the top Asia team therefore goes to Korea, who claimed the Olympic title the last time baseball was in the Olympics in 2008.
There was some amazing hitting on Friday, accompanied by some incredible pitching, including
USA's Olympic qualification hopes are still alive thanks to Mexico's defeat and their own thrilling come-from-behind
3-2 win over Chinese Taipei after
Brent Rooker homered in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on base. His two-run shot put the USA ahead in a game that had seen the lineup struggle on the off-speed pitches that Chinese Taipei starter
Sheng-Feng Wu served with outstanding command.
The final day of the Super Round will see a prelude of the final with
Japan taking on arch rivals Korea - world No. 1 v world No. 3. The early game will see
Australia playing Chinese Taipei hoping to keep their bronze medal game hopes alive. A win will put them through and at the same time confirm Mexico as the Olympic qualified team from the Americas.
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The Japanese passion for baseball, greatly unknown to the western world, is mesmerizing.
They are die-hard fans for their teams and unite as one when cheering for Samurai Japan, the national team.
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Big inning earns Korea Olympic spot and place in WBSC Premier12 final
Tokyo, Japan - Korea used a seven-run fifth inning rally to defeat Mexico, 7-3, and advance to the final of the WBSC Premier12 2019. The win by Korea also qualifies Samurai Japan to Sunday’s championship game. Korea thus also earned the Asia/Oceania Region spot in the 2020 Olympics.
Juan Gabriel Castro: “It was a one-inning ballgame”
Tokyo, Japan - “Today it was a one-inning game. A very difficult inning for us,” said Mexico manager Juan Gabriel Castro referring to the 7-run fifth inning that gave Korea the lead in the match.
Rooker hits go-ahead homer, USA still alive in WBSC Premier12
Tokyo, Japan – Brent Rooker homered in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on base. His two-run shot put the USA ahead 3-2 in a game that had seen the lineup struggle on the off-speed pitches that Chinese Taipei starter Sheng-Feng Wu served with outstanding command.
Brent Rooker: “I was looking for a slider in the middle of the plate”
Tokyo, Japan – Right fielder Brent Rooker hit a pivotal homer to keep USA alive in the Super Round of the Premier12. With a runner on first, and losing 2-1, he blasted a no-doubter to left field that gave his team the definitive lead and the winning of the game over Chinese Taipei 3-2.
Tokyo, Japan – “We knew we’d have a very tough game today, like most of the other games of the tournament. Low scoring, good pitching, and runs becoming a premium,” said USA manager Scott Brosius following his side's 3-2 win over Chinese Taipei.
Hu Chin-Lung: “Only one mistake changed the flow of the game”
Tokyo, Japan – USA beat Chinese Taipei today at the Tokyo Dome, for the Premier12 Super Round in a very close game that was decided in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead, 2-run dinger by Brent Rooker. During the press conference, Chinese Taipei manager Hong I-Ching and left fielder Hu Chin-Lung expressed their feelings about the game.
WBSC partner Hublot hosts charity event during Premier12
Tokyo, Japan – Swiss luxury watchmaker and WBSC partner Hublot hosted a charity event on Tuesday with two baseball legends, former Japaense professional players Kazushige Nagashima and Koji Uehara.
