By Gabriel Fidler, Managing Editor.
Jona Widmann and Pepe Stockhaus took a no-hitter deep into Germany’s game against China, while Italy ran into Cuba’s talented pitching staff in the Under-18 Baseball World Cup in Okinawa. Meanwhile, South Africa had a promising start against Puerto Rico, but could not hold on for its first victory.
Germany – China
Although it took two innings to get the offense going, the German baseballers broke out in the third and some ace pitching from starter Jona Widmann delivered a second consecutive victory to start the U18 World Cup.
Deutschland made the most of a wild third by starter Yuchang Hu, who walked two to set up Felix Ströll’s sacrifice fly. Another walk put two on, and with two outs, Noah Lorenz ripped a ball down the right-field line for a triple, scoring both.
An inning later, two more walks and an Alessandro Carrasquilla single loaded the bases and, once more, Germany scored with two outs. This time, it was through another base on balls, taken by the ever-present Ströll. Meanwhile, Widmann was electric on the mound, ensuring that China could never start a rally, with three walks the only blemishes against him in five innings.
The Deutschlanders pulled away late, scoring two in the sixth and three in the seventh. In the former, Carrasquilla led off with a three-base hit and scored one pitch later on a double from Emilio Götz. Götz came around on an error. In the final frame, a pair of walks started another rally, with an error on a sacrifice bunt scoring one, before Carrasquilla lined a two-run double to right center.
As the game progressed to the bottom half of the seventh, Germany still had not allowed a hit. Returning for his second inning on the bump, Pepe Stockhaus walked Tao Wang and Hanchen Ou with one out, advancing Wang to third on consecutive wild pitches. China then used a bouncer over the mound to plate its first run, but the Europeans were now one out away from a combined no-hitter. Instead, Wenlong Liu singled down the rightfield line, putting runners at the corners. With two on, Stockhaus fired another pitch wild to score the lead runner, and a throwing error from the catcher allowed a second run to score on the play. With the count 2-2 and the bases now empty, Stockhaus buckled down and ended the game on strikes.
Widmann earned the win with five no-hit frames, whiffing eight, while Stockhaus was credited with a save, striking out three in two innings. China’s three pitchers combined for seven walks and a hit batter, and its defence committed four errors. Meanwhile, Germany’s leadoff hitter Carrasquilla turned in another excellent game, going 3-for-4 with a walk and falling a home run short of the cycle. No other hitter had more than one hit, though Ströll and Lorenz drove in a pair.
Italy – Cuba
Cuba scored two runs in the bottom of the first against Alessandro Gamberini and never looked back. The Antilleans added more runs in each of their at-bats except for the sixth, collecting 13 hits against Italy’s pitching staff. Shortstop Jonathan Moreno notched three safeties in the 8-0 victory.
For the second day in a row, Cuba’s starting pitcher carried a no-no into the fourth. Edenis Cruz flirted with a no-hitter for 3.2 innings before Daniele di Persia reached on a two-out single in the top of the fourth. It would be the only hit Cruz surrendered over his five innings. Richard Bouquet took care of the last six outs.
Four Italian pitchers toed the rubber, with none recording more than six outs. The Azzurri totalled only four baserunners, with two hits by di Persia and a hit and a walk from Pablo Suárez.
South Africa – Puerto Rico
In the top of the second, South Africa took advantage of a defensive error to start the frame, with Junaid Bedford the singling up the middle to put two runners on against starter Richard de Jesús. Jordan Pinto then made the most of the miscue, striking an RBI-single to left center to give South Africa an early lead over Puerto Rico.
However, the two singles were all the hits South Africa could manage against de Jesús and reliever Yandiel Reyes. Puerto Rico tied the game in the bottom of the third against starter Jaden du Preez and took the lead with a three-run fourth against Stiaan Henning on its way to a 9-1 win.
Other Games
The day started with Australia entering the win column in a tight game with Panamá, 4-1. The two evening games were thrillers as well, as South Korea took a 2-1 against Japan in the second, but the hosts immediately plated two of their own. A single run in the third was the last either team would score, and Japan claimed the 4-2 victory. Elsewhere, Taiwan held the U.S. to four runs, but Carson Bolemon and Jared Grindlinger combined to no-hit the Taiwanese in a 4-0 decision. Boleman sent down 11 on strikes, permitting only two free passes in five innings, and Grindlinger added two Ks of his own in a pair of frames.
Day 3 Schedule
The day starts with Italy taking on Puerto Rico, while Germany will test its perfect record against heavyweights the U.S. South Africa will face South Korea as the Under-18 Baseball World Cup moves to its third day.
Group A Standings
Cuba: 2-0
Japan: 2-0
Puerto Rico: 1-1
South Korea: 1-1
Italy: 0-2
South Africa: 0-2
Group B Standings
Germany: 2-0
U.S.A.: 2-0
Australia: 1-1
Taiwan: 1-1
China: 0-2
Panamá: 0-2
See our other Under-18 Baseball World Cup coverage:
Preview https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-2-germany-undefeated/.
Day 1 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-2-germany-undefeated/.