By Gabriel Fidler, Managing Editor.
South Africa finished the Under-18 Baseball World Cup with a surprise victory over Germany on its last day, while Italy started strong against Australia before eventually falling short. The games wrapped up the Placement Round, leaving only a pair of medal games tomorrow in Okinawa before the U18 World Cup comes to an end.
South Africa – Germany
Junaid Bedford helped South Africa put a ‘1’ on the scoreboard in the second, leading off with a double. Two batters later, Aydee Osman was hit by a pitch, and both runners took two bases on an error that allowed Imaad Hassiem to reach. A walk would load the bases with only one out, but Germany’s Tom Apfelbaum would wiggle out of the jam by surrendering only one more run, on a sacrifice fly by Liam van der Westhuizen.
With South Africa now up 2-0, Benito Bull beat out a slow roller down the third base line in the bottom of the inning, moving to second on a two-out plunking of Jules Moser. Lukas Köttig then singled up the middle, scoring Bull, with Moser following him on a throwing error. Alessandro Carrasquilla then made the miscue sting with a booming triple to right center, scoring two more.
From here, the game settled into a rhythm, Germany holding its 3-2 lead through three complete innings. For the Deutschlanders, Fabian Spiess was magic out of the bullpen, striking out three in three shutout frames, with only a single off him.
In the sixth, with Spiess now recovering in the dugout, South Africa found new life. Joshua Botha walked to start things off, moving all the way to third on a Bedford knock to alley in left. Pinch hitter Jaden du Preez, who started yesterday’s game, then poked a safety down the left field line, scoring Botha, though Bedford was snared after considering taking third. Two batters later, Hassiem singled through the left side, putting two runners on again, and du Preez would then score on a Luca Orgill double. The liner down the left field line was retrieved too quickly for a second run to score, but after another pitching change, van der Westhuizen plunked a single into center, and Hassiem and Orgill both crossed home. By the time the damage was done, South Africa had scored four runs, its biggest inning of the Under-18 World Cup.
South Africa’s starter Stiaan Henning took the 6-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, where he was greeted by a base knock from Finn Niemeyer, who moved to second on a wild pitch. Benito Bull the singled to put runners on the corners, and Jules Moser punched a ball through the right side to score Niemeyer. Henning then induced a long flyout for the second out, finishing the inning with a K.
Samuel Redle needed only 10 pitches to get out of the top of the seventh, giving Germany one last chance. Reliever Connor Stander got a quick out, then allowed a walk to on-base machine Kyran Norgren and a single to Felix Ströll. After a K, Bull took a base on balls to load the bases and Caelum Stroberg, one of South Africa’s most reliable pitchers, took the mound, finishing the win with a four-pitch strikeout to deliver the 6-4 victory.
Bedford finished the tournament strong, notching three hits for the victors, who totalled seven base knocks. Meanwhile, Germany had 10 safeties, with two a piece for Carrasquilla, Niemeyer, Bull, and Moser. Each side walked just two and committed only one error. Henning earned the hard-fought victory, allowing four runs on nine hits and no walks, whiffing six. Stroberg earned the save.
Italy – Australia
Filippo Brunelli gave Italy just what it needed to start the game, going 1-2-3 in the first and showing the ability to work around baserunners in the second. As he has done so many times in the tournament, the Azzurri’s table-setter, Aldo Pavarani, got the offense going in the third, taking a walk with one out, and taking second despite being picked off, as his speed forced a quick throw that led to an error.
After a wild pitch, Pavarani came round to score the game’s first run when Pablo Suárez bounced a ball to third that led to another miscue and two bases for the hitter. Patrick Silva then struck a ball up the middle to score Suárez and knock out Australia’s ace, Mitch Evans, already under contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. After a pitching change and now with two outs, Alessandro Garaviglia smashed a ball to deep right field, legging out a triple and collecting an RBI.
Brunelli was untouchable in the third, needing only eight pitches to dispatch Australia, but after a scoreless top of the fourth, Australia finally solved the southpaw, who exited after a single and a walk. It took two more pitchers to get out of the frame, by which time Australia had suddenly broken the game wide open with eight runs.
Although Italy attempted to quickly answer, with Silva bashing a long double and Enrico Bicchiarelli following with a one-base hit, Australia held the Italians scoreless and piled on another three markers in the fifth.
The final was 12-3 to Australia, with Ethan Bickel (2.2 IP, 3K) and Patrick Crotty (2 IP, 5K) earning, respectively, the win and the save, and ensuring Italy could not mount another rally. Five Italian pitchers mounted the hill, with none of the relievers managing more than four outs.
Silva had two of Italy’s six hits, while Bicchiarelli and Daniele di Persia both reached with a single and a base on balls in the game.
Placement Round
Today’s results cemented the final standings for the bottom six at the U18 Baseball World Cup. Cuba, which was only truly tested by Germany in the second half of the tournament, finishes seventh, followed by Australia, which won the tiebreaker with Italy, who followed. Germany settled for the No. 10 spot despite inspired play throughout, while China, which on the final day was defeated by Cuba, 10-0, and South Africa took the final two places.
Other Games
The four places in the medal round were set a day previously, but the top four nations kept feet to the pedals in their final Super Round games. The U.S. dispatched Puerto Rico, 7-0, while Japan scored seven runs in the bottom of the second on its way to an easy win against Taiwan. South Korea was even quicker, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first against Panamá, securing the right to be the home team in the bronze medal game.
Day 8 Schedule
Only two games remain, with Taiwan testing South Korea for the bronze and the U.S.A. braving undefeated and No. 1-ranked Japan for the gold medal.
Placement Group Standings
Japan: 5-0
U.S.A.: 4-1
South Korea: 3-2
Taiwan: 2-3
Puerto Rico: 1-4
Panamá: 0-5
Group B Standings
Cuba: 5-0
Australia: 3-2
Italy: 3-2
Germany: 2-3
China: 1-4
South Africa: 1-4
Box Scores are available here [link]. See our other Under-18 Baseball World Cup coverage:
Preview https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 1 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 2 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 3 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 4 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 5 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 6 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 7 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.
Day 8 Results https://www.mister-baseball.com/2025-under-18-world-cup-day-9-south-africa-finishes-with-a-win/.