Jinwoong Lee homers to get Korea started against New Zealand

Jinwoong Lee hit a leadoff home run to pave the path to a 15-0 win in four innings over New Zealand on Wednesday in the Opening Round of the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. World no. 5 Korea earned a spot in the Super Round.

Korea scored all their runs in three at-bats.

Jinwoong Lee put Korea ahead in the bottom of the first when he hit a leadoff home run to deep right field. Korea later added three more runs, finishing the first, 4-0.

New Zealand performed great defence at the bottom of the second. When Korea loaded the bases, New Zealand’s second basemen, Yuto Ikeda, turned an inning-ending double play by himself, preventing Korea from extending the lead.

In the bottom of the third, Korea extended the lead using four hits and a pair of defensive errors, 9-0.

New Zealand relievers Curtis Campbell and Kanema Cookson-Siono allowed three walks in total. Combined with Korea’s three hits, they took the game to an early 15-0 finish.

Korea are now 4-1 and share Group B’s first place with the Dominican Republic and the United States. All three teams will compete in the Super Round.