Australia sweep Guam, qualify for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup
World No. 11 Australia swept No. 34 Guam (1-0, 15-2) in the WBSC Oceania qualifying series at the Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney, Australia and became the third National Team to qualify for the V WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup.
Guam didn't make things easy for Australia in the opening game, which was played on Thursday, 9 November. Their starting pitcher, Franklyn Ninete, limited the powerful Australian lineup to four hits over six innings. WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2022 alum Chris Burke doubled off Ninete to score Tyson Zamora for the game's only run.
Five Aussie pitchers, Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Kai-Noa Wynyard, Kieren Hall, Will Sherriff and Dylan Clarke, limited Guam's offence to one hit while striking out 10.
Australia thrived on eight walks and seven defensive errors in the second game. Their lineup added 12 hits. The Aussies opened the score with a five-run fourth at bat. Leadoff hitter Luke Smith went 3-for-4 with one RBI, and catcher Clayton Campbell went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
With Australia leading 5-0, Guam stayed into the game as they scored two runs in the bottom of the third against starter Jake Bushell. Liam Evans took the mound to close the at-bat and added three scoreless innings, striking out five.
Australia became the third team to qualify for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. World No. 7 Netherlands and No. 18 Great Britain earned their spot, finishing first and second in the 2023 European Championship.
China will host the V WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup at the Shaoxing Baseball Softball Sports Culture Center. The event dates, which will go down in history as the first international baseball tournament played in mainland China, will be announced soon.
The U-23 Pan American Baseball Championship, scheduled from 24 to 30 November in Managua and Masaya, Nicaragua, will qualify four teams.
The XXX BFA Asian Baseball Championship, scheduled from 3 to 10 December in Taipei City, will qualify three teams.
The set of participants in the 12-team tournament will be completed by one team from Africa and a Wild Card.
World No. 1 Japan is the defending U-23 World Champion.