Venezuela book bronze medal spot against Chinese Taipei as Super Round ends

Venezuela stormed to an impressive 2-0 (3-2, 9-0) win over hosts Mexico in the final Super Round game of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup on Saturday to book a spot in the bronze medal game against Chinese Taipei.

With confirmedfinalists Cuba (5-0 win-loss record) and Japan (4-1) beating Chinese Taipei (2-3)and Tunisia (0-5) respectively earlier on Saturday morning, all eyes were onthe last game of the Super Round to see if either Venezuela (2-2) or Mexico (1-3)would make it through to the bronze medal game, even potentially at the expenseof Chinese Taipei if Mexico would win with enough runs advantage.

But it was
Venezuela who proved too good for the hosts, despite the passionate home crowd.
Mexico made the better start with Nelson Rodriguez scoring in the first inning butit wasn’t long before Alvaro Gil scored for Venezuela, making a great run roundthird to home, evading the tag of Guadalupe Ayon to tie the game at 1-1 at thebottom of the second inning.

Rodriguez scoredfor Mexico again at the top of the fourth to make 2-1 and defended successfullyto take the game into the fifth innings but Mexico couldn’t add to their score.
Venezuela took advantage, quickly loading the bases with no outs before wildthrow to home from Marion Castro brought home Pither Gimenez and Gil to giveVenezuela the first match 3-2.

Venezuela carried on the momentum in the second match scoring seven in their first turn at bat with Gimenez and Luis Marquez both scoring twice along with Gil, Yohelis Colina and Esquia Rengel. That was a lead too much for Mexico to overcome and Venezuela closed it out 9-0 to book their spot in the bronze medal game, while Mexico were confirmed in fifth.

Earlier, Cuba beat Chinese Taipei 2-0 (8-0, 8-3) and Japan beat Tunisia in three sets (0-8; 7-3; 2-1) after using their full squad of players in the opening match.

In the Placement Round Kenya recorded their second win of the Placement Round 2-0 (10-0, 1-0) over Lithuania to claim 8th spot while Hong Kong claimed their first win of the tournament 2-0 (6-5, 2-1) over France. South Africa also finished in winning style beating Korea 2-0 (6-0, 4-1) top top the Placement Round group and finish seventh.