This article was sourced from IBAF through the following LINK
Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Saturday, August 27, 2011.
Cuba and Team USA will meet again in the 16U Baseball World Championship finals. On Saturday Cuba needed to rally twice to beat Chinese Taipei to secure a berth. The United States already were set for the title game since Friday. The defending champion suffered its first loss of the tournament, as Japan stunned them in ten innings. The Asian team is now qualified for the bronze medal game.
Their opponent will be determined on Sunday morning. Rain pushed the Cuba vs. Chinese Taipei into the evening and the matchup between Mexico and the Netherlands got postponed until the next day. After that game the second participant of the small finale will be known. Earlier in the day Venezuela had beaten Australia in the ninth inning to remain its chances alive.
Second Round
Venezuela – Australia 9-8
Recap
One day after blowing a big lead against Team USA and losing in extra innings, Venezuela had the better ending on his side. Trailing for most of the game, a bases loaded walk by Jose Lino tied the game in the top of the ninth. A walk-off single by Alexander Palma ended it shortly after for a 9-8 win over Australia. Franklin Barreto also homered at Panamerican Stadium, collecting four hits overall. Corey Lyon had three hits for the team from Down Under, which is finishing the tournament in eighth place.
Cuba – Chinese Taipei 7-4
Recap
Orlando Roa Garcia hit two homeruns and drove in three to lead Cuba to a 7-4 victory against Chinese Taipei and into the finals. They came back from 0-1 and 1-4 deficits to win the game. Jorge Martinez broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run single in the seventh. Arbelio Quiros went 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Cuba is now 5-1 in the second round. Chinese Taipei dropped to 3-3.
USA – Japan 6-8 (10)
Recap
There will be no undefeated team at the end of the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship. Japan ended the streak of Team USA with an 8-6 win in extra innings on Saturday evening in Lagos de Moreno. A RBI fielder’s choice and an infield single pushed the two decisive runs over the plate in the top of the tenth to seal the deal. Team USA had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn’t win it despite a bases loaded situation with one out.
Postponement
Due to the lengthy rain delay for the start of the duel between Cuba and Chinese Taipei in the afternoon, the game between Mexico and the Netherlands had to be postponed from Saturday evening to Sunday morning. They will make it up at 10am in Aguascalientes. Afterwards the bronze medal game will be played at the same stadium. Japan will face Venezuela, Chinese Taipei or Mexico.
Standings Second Round
1. Cuba 5-1
1. USA 5-1
3. Japan 4-2
4. Chinese Taipei 3-3
5. Venezuela 3-3
6. Mexico 2-3
7. Netherlands 1-4
8. Australia 0-6
