It is not that a strong team endures, but a team that endures is strong. Australia confirmed that they were qualified for the quarterfinals with their persistence until the end.
Australia lost 3-4 in the match against Cuba in the quarterfinals of the ‘2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC)’ held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 15th. Australia showed its potential, but on this day, it was unable to break through Cuba’s iron wall and finished the WBC journey.
It was a stormy Australia. In Group B of the first round, the odds of survival were low between Japan and Korea. However, just as Korea set Australia as its target, Australia also set Korea as its target and took the plunge with determination. And as a result, Australia produced a surprise by beating Korea 8-7. Australia defeated Korea with well-organized cohesiveness and long hitting power with 3 home runs. As a result of this match, the fate of the teams advancing to the quarterfinals was decided. Korea was eliminated in the first round of three consecutive tournaments, and Australia passed the first round for the first time ever.
And met Cuba. Even though the flow of Cuban baseball was not good, such as being eliminated from the recent Olympic finals, it was a traditional baseball powerhouse. In particular, this time, three fastball players active in Japanese professional baseball, such as Livan Moinello (Softbank Hawks), Rydel Martinez, and Yariel Rodriguez (above Chunichi Dragons), were summoned, and Louis Roberts and Yoan Moncada (above Chicago White Sox) were summoned. Even an active major leaguer who is active in the . And all five teams reached the quarterfinals by passing Group A of death with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses with the minimum score.
Australia had nothing to lose, but it did not give up. Again, while picking the first point, Cuba was chased and pressured. In the top of the second inning, lead batter Darryl George took a chance with a double that hit the top of the middle wall, Aaron Whitefield’s sacrifice bunt, and Wingrove’s right-handed hit took the lead. The first step necessary for a short-term game was made with a well-organized tactical baseball.
He allowed a tie at the end of the 3rd inning,메이저놀이터 but showed his ability to manage the crisis by blocking it with 1 point in a critical situation with 2nd and 3rd base safely. However, in the 5th inning with no bases loaded, Alfredo Despaigne made a sacrifice fly and Oelkis Giberto hit 2 RBIs in a timely manner, leading to a 1-4 lead.
Australia could have collapsed like this, but it was never taken lightly. In the top of the 6th inning, Wingrove fired a two-run gun and pushed Cuba to the end. However, Australia’s blast came to an end as setup men Livan Moinello and Rydel Martinez, who are active in Japanese professional baseball, were unable to break through in the end.
Organizational skills, selection and concentration, and players with thick bones in the Australian league and the US minor league, led by coach Dave Nielsen, who played an active part in Japan’s Chunichi Dragons in the past, are certain that Australia is no longer a periphery of baseball.