Top-10 WBSC Softball World Cup Plays of the Year: No. 1 Ryuga Umeda (Japan)

Japan's center fielder Ryuga Umeda hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to give his nation the WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup title.

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<p>The countdown is over! The <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/search?keyword=&amp;category=2299"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">best play of the year in the WBSC Softball World Cups</span></strong></a> was the last play of the season. Japan's centre fielder&nbsp;Ryuga Umeda hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to give his nation the <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-u18-mens-softball-world-cup/home" target="_blank">WBSC U-18 Men's Softball World Cup</a></span></strong> title.</p>

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<p>Japan and Mexico, the two best teams in the tournament, met in the&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="World Championship Final (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-u18-mens-softball-world-cup/schedule-and-results/box-score/127288" target="_blank">World Championship Final</a></span></strong>&nbsp;on 19 November at the Fernando Ortiz Stadium in Hermosillo, Mexico.&nbsp;The last innings of the game were a thrilling climax to a superb final.&nbsp;Japan took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, with an RBI single from&nbsp;pinch-hitter Eito Yodogawa.&nbsp;However, in the top of the seventh with one out on the scoreboard, Mexico's captain smashed a solo homer&nbsp;to&nbsp;centre field&nbsp;to send the game to extra innings.</p>

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<p>After failing to score in the top half of the eight, Mexico loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of intentional walks. But Umeda sent a 1-1 pitch from Derek Anceno over the left field wall to end the tournament with a walk-off grand slam, giving Japan the World Title.</p>

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<p>The win clinched Japan's fourth World Championship in the history of the event, and the second in a row after claiming the honours in 2020.&nbsp;</p>

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<h3><strong>WBSC Softball World Cup Plays of the Year</strong></h3>

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<ul><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-10-samantha-alekman-usa-" target="_blank"><strong>No. 10 Samantha Alekman (USA) - U-15 Women's Softball World Cup</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-9-angelu-gabriel-phi-" target="_blank"><strong>No. 9 Angelu Gabriel (Philippines) - Women's Softball World Cup Group C</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-8-uxua-modrego-spain-" target="_blank"><strong>No. 8 Uxua Modrego (Spain) - Women's Softball World Cup Group B</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-7-sebastian-hassell-venezuela-"><strong>No. 7 Sebastian Hassell (Venezuela) - U-18 Men's Softball World Cup</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-6-janet-leung-canada-" target="_blank"><strong>No. 6 Janet Leung (Canada) -&nbsp;Women's Softball World Cup Group C</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-5-ryuji-okawa-japan-"><strong>No. 5 Ryuji OKawa (Japan) - U-23 Men's Softball World Cup</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-4-erika-piancastelli-italy-"><strong>No. 4 Erika Piancastelli (Italy) - Women's Softball World Cup Group C</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-kee-hyun-yap-singapore-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"><strong>No. 3 Kee Hyun Yap (Singapore) - U-18 Men's Softball World Cup</strong></a></strong></span></li><li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/top-10-wbsc-softball-world-cup-plays-of-the-year-no-2-logan-bester-puerto-rico-" target="_blank"><strong>No. 2 Logan Bester (Puerto Rico) - U-15 Women's Softball World Cup</strong></a></strong></span></li></ul>

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