World No. 1 Japan and No. 2 Chinese Taipei are set to meet in Sunday’s final of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS at the Tokyo Dome in the Japan capital after the Super Round came to a close with two thrilling games on Saturday.
Defending champions Japan defeated Chinese Taipei, 9-6, in front of a sellout crowd to complete a perfect run in the tournament. It was their 27th consecutive international victory including two against Chinese Taipei in this tournament, and they will head to the Championship Final, which will take place on Sunday, November 24, at 19:00 (local time), undefeated. It will be Samurai Japan's second consecutive Premier12 final.
Japan knew since the end of the afternoon game between Venezuela and the United States that their worst-case scenario would be playing the final as the second-place finisher of the Super Round. Despite that, they took the lead from the third pitch and never surrendered it.
"It was a tough game, but the four runs in the first inning were crucial," commented manager Hirokazu Ibata. "Even though we were caught up during the game, we could pull ahead again and comfortably progress from there."
After falling 4-0 behind in the first inning, Chinese Taipei never gave up. They made it a one-run game in the top of the fifth and scored their final run in the top of the ninth.
"Tonight has been fantastic," said Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Jiu Tseng. "I want to thank our fans and the Japanese fans from my heart for creating a thrilling environment."
Earlier in the day, world No. 5 USA earned their first win in the Super Round after defeating No. 4 Venezuela 6-5 in an intense game, which USA lead 5-0 at the top of the sixth before Venezuela tied it up at 5-5 in the eighth on the back of a three-run pinch-hit homer by Diego Castillo before Ryan Ward worked the count full and homered on Enderson Franco's sixth pitch.
"I had anticipated that at-bat. I couldn't wait to get my chance in this game. When I stepped to the box, I was looking for a good pitch to hit," commented Castillo in the post-game press conference.
The game was tied at five in the top of the ninth when designated hitter Ryan Ward won it with a solo shot off Venezuela's closer Enderson Franco.
"He got started me with a changeup," said Ward postgame. "I took a good look at it and sat on his heater. I had already missed one but got one down [in the zone] that I could get on top of. It was the moment of my life, and I got to share it with my teammates. Running the bases was unbelievable."
On Sunday, Japan will be out to defend the title they won in 2019 while Chinese Taipei are looking for their first Premier12 title.
It will be Chinese Taipei’s first WBSC baseball final since the U-23 Baseball World Cup in 2023 when they lost to Australia as well as the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2023 final against Japan. The last title Chinese Taipei have to their name is the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup (when they beat Japan) and WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2019.
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