*This content was translated by AI.
The Republic of Korea's under-12 (U-12) baseball national team, which suffered a painful defeat to Japan, will face China in the bronze medal decider.
On the 14th, the South Korean U-12 national team lost 1-3 to Japan in the final Super Round match of the "12th Asian Youth Baseball Championship (under-12)" held at Gu Li Youth Baseball Stadium in Hangzhou, China, failing to advance to the finals.
The game started well. The national team took an early lead in the bottom of the third inning. Following a double by Lee Seung-woo (Gadong Elementary), Yeo Ha-jun (Bucheon Buk Elementary) recorded an infield hit, creating a one-out opportunity with runners on first and second base. Then, fourth batter Kim Seo-jin (Gadong Elementary) delivered a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.
The pitching staff also showed stability in the early stages of the game. Starting pitcher Lee Seung-woo held the Japanese lineup scoreless over two innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. However, after allowing an equalizer in the top of the third inning, Japan added another run via a home run, taking a 3-1 lead.
The U-12 national team created consecutive scoring opportunities with a double by Lee Seung-woo in the bottom of the fifth and a double by Sung Seo-jun (Namdo Elementary) in the bottom of the sixth, pushing hard until the end to catch up. However, no follow-up hits materialized, and they ultimately lost 1-3 to Japan.
The Super Round ended with two consecutive losses. Now, the U-12 national team will seek revenge against China, which handed them a 5-2 defeat earlier, in the bronze medal decider on the 15th at 4:30 p.m. (Korean time).
In this tournament, the top three finishers earn qualification for the 2027 World Youth Baseball Championship (under-12). A victory over China in the bronze medal match would secure a spot in the world championship.
The Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) stated, "The national team, facing China again after meeting once in the Super Round, is determined to win the final game and achieve a successful conclusion."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
