‘Blocked bases-loaded with two outs, KKK’ — An Hye-young delivered! Korea U-15 women’s softball team defeats Singapore to finish 5th at Asian Cup

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The Republic of Korea’s under-15 (U-15) women’s So Peu-teu-bol (CEO) team defeated Singapore in the tournament’s final match, concluding their schedule in fifth place.

Korea won 4-2 against Singapore in the 5th-6th place classification game on the final day of the 2026 3rd U-15 Softball Asian Cup, held in Weihai, China on the 17th. After recording a 3-win, 4-loss record in the preliminary round, Korea added a victory in the final classification match to finish the tournament in fifth place.

Korea took control from the start of the game. After An Hye-young’s single opened up the offense in the bottom of the first inning, Kwon Min-song hit a three-run triple with one RBI. Following that, Choi Min-ju added an RBI on a fielder’s choice, extending Korea’s lead to 2-0.

On the pitcher’s mound, starter Choi Min-ju held firm. Although she allowed runners to reach base in every inning, facing crises, she drew strikeouts and groundouts at key moments, holding the Singapore lineup scoreless through four innings. Additional runs came in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and runners on second and third bases, Cho Yu-ju hit a two-run RBI single that sailed toward the left-field fence, widening the lead to 4-0.

The turning point was the top of the sixth inning. As Singapore recovered one run with consecutive walks and an RBI hit, Korea brought in An Hye-young as a relief pitcher. An allowed a bases-loaded walk on the following play with two outs, allowing Singapore to close the gap to 4-2. It was a situation where the momentum of the game could have completely shifted.

However, there were no further runs allowed. An shut down the maximum crisis by striking out the next batter, Victoria, on a swinging strike. The final inning was also clean. In the top of the seventh, An recorded two strikeouts to retire Singapore’s lineup in order, securing the 4-2 victory and recording a save.

Lee Sang-hyun, head coach of the Republic of Korea U-15 national team, evaluated, “Starter Choi Min-ju wisely navigated the early crisis situations, and on the offensive side, Cho Yu-ju’s game-winning RBI hit combined with An Hye-young’s closing performance in overcoming the bases-loaded crisis in the top of the sixth inning to secure the victory.” He added, “I am grateful to the players who did not give up until the final match of the tournament and demonstrated focus to bring a good ending.”

Korea failed to advance to the upper bracket with a 3-win, 4-loss record in the preliminary round of this tournament, but they ended the tournament with a victory by defeating Singapore again in the final classification match, having also beaten them 11-4 in the preliminary round.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original