The Australians started with a bang in Tokyo as Tim Kennelly, Robbie Glendinning and Robbie Perkins all blasted home runs to push the team past the heavily favoured Koreans. It was an impressive start for a team that has never gone past the first round in four previous appearances, and if they can keep it up then they can qualify for the quarterfinals. All games in Pool B are being held in Tokyo where Australia will need to contend against renowned Japanese stars such as Shohei Ohtani as well as teams from China and the Czech Republic to make it through. The Koreans should have served notice of what the Australians are capable of but if they want to stay in contention, they will have to prove they are willing to stay at the top of their game.
It was a wild finish at the 2021 World Baseball Classic down under in Australia, with the Aussies walking away with the win but not before seemingly giving it all back temporarily. The Australian squad went up 2 runs in the fourth inning on Logan Wade’s run-scoring hit and then extended their lead when Kennelly had a big home run single in the fifth. The South Koreans battled back with a 3-run homer of their own in the bottom of that same inning, but Glendinning saved the day for Australia, smacking a three-run shot two innings later. Perkins added to it with her own solo home run in the eighth inning and by some miracle, Australia held on to that slim 3-point edge over South Korea at the final bell! A gutsy performance from start to finish from both teams, but only one could come out victorious, and that was Australia!
Australia and South Korea have their fate in their hands on Friday and Saturday respectively, as they face off against China and Japan. Already the group stage of the tournament has been intense, highlighted by the Netherlands’ 3-1 Group A victory over Panama earlier this week. With a few key matches between familiar sporting rivals already played out, viewers around the world are sure to be eagerly anticipating the fixtures ahead – all of which bring banter as well as passionate support from hordes of devoted fans.
