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Brno, Czechia held their own against Seoul, South Korea on Friday night at Volunteer Stadium, but in the end, the Europe and Africa Regional champions came up shy of an upset, falling to the Asia-Pacific Regional champions, 5-0.
The win advances South Korea in the winners’ bracket against Curacao on Sunday while Czechia will compete in an elimination game on Monday afternoon at Volunteer Stadium.
South Korea held just a narrow 2-0 lead against Czechia before a three-run sixth inning helped the team gain separation and breathing room.
That sixth inning was sparked by a huge triple to the fence in left-centerfield by Ha Jun Ju with one out which drove in a run. A bater later, Hyun Been Han crushed a home run over the left-field fence to bring himself and Ju home, making it a 5-0 South Korea lead and deflating Czechia’s sails.
“It felt really good and I am going to try to get another one the next game,” Han said of his home run.
South Korea took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Ki Hyun Jung reached on an error. He’d use smart base running to reach third and scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead and the game’s first run. An inning later, Jae Hyun Maeng had a single and would eventually score a run, only for it to be overturned by replay as an out.
In the fifth inning, Ju Won Kim reached by being walked and a walk to Rio Gil followed to put two runners on. An error on an infield fly allowed Kim to score and gave South Korea a 2-0 lead.
But Czechia kept battling and tried to do anything they could to score. That included a huge fifth inning where a fielder’s choice, a shallow single and walk loaded the bases with two outs. But South Korea ended the threat from there with a big strikeout, one of four consecutive to end the game.
“We knew that Asia-Pacific is one of the best team's in the world and we were just trying to use our strengths which are inter-strength on team between guys and we tried to stick to our plan, play good baseball and don't make unnecessary mistakes,” Czechia manager Michal Klimes said. “We were preparing for this game and tournament for a long time, especially mentally. So we put the guys in the right position to compete against one of best teams in the world.”
Czechia’s Simon Suchy had the team’s only hit by going 1 for 1.
South Korea was led by Han (1 for 3, home run, to RBIs, run), Ju (1 for 2, triple, RBI, run) and Ji Hwan Hong (1 for 2, double), who all had extra base hits.
Now, South Korea turns its attention to Curacao.
“Just like usual, practice and talk to each other and prepare for the next game,” South Korea manager Hong Jip Kim said.