World No. 2 France and No. 6 Cuba lead Group B and Group A respectively with two wins from two games after the first day’s play at the inaugural WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Ankara, Türkiye. Tunisia and Türkiye are also undefeated in Group A with one win a piece, while world No. 1 Taiwan won its only game on Tuesday. Europe is represented by France and Turkey at the event and, as with all baseball5 events, a “game” is actually a best-of-three series.
France had a difficult assignment in the second game of the day at Yenimahalle Spor Kompleksi, Ankara, matching up with México. The reigning European champions at the senior and U17 levels won 4-1 and 5-1, however, before a short rest saw France take on Ghana. The West African nation kept things close with the French, but ultimately lost 3-1 and 5-0.
Türkiye, which finished second at the 2022 European U17 Championship, played Zambia in the final game of the day, winning a pair of thrillers. In the first game, the hosts won 9-7 before needing two extra innings to defeat Zambia in the second game, 9-6.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said the opening day of the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup was a “momentous day for the sport of Baseball5” during his Opening Ceremony address. “Following the success of the first Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico last year, I am honoured to welcome you to the very first Youth Baseball5 World Cup. [Baseball5] is enjoying great success all around the world.”
All games of the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup will be broadcast live on GameTime, the WBSC’s online streaming service, as well as the WBSC’s official YouTube channel (geo-blocking restrictions may apply).