U18 WC: Czechs beat Australia to win their first World Cup game
The game against Australia started more than two hours before it was planned. Despite the change, both teams knew the importance of the duel and thanks to a good performance it were Czechs who took their first win at the tournament.
Czechs built their success on solid pitching. Starter Michael Dominik Senay threw 5 innings, where he only allowed 2 runs and striked out 8 batters. Matyáš Trčka then came in after and he didn’t allow any runs in the remaining innings, earning himself a Save.
Pitchers could also breath a bit easier with a good offensive start, after first three batters got on bases. Czechs loaded the bases without an out and another walk for Michal Šindelka meant the first run of the game. The second then came with a hit from Jakub Winkler. The same player then batted in the third run, two innings later, for Matouš Boubeník to give Czechs 4-1 lead.
Filip Kubíček hit a bomb in the fifth inning, increasing Czech lead to 5-1. The young players didn’t allow any surprises for the remained of the game and earned their first win of the tournament. The win will also count in Placement Group, where Czechs aim to improve their best U18 WC standing from 2015, where they finished 11th. Furthermore, they have on more group game ahead of them against Mexico, who are yet to win a game.
