Japan defeated Puerto Rico 7-6 in a thrilling match in the final of the VI WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup to win its third ever world championship. Two spectacular defensive saves by midfielder Soya Kokubo helped Japan outlast Puerto Rico and win the trophy for the first time in 34 years.

Japan has won three U-15 World Championship titles and six medals in total, as well as the U-18 Baseball World Championship, U-23 Baseball World Championship, Women’s Baseball World Championship, Premier12, World Baseball Classic and the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Puerto Rico, which has only won one world championship title – the 1951 WBSC Baseball World Championship in Mexico City – won its first medal in this age group in just its second participation.

Kokubo was the star of the show at Edgar Renteria Stadium and saved the victory for Japan with two Gold Glove plays.

“I’m very happy, it’s incredible to be world champion,” Kokubo said after the closing ceremony. “It was a very close game, so defense was very important to win the match.”

In the sixth inning, Soya Kokubo threw out Joseph Mendez with a spectacular throw at home base. “It was raining at that moment, so I thought I had to hold the ball tight and make a good throw,” Kokubo said.

One inning later, he made an incredible sliding catch in left center field that prevented Puerto Rico from scoring a tying point. “At that moment, I just thought, ‘I have to catch the ball, I’ll die if I can’t catch it!'” Kokubo recalled with a smile on his face.

Important Links

Shoki Hayashi struggled to regain his control early in the first inning, loading the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch, with no outs. However, the Japanese starter limited the damage, allowing only one run on a sacrifice fly to left field by Arnaldo Rodriguez that brought Adniel Quiles to plate. Puerto Rico took a 1-0 lead.

Japan tied the game in the first inning. Soya Kokubo reached first base on an error and scored on two late throws, including an RBI triple to right field by Yuga Arai. The Japanese were left behind, however, as Darrel Sanchez forced a grounder and struck out the next two batters, leaving the game tied.

Japan showed outstanding defense in the second inning with two great plays from shortstop Kei Kawakami and first baseman Yusei Niwa.

Darrel Sanchez allowed three hits in that inning, including an RBI single by Kakeru Omiya, and was taken out of the game. He was replaced by Emilio Solivan, who ended the inning with a popup to second base for the second out, but couldn’t prevent Japan’s third run on a wild pitch. Japan leads 3-1.

Puerto Rico again loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning, but this time they scored three times to take a 4-3 lead. An error by Yusein Niwa, a single by Joseph Mendez and a full-count walk by Jean Rosa put three runners on base, and one out later Shoki Hayashi walked Valentin Carrasquillo and Edward Pineiro to tie the game. A sac fly by Bradley Rodriguez put Puerto Rico ahead and Hayashi was replaced. Mitsuki Tokura got the last out. Hayashi threw 74 pitches in the game, but only 31 of them were strikes. He walked seven and allowed four runs and just one hit.

With two runners on base and two outs, Narushi Nakashima hit a two-run triple into the right field corner to increase Japan’s lead to 7-4. Japan has scored at least one run in each of its first four at-bats. Nakashima’s triple was the third of the game for the Asians.

Puerto Rico cut the deficit to 7-5. With Carrasquillo on first base, Edward Pineiro hit a single into right field. Bradley Rodriguez brought Carrasquillo home with a sacrifice fly.

After five innings, Japan is leading 7-5. It has started to drizzle in Barranquilla.

In the sixth inning, with two runners in scoring position, Arnaldo Rodriguez hit a single to center field, bringing the runner home on third base, but Soya Kokubo threw out Joseph Mendez with a spectacular play at home plate.

Another spectacular defensive move by Soya Kokubo helped Japan maintain its one-point lead.