U21 World Cup: Final day of the second round

The Dutch have finished in ninth place with this year’s U21 World Cup.

The Italians proved to be too strong for the Orange team. Not by much: 4-3.

The Italians had a 4-1 lead at the end of the fourth inning. But in the sixth and the seventh, the Dutch scored a run each to get within one run. But despite have runners in scoring position several times, the Dutch could not take advantage.

Italian starter Filippo Crepaldi dominated the Dutch lineup most of the time. He allowed just two runs (one on a solo homerun by Dudley Leonora. The other came on a double by Dudley Leonora followed by a single hit by Kevin Moesquit. After this second run, Crepaldi was pulled. Crepaldi earned the win with two runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
His Dutch counterpart, Vincent Anthonia got the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Venezuela lost to Mexico (5-1) and ended with the same number of points as the Netherlands. But because the Venezuelans had beaten the Dutch in the first round, they finish one spot higher. The Italians clinced the seventh spot in the final standings. New Zealand ended in the tenth spot and Mexico finished last.

In the winners bracket Japan made a statement towards Taiwan, beating them 6-2. Both teams will face each other tomorrow in the finals. South Korea was too strong for Australia, beating them 8-7 and they will meet Nicaragua in the bronze medal game. Nicaragua beat the Czech Republic 7-4.