After the field wasn’t ready at game time, so the game started 30 minutes later with Austria up first. While the first two batters made good approaches to the ball without getting on base, Ferdi Obed was the third batter for the U23 National Team of Austria. The outfielder from the Diving Ducks took a long swing and launched the ball not only over the right fielder but also over the homerun fence. The hit was not only Austria very first hit of the game, it was also the first run for Austria at a WBSC Baseball World Cup ever.
Ferdinand Obed bringt Österreich mit einem Homerun in Führung - Foto: ABF
Righty Felix Zimmerle (Vienna Wanderers) was the starting pitcher for Austria. He got the first batter to ground out, but had some difficulties with his command, hitting and walking a batter and going deep in the counts on the following. With the bases loaded after an error, defense helped him out, when Claus Seiser and Mo Scheicher (both Diving Ducks) turned two to end the inning.
While the second offensive inning didn’t bring much action on the bases, Australia could put some pressure on the Austrian Defense after a one-out double. The next batter hit a blooper to center field, but speedy Amin Many (Wanderers) dove for the ball and could snag it with a terrific diving catch, just before it touched the ground. The runner on second didn’t hesitate and took off right away, so Austria could double them up easily.
Austria quickly put runner on second and first when Jan Alteneder (Diving Ducks) layed down a basehit bunt to load them up. Mo Scheicher was up next, but the hard come backer was caught by the pitcher who turned a double play. Still Austria hat runners on second and third with two outs, and to the plate walked slugger Ferdi Obed. This time he only hit a line drive back to the second base man who made the final out of the inning.
Also the Australian offense stared to adapt to Zimmerle’s pitches and launch a couple of hard line drives. Austria tried its best in the defense, but two runs later the team from down under turned around the game, leading now 1:2. The offense could draw some walks over the next couple of innings, but Austria didn’t manage to put any pressure on the Australian defense behind right hander Nicholas Hutchings, who pitched a great game for his team.
In the bottom of the fifth, Zimmerle put another runner on base. Now Australia returned the favor, launching back-to-back homeruns and scoring three more runs to boost their lead to 1:5.
Felix Zimmerle had a good performance on the mound - Foto: ABF
In the sixth inning, Obed could add another hit to his record, but was caught stealing shortly after. Zimmerle once again took the mound. With two outs and runners on first and second, the inning seemed to be over, when Australia hit its third homerun of the day, leading 8:1. Alexander Lambauer made his debut and finishing the inning with a strikeout.
Also in his second inning of work he could record three quick outs to retire the side. In the eighth, Lambauer started off well, but then felt behind, gave up a hit and a walk, and had to hand over to Michael Koller. Also Koller didn’t show any nerves and got a quick ground out to end the inning.
Like in the innings before, Austria didn’t manage to score another run against the opposing relieve pitchers. Eventually, Austria falls to Australia after holding a 1:0 lead until the third, 1:8. The Austrian National Team performed on a very high level, recording five hits and striking out five, and can look back proudly on its first game at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2016 in Monterrey.
The whole game can be re-watched on the WBSC YouTube Channel under the following
LINK
Tomorrow at 10 AM, Austria will face Argentina at Cadereyta Stadium. The game will be broadcasted live on the WBSC YouTube Channell. Manager Sakanashi will hand the ball to Fabian Hirnschal (Wanderers), who missed the 2016 season after a knee injury, making his official come back to the National Team. In 2015 Hirnschal appeared as a closer during the European Championship in Vienna and was the winning pitcher of the championship game of the Austrian Baseball League last year.
RESULT:
OCT 28, Cadereyta Stadium, 10 AM, Australia vs. Austria – 8:1
SCHEDULE:
OCT 29, Cadereyta Stadium, 10 AM, Austria vs. Argentina
OCT 30, Cadereyta Stadium, 10 AM, Nicaragua vs. Austria
LINKS:
U23 WM-Spielplan (WBSC)
Offizielle U23 WM-Website
Facebook-Page der U23 WM (WBSC)
WBSC YouTube Channel (Live&On-Demand)
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