WBSC U-12 World Cup 2025 | Cuba secures its first win of the tournament, defeating Germany 7-1 on Tuesday
- BaseballdeCuba
- Jul 29, 2025
- 2 min read
On Tuesday, Cuba's U-12 team achieved their first win in the U-12 World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan, by defeating a weaker German team 7-1.
Having been eliminated from the Super Round among the world's top six teams, the Cubans aim to secure at least two victories in their last two games to enhance their position in the tournament.
On Tuesday, the trio of pitchers—right-handed starter Xavier García (1-0), Alex Gómez, and Mauro Álvarez—held the Germans to just two hits and one run. Xavier smoothly pitched the first five innings, striking out four, walking two, and allowing only one hit to earn the win. In an earlier game, he started for Cuba against Taiwan, leaving after 2 1/3 innings after giving up three runs, but he was not credited with the loss.
The Cubans posed a threat in the first inning against German right-hander Luis J. Schloffel (0-1), but it was in the second inning that they secured the runs necessary for victory. They combined two hits, a steal, and an RBI groundout by Jordan Oseguera, to score the first run. Another groundout by the pitcher, Xavier García, brought in the second run, putting Cuba ahead with an early 2-0 lead.
From that point forward, the Cubans continued to score, adding one run in the third inning through a sequence of events: a walk to Maykol Lluch, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Sean M. García. They scored two additional runs in the fourth inning, thanks to two hits, two walks, and five stolen bases.
Cuba scored their last two runs in the fifth inning, when Iván Castillo hit a double, Yeison Pentón earned a walk, and Yan C. Ramírez singled to bring in a run. A shortstop error then allowed the player on second base to score, making it 7-0.
During their final chance, Germany managed to score their sole run. After one out, reliever Alex Gómez hit Tim Kruger, who advanced to second on a balk. Following the second out, Mona Brauch hit a single to shortstop, allowing Kruger to score.
Following the single, Cuba's manager called for a new reliever, Mauro Álvarez, who secured the final out by inducing Artin Krischok to hit a fly ball to right field.
Cuba is set to play its last preliminary round game in Group A this Wednesday (Tuesday in this geographical area) at 10:30 p.m. (Cuba and Eastern Time). They will compete against Australia in a match postponed from Monday due to rain, which will decide the fourth place in the group.
Japan and Mexico will simultaneously compete in a match that will decide the final rankings for the Super Round of the tournament. In Group A, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico have already progressed, while South Korea, the USA, and the Dominican Republic have advanced in Group B.
Comments