If you were a baseball fan Sunday night it was the biggest night on the World Baseball Classic (WBC) calendar. Team Australia against Samurai Japan in a David and goliath moment.
Nervousness, excitement, that dreaded feeling of coming up against the best in the world.
However, for Team Australia it wasn’t anything new, they had been here before ready to take it to the best.
A two-hit opening inning was the perfect recipe to start the game, as the Australians kept Tomoyuki Sugano working on the mound for Japan.
Leading 1-0 through seven innings after Aaron Whitefield crossed the plate in the sixth, a fairytale story was emerging.
A game of inches, Boston Red Sox star Masataka Yoshida broke the game open with a two run homer in the seventh, after a difficult play was missed at first base for Australia.
Samurai Japan wouldn’t give up the lead and run out 4-3 winners, clinching the top position in the pool.
“We had a few different plans going into the game,” said Team Australia head coach David Nillson post game.
“Not knowing how the game is going to go, where it’s going to turn.
“I thought the game worked out really well for us, and we were lined up really well to close it out.
“And we just couldn’t get through that final out of the seventh inning, which is obviously disappointing.
“Kennedy did a great job; I haven’t seen the replay what happened at first base, that would have been the third out obviously.
“Then he just followed it up with two strikes and missed with his location.
“I think outside of that we performed really well, bottom of the eighth was a bit of a blemish.
“It was a good experience for a couple of younger guys, when we didn’t have that lead, I wanted to expose them to that situation.
“I thought our pitchers did really well.”
We play baseball and do it well
Throughout the tournament the word shocked is used to describe Team Australia’s 2-0 start.
Heading into the game against Japan it was about compete level and not getting overwhelmed in the moment.
While the Australian team has respect for Samurai Japan, they are there to win and advance out of the pool.
Uniquely, sticking to their brand of baseball and culture is what is driving this Australian team forward.
Not only does Australia play baseball down under, they play it well and can match it with the best in the world.
“I’m just proud, proud of all my teammates. I’m just proud to be Australian,” Connor MacDonald said post-game to Eric Balnar.
“[One of my] brothers bought a flight yesterday to come over to see this.
“And, like…my family’s everything to me. My wife and two boys are here, my mum and dad, my brothers are here, my uncle, my sister-in-law.
“It was so close to a fairytale. So close.
“I’ll tell you what, mate. I’m sick and tired hearing back home that when you tell someone that we play baseball, that people are shocked when we say ‘Oh, we play baseball in Australia?”
“I mean, we do.
“Look, we freaking out-hit the best team in the world. We led through 6 innings, and we still get asked if we play baseball in Australia.
“My freaking teammates, man…I’m just so proud to be a part of the Australian baseball community.
“You know, we punch so much above our weight.
“So just tonight, I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”
All or nothing against Korea
Now the focus moves to another big clash, Korea awaits Team Australia with second seed in Pool C up grabs and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Furthermore, for Australia the scenario is a simple one, win and you are in.
Tonight’s game is a replay of three years ago, both teams playing on March 9, 2023, in a dramatic 8-7 Australia win.
Home runs from Robbie Glendinning, Tim Kennelly and Robbie Perkins pushed Australia over the line on that occasion.
Entering the 2026 WBC the Koreans were ranked fourth, while Australia sat just outside the top ten in 11th.
However, rankings are far from the minds of Australia, as they continually back in their systems to win games.
“I think our team has the ability to shake tonight,” continued Nillson.
“Obviously there were a lot of emotions after tonight, we had the opportunity to win the pool right.
“We will flush that and then we will be in a good position for tomorrow, our pitching is lined up really well, the guys are very healthy.
“If we can get through tomorrow, I think that’s just a first step of something we are chasing.
“We come here really feeling good about our opportunity to get through to the second round and we have that opportunity tomorrow.
“I think we are in good shape, just that first spot was right there for us.”
Australia v Korea will be live on ESPN 9PM AEDT, March 9.
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