Heartbreak was felt coast to coast as Team Australia were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) to finish third in Pool C.
Needing a win to advance into the quarterfinals, or lose by no less than four runs, Australia fell to Korea 7-2.
Bo Gyeong Moon with a two-run homer in the second inning got the Koreans into an early lead, one they would extend in the third to lead 4-0.
However, as they have done throughout the WBC tournament, Team Australia continued to fight and battle.
Robbie Glendinning homered an important run in the fifth, then in the bottom of the eighth it looked like young star Travis Bazzana had done enough to see Australia through.
The former 2024 #1 Major League Baseball draft pick singling on a line drive to bring Max Durrington home making it a 6-2 game.
Celebration and high fives in the dugout quickly turned to despair, as Hae-Min Park scored for Korea in the ninth for that all important fifth run buffer.
Not giving away details of a post game team meeting, devastation could be felt after two emotional losses to end their tournament.
“Obviously a lot of that stuff is personal but really just the message was, I mean, we didn’t meet our assignment, right,” Australia coach Dave Nillson said post-game.
“We kind of failed. But at the same time, we did a lot of good things, and it just showed we can play on this stage.
“But we’ve got more work to do. We’ve got some more improvements to make in the big moments. That was it.
“You know, we just keep looking forward and keep working on building the program.
“And you know just tell the players how much I just believe in them and how much I trust them and that’s really all you can do.
“I’m there from when they win and I’m there from when they lose.
“Nothing really changes.”
Looking ahead while getting better
While the disappointment of elimination is fresh in the minds of Team Australia, it was a tournament with a lot of what if moments.
Reviews across all areas of the baseball department will take place to see where things can be improved and what went wrong.
For this Australian program though, it was once again validation that they can compete at the top level against the best teams in the world.
Furthermore, team culture and what has got them to this point is evident even in the aftermath of a tough loss.
Respecting the players that are retiring from baseball and giving them the space to be celebrated for what they have contributed to Australian baseball.
“I think everything will be reviewed,” continued Nillson.
“Every part of our team will be reviewed, all the way from the head coach all the way down to guys in the bullpen. We’ll look at it.
“Again, we did a lot of good things. And we’re just going to try to continue to improve, be more athletic, build our depth.
“It’s probably too early to look forward right now but we do have Olympic Games coming up.
“It’s kind of too soon to even talk about that right now. We just need to get through tonight and get through it.
“We’ve got some people retiring and some people may not play for us again, and they need to be respected and treated appropriately and spend time with their teammates, and others are just starting a season.
“It’s kind of a weird space, weird from that point of view; that the event is over but for a lot of people, their season is beginning.
“We’ll just enjoy the night just being with each other and hanging out.”
Bazzball key for Australian growth
When it comes to baseball in Australia there is often one question that gets asked, how can this sport become bigger?
Enter, Travis Bazzana.
Putting the future of the sport in Australia on the shoulders of one player might not be the perfect way forward, but there is no denying what Bazzana can do to put it on the map.
Australia’s first number one pick in the MLB and someone that has the swagger to go with it.
Unable to be moved from the dugout following the final out and elimination, you can’t help but get the feeling that Bazzana understands the assignment.
The perfect drawcard, promotional tool and someone that young kids can aspire to be. And he knows what it means to represent Team Australia.
When the dust settles on this WBC tournament, emerging from the pieces left behind might be Bazzana, ready to guide Australian baseball into a new generation of growth.
“I think everyone can see that as a team, we’re improving and we can play on this stage,” said Nillson.
“I think the future of Australian baseball is bright and we’re only going to get better, as we produce more players like Travis our depth will get better and our performance will improve.
“As far as Travis, he had a great tournament for a first-time WBC.
“Had a lot of eyeballs on him and a lot of people following him.
“I think he did a really good job first time around. Had a few big hits for us and was superb defensively.
“I think while it’s a team event, individually, he did really well. He contributed in every way.
“And he should be proud of his performance, even though he’s crying in the locker room right now because he didn’t come here for himself.
“He came here for Australia.”
Leave a Reply