Ashlee Goffer, Jack Besgrove hold off Canada as Australia reach World Championship final

Another masterpiece by left-handed ace Jack Besgrove and a clutch three-run homer off the bat of Ashlee Goffer guided Australia to a 4-0 win against Canada in the Super Round of the WBSC U-23 Men's Softball World Cup, setting up the World Championship Final matchup against Japan on Sunday at 17.00 local time at Nafaldo Cargnel Stadium.

Australia took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run homer by Ashley Goffer. Canadian southpaw Reese Yantzi left a pitch in the middle of the plate that opened an opportunity for Goffer as he swung for the fences.

After five scoreless innings, it was the Australians who scored the next run, with Riley James leading off the inning with a triple to left field and scoring on a wild pitch to mount the 4-0 decisive lead.

Besgrove tossed his second no-no of the tournament. The senior world champion was one walk away from perfection, allowing no hits and striking out 10.

Australia and Japan will meet in Sunday’s World Championship Final. They repeat their matchup in finals of the last two U-18 Men’s Softball World Cups in 2018 and 2020, where they each claimed a world title. 

Australia will play their third consecutive men’s softball world cup final. They lost the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2020 against Japan and claimed the Men’s Softball World Cup 2022 against Canada in December last year.