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Australia beats Czech Republic to reach WBC quarters for 1st time

Kenta Harada / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Australia clinched second place in Pool B and its first-ever berth in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with an 8-3 victory over the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Dome on Monday.

The Aussies will now face Pool A winner Cuba on Wednesday. The other Tokyo-based quarterfinal will see host Japan, which went undefeated in pool play, face Italy on Thursday.

Australia's win eliminated both South Korea - which plays China in its final game later Monday - and the Czechs from this year's competition.

Czech Republic starter Martin Schneider kept his team in the game with a brilliant performance, allowing one run over 5.1 innings and leaving with the game tied 1-1. But Australia unleashed an offensive barrage against the Czech bullpen as soon as Schneider left. Shortstop Logan Wade drove in what stood as the winning runs with a two-out, two-RBI double off Marek Minarik in the seventh inning.

Designated hitter Alex Hall, who opened the scoring with a first-inning home run, ensured there would be no Czech miracle by ripping a two-run triple in the eighth. Robbie Glendinning then added some more insurance for Australia with an RBI single.

Australia has participated in all five World Baseball Classics, but this marks the first time it has advanced out of the first round. The team's previous best finish was ninth overall in 2017.

South Korea, meanwhile, disappointed again in the tournament despite fielding a roster filled with homegrown stars. The longtime baseball powerhouse has not advanced out of the first round since reaching the final in 2009 and must beat China in the Pool B finale to avoid relegation to the qualifying rounds.

The Czech Republic, a team mostly made up of semiprofessionals whose day jobs include firefighters and teachers, won many fans around the world with its gritty performance in Tokyo. Manager Pavel Chadim's team can secure a spot in the 2026 WBC with a Korean victory over the Chinese.

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