Team Australia’s time in the World Baseball Classic came to a prompt end, falling 4-3 to Cuba. A disappointing end for sure, but a run that, in the end, will provide hope to the team in the future, and the sport in the country as well.
Coming into this World Baseball Classic was a club that had won 2 single games in 4 tournaments. Twice going winless and promptly going home. But this year was different, not only winning, but being an offensive juggernaut that surprised many, except maybe themselves. Some quick facts for the club that will give fans something to be proud of:
1) Team Australia scored 8 runs or more in three of their four games. In the previous 4 tournaments, they only did so twice.
2) Team Australia won 3 games in the first round. In the previous 4 tournaments, they won a total of 2 games.
3) In that first round, Team Australia outscored it’s opponents 29-19 for a 10 run differential which again, a team high.
It does have to be mentioned, the club did give up 19 runs in those first four games, an issue which will need to be addressed going into the next WBC. Good pitching always beats good hitting, and Japan is a prime example of that dominance. But for a country that’s more known for Cricket than Baseball the country did a phenomenal job of rallying behind Manager and Australian local Dave Nilsson and the rest of the squad. 90s MLB fans will remember “Dingo” Nilsson from his time with the Brewers, batting a career .284 and an All-Star appearance.
So what now? It’s going to be 3 years before we see another World Baseball Classic, so there’s a lot of time between now and then. But unlike being a feel good Cinderella team like they were this year, expectation will be raised for 2026 beyond simply getting past the first round. Excited to see what happens.
About the author – Scott Churchson has been an actor in every way for the past 13 years, from BG to stand in to stunts and principal, a sports writer for the past 4 and is one of the people that created Stream Punk Entertainment. He’s married to a veterinarian, has a cat with three working legs and is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe.
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