Following a thrilling, walk-off victory by Australia in Thursday's first game of the day, the final four pairings were set for the semifinals at the Pony Asia-Pacific Zone Championships in Okinawa, Japan. Thanks to a dominant pitching performance by Chinese Taipei's Tzu-Chieh Tien and offensive fireworks, the 2014-16 Asia-Pacific Zone Champions punched their ticket to the championship game. Unfortunately for Australia, the momentum from the team's morning victory did not carry over into the afternoon, as Japan used a 14-run bottom of the second inning to roll to victory and claim the other spot in the tournament's championship game. The winner of Friday's championship game wins the PONY Asia-Pacific Zone's title and automatic qualifying bid to the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pony World Series.
Game #14: Australia 7 India 6
(Notes will be posted tomorrow.)
Game #15: Chinese Taipei 12 Korea 2 F/6
Notes: Chinese Taipei's Tzu-Chieh Tien was solid on the mound and received the win. In the top of the third inning, Korea's Sang-In Yun reached on an error, before Seung-Won Woo hit a two-run home run to left field. Otherwise, Tien finished the game with six innings pitched, allowing just one hit with two walks, while striking out seven. Following the Woo home run, he retired the next 11-consecutive batters he faced. Offensively, CT collected 12 hits that led to 12 runs for a decisive victory.
Game #16: Japan 14 Australia 1 F/5
Notes: Japan continued its undefeated run toward a title with a semifinal victory over Australia thanks, in part, to a 14-run bottom of the second inning in which Japan batted through the order twice. The four-man Japanese pitching staff allowed just two hits and one unearned run on the day.
Friday's championship game (9 a.m. Friday local time Okinawa, 8 p.m. Thursday ET/US):
Japan (6-0) vs.Chinese Taipei (4-1)