Kazuma Okamoto (pictured) hit a home run, double and had five RBIs in a 9-3 win. Japan will play the winner of the Puerto Rico-Mexico quarterfinal on Monday, 20 March, in Miami.

The German Baseball and Softball Federation (DBV) announced on Wednesday that Jendrick Speer is taking over as new manager of the senior and U-23 baseball national teams.

The first round at the 2023 World Baseball Classic with thrilling games at the venues in Tokyo, Taichung, Miami and Phoenix is in the books. All the European participants, Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, Czech Republic and Great Britain were able to win at least one game to ensure qualification for the 2026 edition. Italy survived a crazy five-team tie to earn a spot in the quarterfinals and the top eight.

The 42-year-old former National Team infielder succeeds Steve Janssen and will also manage the U-23 National Team.

Entries for the European Softball Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy (EMRYT) 2023 are now open, and teams have until May 15 to enter. EMRYT will take place in Collecchio, Italy, from August 16 to 19, 2023.

The local organising committee of the U-12 Baseball European Championship Qualifier 2023, in collaboration with WBSC Europe, made the event's infopack available for the teams and fans.

Lithuania hosts the Championship as a Qualifier for the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup.

From March 10 to 12, 2023, the Frontair Congress Barcelona Hotel in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, played host to the WBSC Europe Softball Blue Convention.

There were a total of six games of pool play on Monday including the last two Pool B games which confirmed Australia in second place. Pool C and Pool D will complete their pool play on Tuesday and Wednesday. Australia will face Pool A winners Cuba on Wednesday, 15 March, in the first quarterfinal at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Pool B winners Japan will take on Italy, runners up in Pool A, in the second quarterfinal on Thursday also at the Tokyo Dome.

Group A ended in a five-way tie. Japan beat Australia to finish first in Group B. Israel made their debut in the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Nicaragua, while Venezuela keep winning momentum with 9-6 win over Puerto Rico in Group D. Mexico beat the United States 11-5 for first win while Canada beat Great Britain with a record score 18-8 in Group C.