Australia Powers Past Panama, Enters U-23 Super Round at 2-0
Australia beat Panama 10-3, won Pool A at 4-1 and will carry a 2-0 record into the 2026 U-23 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
Australia powered past Panama 10-3 in Nicaragua on Wednesday, winning Pool A at the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup and carrying a 2-0 record into the Super Round. The result puts Australia level with Venezuela at the top of the six-team medal-round standings before play resumes Friday.
John Lemm, Callum Donnelly and Josh Nati each homered as Australia produced 10 runs from eight hits. Every Australian starter reached base, while Panama issued eight walks and hit three batters.
Three home runs drive Australia past Panama
Lemm opened the scoring with a 450-foot, two-run home run in the first inning. Panama answered with three consecutive doubles in the bottom half to tie the game, but Australia immediately regained control with a four-run second.
Two walks and a hit batter helped load the bases before Nikau Pouaka-Grego delivered a two-run single. Australia kept adding pressure, with Donnelly and Nati later going deep to turn a tight start into a decisive final score.
Lemm finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two RBIs. He completed pool play as the tournament leader in hits with 10, batting average at .556 and triples with two. Nati’s third home run moved him into the tournament lead, while his eight RBIs left him tied for first.
Starter Charlie Pierson worked four innings, allowing three runs on six hits without a walk and striking out four. Juan Ramirez followed with two hitless scoreless innings, and Josh Beazley retired the side in order in the seventh. Australia also turned two double plays and played error-free defense.
A 2-0 head start in the Super Round
Australia finished Pool A at 4-1. Because opening-round results against fellow qualifiers Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei carry into the Super Round, Australia begins the next phase at 2-0 rather than starting again from zero.
The team has combined a .306 batting average with a 2.06 ERA through five games, outscoring opponents 32-13. Its .993 fielding percentage is the best in the tournament, with only one error committed.
Australia will face Venezuela, Korea and Japan in the Super Round from Friday through Sunday. With Venezuela also starting 2-0, the first-place matchup will immediately shape the race for the championship game.
