Ángel Montás Homers as Dominican Republic Stuns Japan 7-1 at U-15 World Cup
Ángel Montás homered as the Dominican Republic beat defending champion Japan 7-1, won Group A and reshaped the U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
The Dominican Republic handed defending champion Japan its first loss of the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, winning 7-1 in Mérida, Mexico, on Wednesday, September 30. The result gave the Dominican team first place in Group A and carried major weight into the Super Round.
- Final score: Dominican Republic 7, Japan 1
- Group records: Dominican Republic, Mexico and Japan all finished 4-1
- Super Round carry-over: All three Group A qualifiers begin 1-1
Ángel Montás Powers a Four-Run Second Inning
The Dominican Republic scored once in the first inning after two Japanese defensive errors, then broke the game open with four runs in the second.
Axel Heredia singled and Ángel García doubled before Ángel Peralta drove both runners home with a two-out double. Ángel Montás followed with a two-run homer, stretching the lead to 5-0 against Japan starter Hayata Takahashi.
Montás finished with two RBI, two runs and two walks. García went 2-for-3 with two doubles, while Heredia collected two hits and scored twice. The Dominican lineup produced eight hits and added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Dominican Pitching Holds Japan to Four Hits
Airam Burgos opened with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Alan Félix then worked three innings in relief, giving up one run on two hits while recording four strikeouts to earn the win. Ángel García completed a perfect seventh inning.
Japan managed only four hits. Its lone run came in the sixth after Ren Mitsui singled and scored when Takumi Ibata reached on a throwing error.
Takahashi took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits across two innings. Japan had entered the postponed game 4-0 after victories over South Africa, Germany, Cuba and host Mexico.
Dominican Republic Takes Group A on Tiebreaker
The Dominican Republic, Mexico and Japan completed the opening round with identical 4-1 records. The Dominican Republic claimed first place through the tournament tiebreaker, Mexico finished second and Japan third.
Because results between advancing teams carry into the next stage, all three begin the Super Round at 1-1. The United States starts alone at 2-0, Chinese Taipei joins the four-team pack at 1-1 and Nicaragua opens at 0-2.
The Dominican Republic’s victory did more than end Japan’s unbeaten start. It reshaped the medal race by denying the defending champion an advantage before games against the qualifiers from Group B.
