Tuesday's games may have been few, but they delivered plenty of excitement.
Let's dive into the action:
Japan 9, Czechia 0
Japan's lineup was held in check by Czech pitcher Ondrej Satoria for nearly five innings, but the floodgates opened in the eighth.
Czechia's bullpen couldn't contain the surge, giving up two homers, including a grand slam, and a walked-in run. Japan's pitching was equally dominant, holding Czechia to just two hits and a walk.
Israel 6, Netherlands 2
The Netherlands faced a tough outing, finishing their run with a 1-3 record.
They managed to score early due to a defensive miscue and a sacrifice fly, but Israel responded with an RBI double in the second. The sixth inning proved pivotal as Israel capitalized on errors and timely hits to pull ahead.
Mets prospect Ben Simon closed it out in a tense ninth inning, striking out Cedanne Rafaela to seal the win.
Canada 3, Puerto Rico 2
Canada bounced back from a loss to Panama by handing Puerto Rico their first defeat.
Despite a shaky start, Canada took advantage of Puerto Rico's pitching struggles, with Rico Garcia walking in two crucial runs. Owen Caissie and Abraham Toro led the offense, while Logan Allen and Brock Dykxhoorn provided solid relief to secure the victory.
Italy 8, USA 6
In a stunning upset, Italy toppled Team USA, highlighting the unpredictability of the tournament.
Italy jumped to an early lead with homers from Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci. Team USA struggled against Michael Lorenzen's pitching, falling behind 8-0.
Despite a late rally featuring homers from Gunnar Henderson and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Italy held on. Greg Weissert closed the game by striking out key USA hitters, leaving Pool B's fate hinging on the Italy-Mexico matchup.
As pool play concludes, every game counts: Canada faces Cuba, Mexico takes on Italy, and Venezuela battles the Dominican Republic. The outcomes will shape the next phase of this thrilling tournament.