Olympic Baseball-South Korea stuns Cuba in Gold medal match

Baseball comes off the program in 2012 and Cuba was searching for its fourth gold medal since becoming an Olympic sport in 1992. South Korea played the spoiler stunning Olympic powerhouse Cuba 3-2.

South Korea had beaten Cuba 7-4 in their first meeting and it was the Cubans only loss before the final. In a tight game South Korea was able to hold on and beat Cuba to become one of three teams to go undefeated and win Olympic gold, the previous two were the 1992 and 1996 Cuban teams.

The Cubans did not go quietly as they loaded up the bases in the ninth before Yulieski Gourriel grounded into the 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

The Cubans had trained in South Korea a month before heading to Beijing. They played Korean professionals in two games splitting them. Maybe these rivals got to know each others' strengths and weaknesses.

In 2006, South Korea showed the world a glimpse of the level of their baseball as they were undefeated in the WBC before losing the semifinals to Japan. They won the Olympic gold by going undefeated and look prepared to make another run at the WBC title. Hopefully these two teams get to meet in the WBC in San Diego.

Olympic Baseball

USA loses to South Korea, 8-7. After rallying in the ninth, the Koreans came back to steal it away from the Americans. Davey Johnson will have some questions to answer.

In a rematch of the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Cuba beats Japan 4-2.
Nice gift for Fidel Castro on his birthday...

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WBC sites disclosed

The Dodgers' Stadium Club was filled with many major players in baseball. The MCs for the press conference were Dodgers announcers Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin. They had gathered here to officially announce Dodger Stadium as the site for the World Baseball Classic Semifinals and Finals in 2009.

Current and former Dodger players were in attendance including Chan Ho Park who was donning his Korea jersey from the 2006 WBC. He spoke about what an honor it was to play at that stage for his country.

MLB COO Bob Dupuy came to the podium as well as WBC president Paul Archey, MLBPA rep Gene Orza, 2006 WBC Ambassador and Dodger great Tommy Lasorda talking about how much more exciting it will be this time around. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt also came to the podium and demonstrated his excitement for being selected.

ROUND 1

In Pool A
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
Teams: China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea
March 5-9, 2009

In Pool B
Foro Sol in Mexico City, Mexico
Teams: Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa
March 8-12, 2009

In Pool C
Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada
Teams: Canada, Italy, United States and Venezuela
March 8-12, 2009

In Pool D
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Teams: Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico
March 8-11, 2009

ROUND 2

Miami Gardens, Florida
Dolphin Stadium
Potential teams: Canada, Dominican Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela
March 14-18

San Diego, California
Petco Park
Potential teams: Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South Africa
March 15-19, 2009

Semis and Finals

Dodger Stadium
March 21-23, 2009