Superb Briandy double play tops WBSC Baseball5 Top Plays of 2024
Cuba superstar Briandy Molina was awarded the Baseball5 Best Play of 2024, making an impressive double play against Chinese Taipei during the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024 in Hong Kong, China.
With Cuba having won the first set in their last Opening Round game against Chinese Taipei but down 1-0 in the top of the third in the second set, with one out on the board, Briandy pulled off a superb diving catch off Hsieh Yu-Ying's cunning bunt before throwing to Chaquira Martinez at first base with Shih Chi-Ting-Hua having taken off thinking Hsieh's bunt was safe to end the inning, keeping Chinese Taipei scoreless (with Tu Yu-Hao at third).
Cuba would keep Chinese Taipei scoreless for the rest of the set, scoring themselves in the fourth and fifth inning to claim the set 2-1 and win the game 7-1, 2-1 before going on to remain unbeaten in the tournament and claim their second WBSC Baseball5 World Cup title is as many editions.
In the selection made by the WBSC Media Department, Chinese Taipei's players placed second and fifth. Shortstop Chun Chiu made an impressive diving stop against France in second place while Hsieh herself, who is also a short stop for the Chinese Taipei Women's Baseball Team, placed fifth, with a superb play from third base to throw Ambre Brouard out at first.
The No.3 and No. 4 plays also happened during the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Hong Kong. Japan's Harutomo Tsuji impressive catch at third base against France placed third, while the fourth Baseball5 Play of the Year was an impressive no-look assist by Venezuela's Luis Marques.