World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier 12 Opener Sees Japan Host South Korea

World No. 1 Japan "will open" this year’s inaugural World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier 12 on Nov. 8 at Sapporo Dome against chief Asian rival South Korea, according to KYODO. The groups for the Premier 12, which will pit the top 12 nations in the rankings of the WBSC, "were announced Wednesday." In addition to Japan and eighth-ranked South Korea, Group B includes the second-ranked U.S., the defending World Baseball Classic champion Dominican Republic (No. 6), Venezuela (No. 10) and Mexico (No. 12). Group A "begins play the following day with co-host Taiwan (No. 4) taking on the fifth-ranked Netherlands." Japan and South Korea "will then move to Taiwan, where the remainder of the group-stage games and the quarterfinals will be played." The semifinal and final "are set for Tokyo Dome" (KYODO, 5/20).