(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Ranking Graphic by WBSC)
  Netherlands drops one spot on World Ranking List WBSC
Nederlands
 LAUSANNE (Switzerland) -
The Netherlands has dropped from the eighth to the ninth position on the newest World Ranking List in Baseball Men, as published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) on Thursday (February 22).
The USA moved back into first place for the first time since November 2014.
The Americans took over first place from Japan, which is now in second place.
Despite dropping a spot, the Netherlands is still the highest ranked European country.
Italy, which was listed 12th in the previous ranking dropped three spots and is now listed in 15th place.
Italy is the lone country that has dropped from the top-12.
Its place is taken by the Dominican Republic, which moved up from 16th to 12th place.
For the current ranking, all performances of a country's National Team, from U12 up to Professional Teams (World Baseball Classic, Premier12), in WBSC-sanctioned competitions are weighed over the 4-year period 2015-2018.
Since 2015, the USA collected 5025 points, while Japan has 4609.
The Netherlands earned 2002 points.
The USA moved back into first place thanks to its accomplishments last year when it won the World Championship-titles in U12 (juveniles) and U18 (juniors) and also the World Baseball Classic.
The countries that are ranked in the top-12 at the end of 2018 will qualify for participation in the second edition of the Premier12, which will be held in November 2019.
That event also will serve as a Qualifying Tournament for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
South Korea remained in third place, while Cuba and Mexico both moved up one spot to the respectively fourth anf fifth position.
Chinese Taipei dropped from fourth to sixth place.
Canada moved up three spots to seventh place, followed by Australia and the Netherlands, who both dropped one spot.
Puerto Rico completes the top-10, moving up from 11th place.
Venezuela dropped from the top-10 (ninth place) to eleventh position.
Other European countries following Italy on the Ranking List are Israel (17), the Czech Republic (dropped four spots to 18th), Germany (21), France (22), Austria (moved up five spots to 24th), Spain (25), Russia (27), Belgium (moved up two spots to 28th), Croatia (30, moved up four spots), Sweden (31), Slovakia (32, moved up five spots), Lithuania (33), Great Britain (34), Poland (34, tie, moved up five places), Ukraine (38, also moved up five spots), Belarus (39, moved up seven spots!), Bulgaria (42, moved up six places), Switzerland (43, also up six spots), Serbia (44, also climbed six spots), Romania (46), Slovenia (48), Greece (49), Estonia (53, plus four places), Ireland (54, tie with Chile), Norway (59, tie with Bolivia and India), Hungary (62), Finland (63), Georgia (66, tie with Costa Rica and Singapore) and Latvia (73, tie with British Virgin Islands).
Curaçao moved up two spots and now shares 64th place with Ecuador.
Aruba also gained two spot and is now in 70 position.
In total, 74 countries are ranked on the WBSC-list.
The Netherlands is ranked in eighth place for Baseball Women.
In Softball, the Netherlands is in eighth place for Women and in 19th place for Men.
(February 24)
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