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Team USA Clinches Berth in World Cup Title Game Despite Falling to Canada

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:58:01 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY — The USA Softball Women’s National Team has secured a spot in the championship game of the 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, despite a Sunday outing that saw the ISF 2010 Women’s World Champions fall to Canada. The Americans lost 5-2 at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame Stadium but still clinched the No. 1 tournament seed when Japan topped Canada 4-0 in the night cap.

The Women’s National Team, now 4-1 in the tournament, will seek a fourth consecutive World Cup title Monday at 8 p.m. against either Japan or the Futures, a seeding to be determined following the one remaining pool play game, the Women’s National Team against the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team at noon Monday. Futures has a record of 2-3 heading into the match-up. Japan finishes pool play at 3-3 with Canada at 2-4.

Rain delayed Team USA’s game against Canada for more than three hours, causing a change in the World Cup schedule. The USA and Futures game, originally scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m., was rescheduled for noon. The third place game will take place Monday at 4 p.m. followed by the Championship.

For the first time in the 2010 World Cup, Team USA found themselves trailing, when starting pitcher Eileen Canney (Pleasanton, Calif.) allowed five earned runs in the third inning to Canada, the 2010 ISF Women’s World Championship bronze medalist. She was replaced by Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) in the third, after walking Sheena Lawrick.

Erin Cumpstone singled through the right side to lead off the top of the third. Pinch runner Victoria Hayward advanced to second with a Heather Ebert sacrifice bunt. After Canney walked Joey Lye, Melanie Matthews doubled up the middle, scoring Hayward and Lye. Caitlin Lever then doubled to left center to bring in Matthews. With Lever at second, Jen Yee, a Top 3 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate of the Year Award, homered to center field to make it a 5-1 game.

In the seventh, with two outs, Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) singled to left field to bring in Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.), who also hit a single. It looked to be the start of a rally for Team USA. With bases loaded, trailing 5-2, Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who homered three times over three days, came up to the plate. Cochran hit a single into right field that seemingly brought around two runs. However, the ball had hit base runner Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) on the foot, so she was called out, ending the game.

“I think it’s good every now and then to have games like today, for the betterment of ourselves and of the sport,” Mendoza said. “Every team has a chance to beat us on any given night and this team has the chance to come back on any given night. I think that’s what makes the victories that much better ‘Hey they could beat us but they aren’t going to.’”

In the first game of the day, it was another late game decision for the USA Futures team as they waited until the sixth inning to put two runs up against Japan for a 2-1 victory at the KFC World Cup of Softball. After falling in the bottom of the seventh inning in last night’s nightcap, the Futures were able to hold off Japan allowing only one run when Japan put two runners on base.

Blaire Luna (Austin, Texas) made her first appearance of the World Cup, never allowing one consecutive hit for the Japanese. In her six innings of work, she allowed six hits while striking out one and walking one.

Both Japan and the USA Futures accounted for seven hits a piece with two of the Futures coming in the third where it looked like the zero all tied would be broken. Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) doubled to left field and was followed by a Raven Chavanne (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) walk. A groundout by Katelyn Boyd (Phoenix, Ariz.) put runners at second and third for the first time of the game. However one more out came off a lineout by Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif. ) leaving runners stranded.

In the top of the sixth, the United States took a 2-0 lead when lead off back-to-back singles by Chavanne and Boyd got the momentum going for the Red, White and Blue. A sac bunt by Arioto put the runners at second and third again but this time it would amount to runs scored as pinch hitter Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.) when a throwing error by shortstop allowed her to reach and Chavanne and Boyd to cross home plate.

In the bottom of the Japan’s Maki Tanigawa reached on an error by shortstop Molly Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.) and Naoko Matsumoto singled through the left side to result in a Futures pitching change. Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif.) came in for the save after Luna worked 6.0 innings with one strikeout and a walk. Taylor allowed another hit but with the help of her defense no more runs were scored.

Japan scored single runs in four different innings as the Japanese downed Canada, 4-0, in Sunday’s nightcap. Japan stranded 13 runners but got help in the form of five fielding errors by the Canadians. With the loss, Canada can finish no better than third, and Japan remains in the hunt for the championship game.

Naoko Matsumoto and Kasumi Mizoe reached on back-to-back singles in the top of the second and Matsumoto scored on Ayumi Karino’s groundout to give Japan a 1-0 lead. Japan tacked on another run in the second when Eri Yamada walked and later scored after Kaoru Oyanagi reached on an error.

Evelyn Pare registered Canada’s first hit of the game with a two-out single in the third. Melanie Matthews followed with a single to center field but both were stranded to end the frame.

Japan capitalized on two Canada miscues in the fourth to plate an additional run as Rie Nagayoshi scored on a base hit by Haruna Sakamoto. Yamada scored her second run of the game in the sixth after coming around on Satoko Mabuchi’s single up the middle.

Mabuchi and Maki Tanigawa each ended the game 2-for-4 for Japan. Makiko Fujiwara retired the first eight Canadian batters she faced en route to moving to 2-0 at the event. Fujiwara allowed just three hits and Sayuri Yamane registered her first save.

Matthews hit 2-for-3 and starter Tina Andreana went four innings, allowing three runs. Andreana issued three walks and struck out two.

- Courtesy USA Softball

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USA Blanks Japan For World Title And Canada Takes Bronze

Fastpitch.US — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:54:57 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — Team USA posted a 7-0 victory over Japan here tonight to take the gold medals at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship. Canada took home the bronze medals after falling to Japan, 12-3, in the game that allowed the winners to advance to face the Americans.

The tournament began ten days ago with 16 countries participating.

2010 marked the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever softball world championship as five women’s national teams had competed in February 1965 in Melbourne, Australia.

The USA-Japan-Canada finish ensures that the streak remains intact of no back-to-back ISF women’s world championships having the same top three finishers (in order).

Canada’s bronze is their first ISF women’s world championship medal finish since the fourth edition of the event in 1978 in El Salvador (silver).

Pitcher Cat Osterman started the game tonight for Team USA but gave way to Monica Abbott after three innings, seemingly due to shoulder soreness but definitely not performance-related. Offensively their teammates came alive in the fourth inning after the teams had gone scoreless through three. The Americans sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth with five runs being scored. One inning later they tacked on two more when Andrea Duran hit a two-run home run to left field.

Japan went through three pitchers, Makiko Fujiwara, Sayuri Yamane, and Mika Someya. The Osterman-Abbott duo held Japan to just two hits.

Japan had defeated the U.S. two years ago in the gold medal game at the Olympic softball competition in Beijing, but the two teams squared off yesterday in a playoff game that Team USA won, 4-0, on a complete-game, 12-strikeout, one-hitter by Osterman.

Japan started today with another 0-0 start, tied with Canada after one inning, but they went on to score at least one run in every inning thereafter, including three in the second and five in the top of the seventh when they sent all nine batters to the plate.

Danielle Lawrie started in the circle for Canada but was replaced by Jenna Caira, who was later relieved by Ashley Lanz as there was no answer for an explosive Japan offense that totaled 13 hits.

For Japan Mika Someya threw six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing six hits, striking out five, and walking just one.

This evening finished up with elaborate Closing Ceremonies that included the presentation of the medals, music, dancers, a montage on four huge video screens of still photos from the tournament, and a tremendous fireworks display.

The other teams that had played in the tournament were: Argentina, Australia, Botswana, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Venezuela.

The next ISF world championship will be the junior women’s (age 19-and-under), which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, next year (December 6-17, 2011).

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Canada Will Earn 1ST WWC Medal Since 1978

Fastpitch.US — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:55:04 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — It wasn’t enough for Canada to go home from here with a medal finish. They assured that a bronze, silver, or gold will be hung around their necks tomorrow night by posting two dramatic playoff wins today at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship.

Canada eliminated China tonight, 1-0, by scoring the game’s only run with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning after having come from behind earlier today to post a bottom of the seventh 3-2 win over Australia.

China had reached tonight’s game by starting off this second day of playoff games by eliminating the home team, Venezuela, 6-1, after which the country’s president, Hugo Chavez, came out onto the field to shake the hands of the Chinese players and pose for a team picture with them as well as his own national team.

The day’s other game saw Team USA clinch a spot in tomorrow’s gold medal game by defeating Japan, 4-0.

Japan will play Canada tomorrow at 4pm (local time). The loser will get the bronze medals while the winner will advance to face the Americans at 7pm for the gold.

Team USA is the defending ISF women’s world champion (2006). Japan won the gold medals at the Olympic competition two years ago, however. Canada has assured themselves of an ISF women’s world championship medal finish for the first time since 1978 when they were the silver medalists in El Salvador at the fourth edition of this event.

The streak will continue of the ISF women’s world championship having never had the same top three finishers (in order) two times in a row. (The last edition saw USA first, Japan second, and Australia third.)

Canada and China appeared headed for extra innings tonight before China’s diving left fielder missed a ball hit to her that allowed Caitlin Lever to reach second base. After Jennifer Yee, who has become a home run threat in this tournament, was intentionally walked, Sheena Lawrick lined a 1-2 pitch just past the third baseplayer and into left field to bring Lever home with the winning run.

Winning pitcher Danielle Lawrie went the distance and allowed just one hit. Canada had finished round robin play as the #2 seed in Pool A with a 6-1 won-lost record but then opened the playoffs yesterday with a 16-1 thrashing at the hands of Team USA.

Earlier, Australia had carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning before Canada scored once to cut the lead in half and then Lever hit a shot to left field that scored Jill Russell from third base and Melanie Matthews from first, beating the throw to home plate to complete the comeback.

Lawrie started this game as well but was replaced by Jenna Caira in the fourth inning after the Aussies scored their second run. Justine Smethurst pitched the whole game for Australia and didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning. She struck out five but walked five.

Australia had been the #3 seed out of Pool B (5-2 won-lost record) and had last night won 3-2 over the Netherlands, knocking the Dutch out of the playoffs.

Today began with China handling the home team, scoring twice in the top of the second and four times in the top of the fourth before Venezuela got their one and only run in the bottom of the fifth.

Venezuela hurt themselves with three errors and six different China batters had at least one hit each.

Venezuela was the #2 seed in Pool B, finishing round robin play with a 6-1 won-lost record but then opening the playoffs yesterday afternoon with a 2-0 loss to Japan.

Today’s loss to Team USA was Japan’s first of the tournament after having gone a perfect 7-0 in round robin play to finish atop Pool A. The Americans are now 9-0 since this tournament began (with 16 countries participating) on June 23.

Winning pitcher Cat Osterman threw a complete game, one-hitter, striking out 12 while Sayuri Yamane went the distance in the loss, striking out three but walking four batters.

Team USA scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on one more run in the fifth.

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Dutch & Taipei Eliminated; Final Six Move To Second-Last Day

Fastpitch.US — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:50:25 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — The International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship being played here hit the playoff stage today with three of the four games being decided by a combined total of just four runs and one of them having needed an extra inning.

The results today set things up for tomorrow’s second-last day and also eliminated two teams, adding to the eight that didn’t make it to the playoffs.

Coming off of a perfect round robin performance (7-0 won-lost record), Japan continued their winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Venezuela, who had gone 6-1.

USA (7-0) exploded offensively in a victory over Canada (6-1 in round robin play), 16-1.

Fourth-seeded China (4-3) from Pool B eliminated the number three seed from Pool A, Chinese Taipei (5-2), with an eight-inning 1-0 victory.

And Pool B 3-seed Australia (5-2) eliminated Pool A 4-seed (4-3) the Netherlands, 3-2.

Tomorrow (all times local to Caracas) Venezuela will play China at 1pm with the loser going home. Canada will take on Australia at 3pm in another game that will see the losing team eliminated. Japan and USA will go head-to-head at 5pm with the winner going directly to Friday’s gold medal game (the loser will go to Friday’s “bronze medal game”). Thursday at 7pm the Venezuela-China winner will face the Canada-Australia winner.

Japan’s victory today came courtesy of a two-run fourth inning against losing pitcher Mariangee Bogado, who threw a complete game but struck out only one batter while walking three and hitting two batters. One of the walks and both hit batsmen came in that fourth inning.

Winning pitcher Mika Someya went the distance for Japan, striking out eight and allowing just three hits.

Next up came the Canada-U.S. game that got out of hand quickly.

The Americans sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning alone, scoring four runs, as Canada went through three pitchers.

Jenna Caira got the start but was pulled in favor of Ashley Lanz, who promptly left the game after getting hit on her pitching hand with a batted ball. Tina Andreana came in to go the rest of the way, but the game lasted just five innings under the ISF’s run-ahead rule.

The teams played a scoreless second inning before Team USA put up four more runs in the top of the third, this time sending ten batters to the plate.

Canada responded with their only run of the game in the bottom half of the inning, but then the red, white, and blue blew the game wide open. After a single tally in the top of the fourth, the reigning ISF women’s world champions scored seven times in the top of the fifth, including a three-run home run by Jennie Finch, her third home run of the tournament.

After that it was just a matter of winning pitcher Monica Abbott setting the Canadians down, 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the inning to close things out.

Abbott finished with five strikeouts and no walks. Designated player Katie Cochran went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and triple.

China and Chinese Taipei went through regulation (seven innings) scoreless before Jia Guo hit a one out single to center field to score Yuan Wang in the eighth inning of a game that at times had very light rain.

Chinese Taipei had just four hits while the winners doubled that total. Each team used two pitchers with Li Qi and Lan Wang striking out four and walking no Taipei batters.

In the nightcap, Australia scored all three of its runs in their first at-bat and Justine Smethurst turned in a complete-game, seven strikeout performance to stay alive in the world championship chase. The Aussies were the bronze medalists at the last edition of this event (2006).

Tracey Mosley led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Lindsey Meadows took the loss for the Netherlands, pitching all six innings. Her team got both of their runs in the top of the third inning but couldn’t overcome Smethurst and the Australia defense.

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Eight Now Headed For Playoffs

Fastpitch.US — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:45:45 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — Eights are definitely wild at this point of the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship being played here.

The final eight round robin games played today helped determine the order of finish for the eight teams that have advanced to the playoffs while eight teams are now finished playing. Eight games will take place over the next two days, setting up the two biggest ones on Friday (July 2), when the gold, silver, and bronze medalists will all be crowned.

(Final round robin standings and tomorrow’s playoff schedule at the bottom of this recap.)

And what a grand finish to round robin play it was.

Yaicey Sojo smacked a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence with two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Venezuela a 5-2 win over China. In the bottom of the first inning Sojo had hit a solo home run that just stayed fair down the left field line.

Following that hit for the 1-0 lead, the home team didn’t record another hit until the bottom of the sixth inning, with that too coming off the bat of the 23-year old outfielder, meaning that (in four at-bats) she finished with all three of her team’s hits.

China tied the score at one in the top of the third inning when Lifang Zhang singled to left field to drive in Min Xu who had stolen second then third base on consecutive pitches.

The visitors took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth on a Jia Guo sacrifice fly that scored Yuan Wang but pitcher Mariangee Bogado held China at bay, scattering five hits for a complete-game victory.

Lu Wei pitched the first two-and-two-thirds innings for China before being relieved by Lan Wang, who took the loss.

Other drama today included a Great Britain-Argentina game that took two extra innings to decide.

The teams were scoreless after regulation (seven innings) and the score stayed that way after eight.

Argentina got on the board in the top of the ninth when Agustina Godoy’s ground ball in the infield was mishandled by second baseplayer Sarah Jones, preventing her from getting a throw home, which allowed a run to score while Godoy was thrown out at first.

But in the bottom of the ninth Caley Roberts singled to shallow left field to score Naomi Jones. With Argentina pitcher Carla Villalva not paying attention, Jones ended up at second base. That set the stage for Kristi Yoshizawa, who lined a 1-1 pitch to right field to bring home the winning run.

Stacie Townsend again started in the circle for Great Britain and picked up the win by going the full nine innings, allowing just one hit. Villalva took the loss, having relieved starter Virginia Sciuto, who was pitching in the women’s world championship at the age of just 17 years old.

Chinese Taipei and Cuba came dangerously close to a similar extra innings affair. The two teams were scoreless after six innings when Taipei finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning with what would prove to be the game’s only run despite the fact that they banged out nine hits.

Pitcher Chung Hui Lin went the distance to pick up the win. Anislei Lopez Gutierrez went two-and-two-thirds innings for Cuba with Yusmeri Pacheco Ysalgue handling the rest of the pitching duties.

The day had begun with Japan solidifying their perfect round robin record via a 10-0 triumph over South Africa. Eri Yamada went 3-for-3 at the plate and Satoko Mabuchi and Maki Tanigawa each hit a home run as the winners totaled eleven hits in a game shortened (four innings) by the ISF run-ahead rule.

Japan scored at least one run in each inning and pitchers Emi Segawa and Emi Matsuoka combined on a three-hitter and five strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Australia was blanking Botswana by the same score. Seven different players had at least one hit in what was also a four-inning game. The winners got big second (five runs) and fourth (four) innings. Pitchers Kaia Parnaby and Karina Cannon combined on a two strikeout, no walks, two-hitter while Botswana used three different pitchers.

Keeping pace with Japan, Team USA also finished round robin play unbeaten thanks to a 9-0 decision over the Czech Republic today. The five-inning game saw winning pitcher Eileen Canney hold the Czechs to just two hits while striking out seven and issuing no walks. Nine different USA players had one hit each including Andrea Duran and Jennie Finch, who both homered.

New Zealand won their first game of the tournament and their last game of the event by winning 3-0 today over the Dominican Republic. The White Sox took the victory despite the two teams having just four hits each. Two of New Zealand’s hits were doubles, however. All of the scoring came in the top of the first inning and pitchers Megan Farrel and Michal Tangaroa combined for seven strikeouts while losing pitcher Melissa Penna tossed a complete game, striking out three and walking just one.

This evening Canada solidified the second seed in Pool A by defeating the Netherlands, 6-1. Despite a fifth inning Solange Starrenburg home run off of winning pitcher Ashley Lanz, the Dutch didn’t have their hitting shoes on tonight, registering just two other hits the whole game.

Three different Netherlands pitchers couldn’t shut down the Canadians, who got a home run of their own, off the bat of Sheena Lawrick. Her team was up 6-0 when the game was only two innings old.

The playoffs begin tomorrow with the following games (times local to Caracas):
1 pm Japan vs. Venezuela
3 pm USA vs. Canada
5 pm Chinese Taipei vs. China
7 pm Australia vs. Netherlands

The final round robin standings were as follows:

POOL A W L RF RA
Japan 7 0 42 2
Canada 6 1 49 5
Chinese Taipei 5 2 26 17
Netherlands 4 3 23 23
Cuba 3 4 19 13
Great Britain 2 5 10 27
Argentina 1 6 12 45
South Africa 0 7 5 54

POOL B W L RF RA
USA 7 0 68 5
Venezuela 6 1 30 13
Australia 5 2 37 13
China 4 3 40 9
Czech Republic 3 4 21 41
New Zealand 2 5 20 45
Dominican Republic 1 6 11 35
Botswana 0 7 5 71

W = wins, L = losses, RF = runs for, RA = runs against

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One Day Left In Round Robin Play

Fastpitch.US — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:38:32 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA – The sixth day of games at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship here started with a shutout, ended with a shutout, and had lots of offense in between.

All 16 countries were in action again today in the ten-day event that culminates with Friday’s medal games (July 2).

Cuba began the day with a 5-0 victory over Argentina. After a run in the bottom of the first they scored four more times in the next inning to provide all the offense that Marlen Bubaire Benitez would need. She pitched a complete-game four-hitter, walked none, and recorded three strikeouts as the team evened its won-lost record at 3-3.

Argentina dropped to 1-5 despite a 3-for-3 performance at the plate from Agustina Godoy.

Meanwhile, Australia pitcher Justine Smethurst allowed just one hit over six complete innings as her team bounced back from a 9-2 defeat yesterday at the hands of Team USA to shut out New Zealand this morning, 10-0.

The Aussies scored at least one run in every inning except the top of the sixth and pounded out 15 hits en route to a 4-2 won-lost record.

Outfielder Lara Andrews hit what would be a meaningless single in the fourth inning to break up Smethurst’s no-hitter as New Zealand dropped to 1-5.

Aimee Murch came on in relief for the seventh and final inning and surrendered two hits.

Asked why coach Fabian Barlow lifted her despite having surrendered just one hit, Smethurst said, “Just variation, I think. It wasn’t anything to do with my performance on the field. I think it was just to get pitchers through because we are reaching (the round robin) end and you don’t know what’s going to happen and everyone’s going to see the diamond, so I think it’s about getting the pitchers through and getting them game time.”

On what helped her turn in today’s performance, she said, “I was hitting my spots today and I was really throwing with control, which makes a difference to the game and just throwing what the catcher called.”

The Netherlands saw their three-game winning streak snapped, falling to Chinese Taipei, 6-3. Chung Hui Lin struck out three and walked none in a complete-game three-hitter. The Dutch used three pitchers but, after a 2-1 lead after three-and-a-half innings, couldn’t stop the Taipei offense, which scored three times in the bottom of the fourth and twice more in the bottom of the fifth. The winners had a whopping 14 hits, including three alone from Lai Meng Ting (in four at-bats). Eight other Taipei players had at least one hit each.

The Netherlands falls to 4-2 with the loss while Chinese Taipei improves to the same mark.

Team USA’s record remains perfect through six games as they toppled the Dominican Republic today, 10-1. The Americans got four runs in the (top of the) first two innings and a pair in the fourth, with the Dominicans replying with their only tally in the bottom half of that inning. Team USA had eight hits, three of which were triples, and pitcher Jennie Finch picked up her second win of the tournament, striking out seven and allowing just one hit.

Hannah Penna pitched all five innings (the game was shortened/deemed official by the ISF’s run-ahead rule), walking five batters and striking out none. Her team’s record now sits at 1-5.

Like the Aussies, Canada suffered a tough defeat yesterday (2-1 to Japan), but came back in a big way today, dumping South Africa, 12-0 in four innings (run-ahead rule).

Melanie Matthews (three-run shot) and Jennifer Yee (her fourth of the tournament) each hit a home run and pitcher Tina Andreana made her first (national team) career start, allowing just one hit and striking out two as Canada improved to 4-2. Five Team Canada players had two hits each. The first inning saw eight runs scored with the other four tacked on in the bottom of the second.

China’s bats were hot as well as they registered an 8-1 decision over the Czech Republic. The winners scored in four of six innings and were helped by four Czech Republic errors. Three China pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and Li Chunxia went 3-for-4 at the plate while Yuan Wang and Lin Miao both homered. The victory puts China at 4-2 while the Czech Republic falls to 3-3.

The Czechs did manage seven hits in defeat, including two players with two each.

Japan stayed unbeaten (6-0) thanks to a 7-0 victory over Great Britain (1-5). In a six-inning affair (ISF run-ahead rule), Great Britain was held to just one hit by Japan’s Sayuri Yamane, who struck out eight and walked just one.

The winners scored all their runs in the opening (four in the top of the first) and final (three in the sixth) innings.

The evening closed with a big 10-0 win by Venezuela (5-1) over Botswana (0-6). Twenty-year old Anyibel Ramirez pitched five innings of no-hit ball as the game was ended due to the run-ahead rule (a game becomes official if a team is leading by 15 runs after three innings, ten after four, or seven after five).

The top of the third was the big inning for Venezuela as they scored six times then, en route to a ten-run, 14-hit night in front of the home fans and another national TV audience.

Tomorrow round robin play concludes, with the following games (times local to Caracas):
1 pm – Japan (6-0) vs. South Africa (0-6)
1 pm – Botswana (0-6) vs. Australia (4-2)
3 pm – USA (6-0) vs. Czech Republic (3-3)
3 pm – Argentina (1-5) vs. Great Britain (1-5)
5 pm – Dominican Republic (1-5) vs. New Zealand (1-5)
5 pm – Chinese Taipei (4-2) vs. Cuba (3-3)
7 pm – China (4-2) vs. Venezuela (5-1)
7 pm – Canada (4-2) vs. Netherlands (4-2)

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World Championship Day 4 Recap

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:51:14 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — The International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship hits the halfway point tomorrow in terms of it being day five of ten but following ten games today, teams are hitting the halfway point in round robin play.

Sixteen countries are participating in the fast pitch tournament, with eight teams in each pool. With one game against each team in their pool, teams are playing seven round robin games.

Overall, Canada, Japan, and USA all find themselves with perfect 4-0 won-lost records so far, with Australia, the Netherlands, and Venezuela at 3-1.

Today began with the Netherlands getting past Argentina, 4-3. The Dutch were actually outhit, 7-5, but held off the Argentines. After giving up a run in the top of the first, the Netherlands got all of their runs in the bottom half of the inning. Argentina got a pair in the top of the fourth, but neither team would score the rest of the way, as Argentina’s record fell to 1-2.

Meanwhile, Australia was defeating the Czech Republic, 6-0. Four different Aussie players had two hits apiece, including Stacey Porter and Tracey Mosley, who each hit a home run. Pitchers Aimee Murch and Kaia Parnaby held the Czech batters to a game total of just four hits.

Japan was then set to take on Cuba and started to until rain not only suspended play, but joined with a busy grounds crew to delay the restart for hours. Eventually Japan won, 1-0, thanks to a complete-game performance from 20-year old Sayuri Yamane who allowed just three hits. Offensively, her teammates put up just the same total, but it took just Naoko Matsumoto’s RBI double in the second inning to provide all the scoring Japan would need. Cuban pitcher Yusmari Pacheco was impressive in defeat.

China and New Zealand were somewhat delayed by the same rain, but like the game at the other field, the Asian team won by shutout here too, 11-0. Yuan Wang went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a triple, and Luo Ying hit a home run while New Zealand mustered just two hits in what would be a four-inning game (ISF run-ahead rule). After a scoreless first inning China scored twice in the top of the second, six times in the third, and three more runs in the fourth.

To keep the games on track, Canada’s game scheduled against Great Britain was moved off-site, but it didn’t hamper the red and white who posted a 7-0 triumph. Highlights for the winners included Jenn Yee hitting her third home run in as many games and pitcher Ashley Lanz throwing a no-hitter (five-inning game) and striking out seven GB batters. The winners got runs in each inning except the first.

Australia came back for their second game of the day and provided a little déjà vu with another 6-0 victory, this time over the Dominican Republic. The loss dropped the Dominican Republic’s record to 1-3. Australia’s other victory (yesterday versus China) had been by shutout as well. The Aussies gave up four runs (to Venezuela) in their only defeat thus far.

Still another shutout was posted when the Netherlands posted their second victory of the day, a 3-0 decision against Cuba. Interestingly, it was Cuba’s pitcher, Anisle Lopez, who took a perfect game into the fifth inning, retiring the first 13 batters of the game. But Netherlands pitcher Lindsey Meadows broke it up with a single to right field with one out and her team went on to score two runs in that inning. They added an insurance tally in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Chantal Versluis.

Meadows pitched a complete game and, unofficially, struck out ten.

Team USA had a quick night’s work, by way of the ISF’s run-ahead rule, needing just three innings to down Botswana, 20-0. Both Chelsea Bramlett and Lauren Lappin went 3-for-3 at the plate. Pitcher Jennie Finch made her first appearance in the circle so far at the world championship, having been used previously at first base. Tonight she struck out six Botswana batters over the trio of innings.

Canada had been scheduled to play Argentina last night but the game was suspended due to rain. There was certainly no sunshine for Argentina – and not just because it was a night game – as Canada rolled to a 12-0 victory. The winners got ten runs in the first inning alone and pitcher Jenna Caira struck out three batters and allowed just three hits in what was just a four-inning game (run-ahead rule).

The evening concluded with Venezuela posting a 5-1 victory over the Czech Republic in front of yet another jam-packed stadium while Chinese Taipei was defeating South Africa, 8-1.

Venezuela was led by Rubilena Rojas going 2-for-3 at the plate and pitcher Mariangee Bogado throwing a complete-game three-hitter.

Chinese Taipei had a run-ahead rule game too, getting eight runs on eleven hits in five innings, scoring in all but the second. South Africa put their lone tally on the board in the bottom of the fourth. The victory evened Chinese Taipei’s record at 2-2 while South Africa fell to 0-4.

The remaining three days of round robin play will ‘only’ have eight games each day. Tomorrow starts off at 1pm (local time) with Chinese Taipei taking on Argentina and Team USA battling long-time rival Australia.

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Japan Wins Battle Of The Unbeatens

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:52:26 +0000

Just 24 hours after a recap reporting Canada, Japan, and USA being the teams still holding unbeaten records thus far at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship being played here, the Canadians are now gone from that list.

Japan got a complete-game, seven-strikeout performance from pitcher Mika Someya and a fifth inning Ayumi Karino single that scored Shizuyo Hamamoto to drop Team Canada to 4-1. The winners had taken a 1-0 lead when Satoko Mabuchi scored in the bottom of the fourth, but Canada came right back in the top of the fifth when Jennifer Yee drove in Melanie Matthews.

Danielle Lawrie got the start for Canada but was relieved by Jenna Caira for the sixth and what would be final inning.

The tournament’s other unbeaten, Team USA, moved to 5-0 by way of a 9-2 victory over Australia, who’d entered the game with just one loss. The Aussies came in on a three-game winning streak, all by a shutout.

Australia starting pitcher Aimee Murch gave up three runs in the first inning as three consecutive Team USA batters doubled. Karina Cannon came on to pitch the second inning but gave up two runs and coach Fabian Barlow made another change for the third inning, bringing in Kaia Parnaby, who gave up a two-run home run to Jennie Finch.

Winning pitcher Cat Osterman retired the first nine batters before a bit of a rocky fourth inning in which the Aussies tallied both of their runs to cut the USA lead to 7-2.

Joining Canada at 4-1 are the Netherlands and Venezuela. The latter thrilled another boisterous home crowd tonight with a 5-2 triumph over New Zealand.

Venezuela second baseplayer Yurubi Alicart went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a home run. New Zealand had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the home team got three runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth.

Regarding her home run, Alicart said, “I really didn’t know it was a home run. I was expecting a change-up, and she threw a change-up, and I just threw my hands (out) and it went out of the park. I’m really glad it was in the right moment.”

Winning pitcher Johana Gomez started in the circle for Venezuela tonight and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing both New Zealand runs, before Mariangee Bogado came in to close the door on the Kiwis for the last one-and-a-third innings.

Sheree Cartwright was tagged with the loss, having pitched the first four innings for New Zealand, giving up all five Venezuela runs before Megan Farrell came on in relief for the fifth and sixth innings.

Meanwhile, the Dutch raised their record to 4-1 thanks to a 7-0 shutout of South Africa (0-5).

The European champions scored two runs in the top of the second inning, three in the fourth and two more in the fifth, which would be the final inning as a result of the ISF’s run-ahead rule that makes a game final/official if a team is leading by 15 runs after three innings, ten after four, or seven after five.

Areke Spel had three hits, including a home run, and pitcher Dagmar Bloeming did not allow a hit for the team’s third straight victory.

Regardless of the outcome, this matchup was a milestone in Dutch national softball team history as it marked their 500th official international game. Just over 50 years ago (May 29, 1960) the first-ever Dutch national softball team international game took place in the form of a 4-3 victory over the visiting Italy team.

This morning had begun with Chinese Taipei defeating Argentina, 6-3. Lu Hsueh Mei led the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. A four-run bottom of the third inning made the difference as the Taiwanese lifted their record to 3-2.

Argentina (1-4) couldn’t capitalize on a 3-for-4 outing from Agustina Godoy. Chiu An Ju pitched a complete-game six-hitter for the win.

Cuba bounced back from two losses yesterday by a combined score of 4-0 to defeat Great Britain tonight, 4-1. All of the scoring came on home runs as pitcher Stacie Townsend hit a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning, but Maritja Toledo hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom half of the inning to help Cuba improve to 2-3. Great Britain was held to just four hits in dropping to 1-4.

China climbed above .500 (3-2) with a big 7-0 win over the Dominican Republic (1-4). Ironically, every one of China’s games thus far – win or lose – has resulted in the losing team being shutout.

Things don’t get any easier for the Dominican Republic as they go up against unbeaten Team USA tomorrow afternoon.

The Czech Republic is now 3-2 following a close victory over Botswana this evening, 5-4. Although winless through five games, this had to be a moral victory for Botswana who had only scored one run in their four prior games combined. The Czechs will finish up round robin play against two tough opponents in China tomorrow and Team USA on Tuesday.

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Olympic Rematches Highlight Day 3 Games

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:04:03 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — Two days ago was Olympic Day although that could’ve been the theme of today’s ten games played at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship being played here.

The Day 3 schedule saw four of the ten games bringing teams back together who faced each other during the Olympic softball competition almost two years ago in Beijing.

The evening ended with one of those, as Team USA played its second game of the day, handing Venezuela their first loss, 7-0.

In one of the first games of the day, Canada ran their won-lost record to 2-0 with a 5-2 triumph over Chinese Taipei.

The other pair of Olympic rematches was Japan’s 4-0 victory against the Netherlands and Australia’s 2-0 victory over China.

Tonight’s win by the Americans was witnessed by yet another capacity crowd and capped off a day that the red, white, and blue had started with a big 12-2 win over New Zealand. The triumph over the Kiwis was shortened (four innings) by the run-ahead rule and saw Team USA score six runs in each of the bottom of the second and third innings. New Zealand came back with a pair in the top of the fourth, including a home run by Sheree Cartwright.

Mother Nature tried to have some say in the U.S.-Venezuela game, but only temporarily suspended play. However, heavy enough rain at the other venue forced the Canada-Argentina game to be suspended. It will now take place off-site tomorrow night at 7pm local time.

Asked whether or not it had been disappointing to see their opponent mount a slight comeback in the seventh inning after Canada had established such solid defensive play in most of the innings prior, coach Mark Smith said, “Not really. We played 14 innings in 13 hours… The goal is to not make errors and I thought it was a gutsy performance. We got a full team effort.”

Indeed they did as Chinese Taipei gave up ten hits – including two home runs – to the Canadians and Danielle Lawrie contributed from the pitching circle with a complete-game victory.

Not to be outdone, Monica Abbott stole the spotlight from the same spot in Team USA’s win this evening. She pitched a complete, five-inning game (shortened by the ISF’s run-ahead rule) and allowed only one hit while striking out eight Venezuelan batters. Johana Gomez struck out three and took the loss but had helped hold the game scoreless after three innings.

In the top of the fourth, however, designated player Tammy Williams hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run that would provide all the offense Team USA would need, along with a cloud of controversy as Venezuela coach Kim Wright vehemently argued the home plate umpire’s call. Things didn’t get any better for her team the next inning though as the host team saw the Americans score five more times.

The Japan-Netherlands Olympic rematch almost finished with the same score as at the Games in 2008. Back then it was 3-0 and this time Japan scored just one more run than that. A three-run bottom of the third inning was the difference maker today and an insurance run one inning later helped ice the victory. Misato Kawano was 2-for-2 for the winners, with both hits being doubles. Nathalie Gosewehr was 2-for-3 at the plate in defeat.

Makiko Fujiwara threw a complete-game for Japan. Rebecca Soumeru started in the circle for the Dutch but was relieved after three innings by Kirsten Scheele.

Australia had defeated China 3-1 at the Olympics and this time won by a two-run decision as well. Danielle Stewart led the way, going 2-for-3 at the plate while pitcher Justine Smethurst went the distance for the win, just under 24 hours after having started but given way to Aimee Murch in the loss to Venezuela.

For China, Wang Lan pitched a complete game but her team managed only three hits and fell to 1-2 thus far in round robin play.

In another close game, the tournament got its first extra innings decision when the Czech Republic edged New Zealand today, 6-5, in eight innings. The winners had been up 2-0 after five-and-a-half innings but the White Sox tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a one-run lead.

The Czechs scored twice in the top of the seventh to take the lead back, but New Zealand was able to tie it at four to force an extra inning. In the top of the eighth the Czech Republic scored twice, and the Kiwis were only able to respond with one run in the bottom half of the inning to fall to 1-2.

Megan Farrel pitched the entire eight innings for New Zealand, who were led offensively by Brooke Luckhart (2-for-3). The Czech Republic finished with ten hits, including four of the extra base variety.

The Dominican Republic got their first win of the tournament after two losses, shutting out Botswana today, 6-0. Six different players had one hit each in the win while 18-year old Hannah Penna picked up the win, pitching a complete-game four-hitter. All of the scoring came in the first (three runs) and sixth innings.

Cuba was on the losing end of that same score last night but bounced back today to beat South Africa, 10-1, to even their record at 1-1. The winners scored five times in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on four more runs in their next at-bat, with Cuba finishing with a team total of 11 hits. Yaleisa Soto Linares herself almost matched Botswana’s hit total (four) by going 3-for-3 at the plate. The game was shortened by the ISF’s run-ahead rule (15 after three, ten after four, or seven after five).

Chinese Taipei won a close game with Great Britain, 3-0, for their first victory of the tournament. The loss dropped Great Britain to 1-2. The winners put up seven hits while holding GB to just three. Two Great Britain players went 2-for-3 at the plate but it wasn’t enough to overcome pitcher Lin Su Hua and Chinese Taipei’s defense. ———————————————————————————————————————————–

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Zeros Erased Over WWC Day 2’s Ten Games

Fastpitch.US — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:14:38 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — They say that defense wins championships so it would seem that pitching might be the key to winning the International Softball Federation’s 16-nation XII Women’s World Championship being played here. However, after four shutout decisions opened Day 2 of the ten-day tournament, offenses started taking over.

Play concluded this evening with a jam-packed Independence Stadium hosting Venezuela’s 4-1 thriller over Australia.

Venezuela coach Kim Wright said, “We’re improving everyday, we got better today, and we need to keep improving in the days to come.”

Mariangee Bogado pitched a complete game for the victory and, through an interpreter, said, “Australia is very good and has seen me three or four times, so they’re used to me, but we played a better game.”

Whether or not she’ll continue to be the workhorse of the staff remains to be seen as Coach Wright wouldn’t comment in the post-game press conference, saying only, “Our goal is to make the playoffs and we’ll choose our pitchers wisely.”

“It was a tough environment tonight with the fans, and this (Venezuela) is a group of players that has been together for a long time,” said Australia coach Fabian Barlow. “Most of them were there (at the last world championship) in 2006 and (at the Olympics) in 2008, and then they got the boost from the crowd.

“We just need to be better for it and come out strong tomorrow against China,” Barlow said. “We’ve got a brand new bunch making their debut at a world championship. There were probably about 13 out there tonight.”

The home team opened with two runs in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a Denise Fuenmayor home run to right field. The Aussies came right back, however, in the top of the second with a solo home run from Jodie Bowering to virtually the same spot.

Venezuela added to their lead when Rubilena Rojas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, which brought home Maria Soto who’d singled with one out. One inning later Geraldine Puertas hit a sacrifice fly that scored Maribel Riera for the game’s final run.

Australia put just a little scare into the home team with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Danielle Stewart doubled and Bowering singled, but the one swing of the bat that could’ve tied it turned out to be the game’s final out by way of a Chelsea Forkin fly out to right field.

The day had begun with a morning matchup of Commonwealth countries as Great Britain prevailed over South Africa, 3-0. Stacie Townsend took care of the offense and defense, going 3-for-4 at the plate and throwing a complete-game, seven-strikeout, four-hitter. As a team the winners pounded out eleven hits with Almarie Kannemeyer suffering the loss for South Africa.

Meanwhile, after a scoreless first inning, China broke out with five runs in the second inning and seven more in the third en route to a big 12-0 win over Botswana. China scattered nine hits including two each from two different players while Botswana was held without a hit in a game shortened (four innings) by the ISF’s run-ahead rule.

Good thing for the winners too as they were right back on the field for the next game, against defending ISF women’s world champion USA. The Chinese were up to the task, however, going six scoreless innings with the Americans before Natasha Watley drove in what would be the game’s only run with a single in the top of the seventh inning.

Cat Osterman pitched a complete game for Team USA, striking out eleven. Two China pitchers combined for eight strikeouts, with Li Qi taking the loss.

Meanwhile, over at the other venue, Japan was blanking regional rival Chinese Taipei, 5-0. Pitcher Mika Someya held the Taiwanese batters at bay, striking out eight and surrendering just two hits. Lin Su Hua was the losing pitcher. Two relievers followed her and the trio struck out none and gave up nine hits including two each by Yukiyo Mine and Ayumi Karino.

Japan yesterday had dominated Argentina, who rebounded with a 4-3 win today over South Africa, dropping the latter to 0-2 on the day and for the tournament. The teams each scored twice in the first inning and once in the third inning before Argentina finally pushed the winning run across the plate in the top of the seventh when Florencia Olheiser drove in Agustina Godoy who had doubled.

Nicolene Jones went the distance for South Africa in a losing effort, while Virginia Sciudo picked up the win.

As the afternoon moved on, New Zealand took the field for their first game, breaking out with an 8-1 triumph over Botswana (0-2). Char Pouaka hit a solo home run and Naoupu Lote went 2-for-2 at the plate for the White Sox. Botswana collected four hits in the five-inning (run-ahead rule) game, with three of them – including one double – coming off the bat of Marea Modutlwa.

Next up came a rematch of last year’s European Championship in Spain, where the Netherlands defeated Great Britain for that regional title. The result was the same this time as the Dutch edged GB, 5-4. The Netherlands took an early lead on a solo home run by Nathalie Gosewehr, who was joined by two teammates in finishing with two hits each. On the losing side, again it was pitcher Stacie Townsend who made noise with her bat, going 2-for-3 at the plate, as did teammate Kristi Yoshizawa.

Great Britain overcame the Gosewehr home run with a four-run bottom of the fourth inning, but the Netherlands scored twice in the top of the sixth and top of the seventh and got a combined ten strikeouts from Dagmar Bloeming and Lindsey Meadows to hold off their European foe.

Runs were aplenty when the Czech Republic squared off against the Dominican Republic and this game too saw a comeback. The Czechs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, only to see the Dominicans come right back in the top of the second with four runs. Little did they know that would be the last of their offense for the rest of the game. The Czech Republic, on the other hand, came back with a three-run third inning to tie the game, then got the eventual winning run in the fourth before scoring three more times in the sixth for an 8-4 victory. The winners had 12 hits, with seven players getting into that column, five of which had two hits each including Eva Rendovla who had two doubles.

Canada and Cuba each had their first game of the tournament tonight, facing each other in a showdown between two teams from the Americas. The Canadians came out on top, 6-0, in a game that had déjà vu written all over it, as these teams played almost a year ago in Venezuela in the qualifying tournament that got them to the 2010 ISF event. The victors don’t have much time to enjoy tonight’s victory however, being scheduled in one of tomorrow’s first games – 11 a.m. (local time) versus Chinese Taipei.

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Japan & Venezuela Are Day 1 WWC Winners

Fastpitch.US — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:19:27 +0000

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — Two games wrapped around Opening Ceremonies that rivaled those of the world’s top sporting events comprised day one of ten at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship here.

Japan defeated Argentina this afternoon, 13-1, before the host team thrilled the capacity crowd at Independence Stadium with a 1-0 victory over the Dominican Republic.

A full schedule of ten games is on tap for tomorrow at the 16-nation tournament that runs through and including July 2nd.

2008 Olympic gold medalists Japan made quick work of their first opponent, dismissing Argentina by way of the run-ahead rule that calls for a game to be considered official if a team is leading by 15 runs after three innings, ten runs after four, or seven after five. Pitcher Makiko Fujiwara started the game for Japan and was relieved by Emi Segawa, who was credited with the win.

Offensively, Eri Matzuoka went 2-for-3 at the plate, scored two runs, and drove in two others as the victors racked up four home runs in the four-inning affair. Argentina managed three hits and got their only tally in the bottom of the second inning. The team will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon against South Africa.

The Opening Ceremonies were attended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who spoke after International Softball Federation President Don Porter. During his remarks, President Chavez voiced his support for the return of softball to the Olympic Games.

Giant video screens, an orchestra, and one child for every athlete marching into the stadium were just a part of the extravaganza that was the Opening Ceremonies, which were punctuated by a scintillating fireworks display.

Then it was back to softball and a very tight match between two of the teams from the Americas. Infielder Yurubi Alicart led Venezuela with a 2-for-2 performance in their successful start to the event that marks the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever softball world championship. In the bottom of the sixth inning the team’s batting leader two years ago at the Olympics in Beijing (.333 average) hit a solo home run that had no problem clearing the left field fence for the game’s only score.

Pitcher Johana Gomez started in the circle for the winners but was relieved only one out into the second inning by Mariangee Bogado, who was more than capable in closing the door over the final 5⅔ innings. The Dominicans got just two hits, leaving a strong, complete-game performance by pitcher Melissa Penna for naught. She allowed just four hits, never facing more than four batters in an inning until the pivotal sixth when Alicart drove Penna’s pitch beyond the 220-foot outfield fence. ———————————————————————————————————————————–

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ASA Unveils Rosters For 2010 Canadian Open, Japan Cup

Fastpitch.US — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:24:43 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 20 athletes who will represent the United States this summer at competitions and exhibitions in Canada and Japan. The athletes, who are members of the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team and the Women’s Future National Team, will participate in three events over two months: Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship, July 7-11, in Surrey, B.C.; exhibition games, July 13-14, Whitehorse, Yukon; and Japan Cup, August 3-9, in Sendai City, Japan.

Roster for Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship and exhibitions

Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.)
Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.)
Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Kenzie Fowler (Tucson, Ariz.)
Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.)
Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.)
Molly Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.)
Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Blaire Luna (Austin, Texas)
Jenae Leles (Fair Oaks, Calif.)
Meagan May (Spring, Texas)
Lauren Schutzler (Monterey, Calif.)
Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif.)
Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Va.)
Shawna Wright (Lancaster, Calif.)

Roster for the Japan Cup

Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.)
Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.)
Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.)
Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Kenzie Fowler (Tucson, Ariz.)
Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.)
Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.)
Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.)
Molly Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.)
Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Jenae Leles (Fair Oaks, Calif.)
Blaire Luna (Austin, Texas)
Jordan Taylor (Valencia, Calif.)
Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.)

An additional athlete will be added to the Japan Cup roster at a later date.

In Canada, the team will be coached by Women’s National Team Head Coach Jay Miller (Starkville, Miss./head coach Mississippi State) along with National Team Assistant Coach Gordon Eakin (Sandy, Utah/head coach BYU) and Suzy Brazney (Huntington Beach, Calif./head coach Golden West College). Brazney is also an assistant for the Junior Women’s National Team, which will be named in June.

The Japan Cup coaching squad will include both Miller and Eakin. Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla./head coach South Florida), who is in his second year as an assistant coach with the Women’s National Team, will also make the trip to Sendai City.

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World Championships Game Schedule Set

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:25:28 +0000

PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) — The full list of 66 games that will be played at the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship was announced today by the sport’s world governing body. Caracas, Venezuela, will host the ten-day competition (June 23-July 2), which will consist of national teams from 16 different countries.

The first game will feature Japan against Argentina, and Opening Ceremonies will also take place that day. Team USA comes in as the defending world champions, having defeated Japan in the gold medal game of the last edition of the event, which took place four years ago in Beijing, China. Just two years later, however, in that same stadium, Japan would avenge the 2006 loss by capturing the Olympic softball gold medal with a 3-1 victory over the Americans. The two teams are in separate pools for this year’s world championship, however, so the opportunity to go head-to-head wouldn’t come until a possible playoff matchup.
“Without question we are certainly in store for some exciting competition at the women’s world championship,” ISF President Don Porter said. “The fans and media will witness some terrific play by elite-level athletes over those ten days in Caracas.

“This is just another step bringing us closer to the event. Today we’ve announced the game schedule. The organizing committee is in the process of launching the event website. And with this list of games in hand we will now work to finalize plans for international TV coverage. With only 91 days until the first pitch, everything is coming together for what I’m confident will be a world-class experience not only for the athletes but for all parties involved,” Mr. Porter said.

The 16 teams that will compete are: Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, and Venezuela.

This year’s event marks the 45th anniversary of the first-ever softball world championship (see commemorative logo below). Five women’s teams competed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1965, and one year later the first men’s world championship was held (eleven countries competed in Mexico City). Eventually world championships were also started in the junior women’s and junior men’s categories (age 19-and-under).

The ISF is the world governing body of the sport as recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations). Softball (women’s fast pitch) made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. There are 128 affiliated countries in the ISF and millions of participants in the sport worldwide.

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Umpires Named For World Championship Tournament in Venezuela

Fastpitch.US — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:41:20 +0000

PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) — The countdown to the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship has hit 100 days. In just over three months Caracas, Venezuela, will host national teams from 16 different countries, competing for ten days (June 23-July 2).

The number of days until the first pitch ticking down to the century mark today is marked by the announcement of the men and women that have been chosen to umpire in the marquee ISF event. The group includes on-field officials from 15 different countries and will be supervised by ISF Director of Umpires Bob Stanton. They are:

Javier Eduardo PENARROYA, Argentina
Roberto SANCHEZ, Dominican Republic
Darren SIBRAA, Australia
Andrea MARCON, Italy
Scott RINDFLEISH, Australia
Mitsutake ARIYAMA, Japan
Bonnie GOSTOLA, Canada
Peter VONK, Netherlands
Grant HOOD, Canada
Nicky OGIER, New Zealand
Maria MEJIA MORA, Colombia
Thabo DIKGALE, South Africa
Marlene SABOGAL VIGOYA, Colombia
Christina DRUMM, USA
Tomislav OZIMEC, Croatia
Jeffrey M. SLOAN, USA
Raul GARRIDO, Cuba
Carlos Eduardo FALCON C., Venezuela
Pavel KASPERCIK, Czech Republic
Pedro Rafael JIMENEZ H., Venezuela

Mr. Stanton said that actually the hope is to add two more umpires to the above crew in the next week.

The game schedule is being finalized and will be released shortly.

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Seedings Set For World Championship

Fastpitch.US — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:21:58 +0000

PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) — In 111 days 16 countries will begin vying to be called “number 1.” Thus, preparations are nearing a fever pitch in Caracas, Venezuela, which will host the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship from June 23-July 2.

A 2010 World Championship Coordination Commission has just returned from a visit this past weekend to the South American country. ISF Secretary General Ms. LOW Beng Choo (Malaysia) headed the group that visited for two days with Venezuelan Sports Minister Victoria Mata, General Alirio Ramirez, Colonel Benavidez, and several organizing committee representatives, along with ISF VP/Latin America Jésus Suniaga, who is also the president of the Venezuela Softball Federation.
The meetings covered topics ranging from transportation and accommodations to security, and several other aspects of the event planning, including television broadcasts. The delegation also visited the playing facilities and another meeting has been scheduled in Caracas for the first week of May.

The seedings have also now been set for the fast pitch tournament, in accordance with the ISF Competition & Technical Code. The teams will be in two pools, as follows:

POOL A POOL B
Japan USA
Canada Australia
Chinese Taipei China
Netherlands Venezuela
Great Britain New Zealand
South Africa Botswana
Argentina Dominican Republic
Cuba Czech Republic

The game schedule has not yet been finalized but will be released immediately upon its conclusion.

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White Rock Renegades to Host 2010 Replacement Tournaments for Canada Cup Futures and Showcase Divisions

Fastpitch.US — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:49:11 +0000

(Surrey, BC.) With the recent announcement of the cancellation of the Women’s Division of the 2010 Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament, the original Host Team, the White Rock Renegades, will continue what the Canada Cup Host Committee worked so hard to achieve with their two youth divisions by forming a new committee to host the 2010 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. This will include a Futures (U19) Division and a Showcase (16U) Division.

The 2010 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will be held from July 5 – 11 in Surrey, British Columbia and will carry on the Canada Cup spirit of promoting the development of the great game of softball by helping young female athletes reach for their personal best.
“We decided as the Host organization that we would take on the challenge of continuing the Futures and Showcase tournaments for 2010 and give elite teams who wanted the chance to compete, the chance to do so,” stated Greg Timm, President of the White Rock Renegades and Chairman of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship.

“We’re doing so because we want to help the young athletes of today as well as honor Glen Todd’s vision and tireless work towards the development of the youth of the sport.”

Todd was the Chair and Founder of the Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament and Founder of the White Rock Renegades.
Timm was also the co-chair of the Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament since its inception.

This seven (7) day event will feature many elite level youth teams vying for the title of 2010 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Champion! These elite teams will compete on the diamonds at Softball City and Cloverdale Athletic Park showing spectators just how inspiring the future of the sport can be.
With plenty of events, continuous entertainment, and a week chock-full of high caliber fastpitch competition, the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will be a fun-filled event for the whole family.

The plans for this year’s event also features a Canada/USA Women’s national team exhibition series to run Thursday, July 8 to Sunday, July 11. Schedule and more details to be announced at a later date.

For further information on the tournament visit www.canadianopenfastpitch.com or call 604.536.9287.

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USA Softball Announces 2010 Roster and Schedule for Women’s National Team

Fastpitch.US — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:09:37 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America is pleased to announce the roster and schedule for the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team, which will kick off the season with exhibition games in Ohio, June 16-17. The team consists of 14 members from the 2009 USA Softball National Team who helped capture the Canada Cup and World Cup of Softball Gold Medals during 2009.

In addition to the 14 returnees, 2004 Olympic Champion and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) makes her return to USA Softball after taking a year off for the birth of her child. Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) makes her first-ever appearance on a USA Softball roster while Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.) is in her first year as a National Team member after representing the USA at the Pan American Qualifier last year.

The complete roster includes:
Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.)
Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.)
Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.)
Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.)
Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.)
Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.)
Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.)
Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.)
Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.)
Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.)
Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.)
Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.)
Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.)
Cat Osterman (Houston,Texas)
Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.)
Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.)

The schedule of events starts with two exhibition games, June 16 at Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton, Ohio and June 17 at Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio. The two exhibition games will feature a matchup of the USA Softball Women’s National Team and the USA Futures Team (roster to be announced at a later date). Go to http://www.ohioasasoftball.org for more information on the exhibition games.

Less than a year after winning the Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela, USA Softball will head back to Venezuela to defend their World Championship at the ISF World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. The World Championship is June 21-July 3 with USA looking for their ninth Gold Medal.

Canada will next play host to the USA at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship, July 7-11, in Surrey, B.C. and exhibition games in Whitehorse, Yukon, July 13-14.

The USA will bring it home for its fans, July 22-26, with the World Cup of Softball 5. The World Cup is one of the premier events in International Softball and will bring together 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Japan, Canada, USA Futures and three-time Olympic Gold Medalists USA. A complete schedule of events can be found at http://www.usasoftball.com/news.asp?uid=5415.

The final event on the schedule will be the Japan Cup, August 3-9, in Sendai City, Japan. The USA will look to defend their title after defeating Japan 2-0 in last year’s Japan Cup Championship Game.

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Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament (Women’s Division) Cancelled for 2010

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:10:00 +0000

Surrey, BC – The 17th Annual Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament (Women’s Division) has been cancelled for 2010 due to a change in the International Softball Federation dates for the Xll Women’s World Championships. “It is with great regret and after much deliberation due to the changes made by the International Softball Federation schedule that I have decided not to proceed with the 2010 Canada Cup and have informed Softball Canada and the Canada Cup Host Committee of this decision,“ stated Chairman, Glen Todd. “We reviewed all of our options and in the end concluded that we had no choice but to cancel the Women’s tournament. We are exploring the possibilities of staging the Canada Cup once again in 2011.”

The Canada Cup was to be held July 3 to 11 in Surrey, BC with many international teams then heading to the World Championships the following week. The 2010 ISF Xll Women’s World Championships will now be held in Caracas, Venezuela June 23 to July 2. It has recently been announced by the International Softball Federation and Softball Canada that the ISF Xlll Women’s World Championships will be held in July of 2012 in Whitehorse, Yukon. Dates are still to be determined.

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ASA Announces Athletes And Alternates For 2010 WNT

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:01:52 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 17 athletes that were offered a USA Softball Athlete Agreement for the 2010 season. The final roster for the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team will be announced in March with the team competing in the ISF Women’s World Championships, June 23-July 2, 2010 in Caracas, Venezuela as well as other events to be scheduled at a later date.

The athletes below were offered a USA Softball athlete agreement for 2010:

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.)
Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.)
Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.)
Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.)
Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.)
Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.)
Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.)
Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.)
Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.)
Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.)
Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.)
Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.)
Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.)
Cat Osterman (Houston,Texas)
Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.)
Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.)

The following 13 athletes selected from the selection camp will be alternates on the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team:

Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.)
Courtney Bures (Haymarket, Va.)
Molly Johnson (Lexington, Ken.)
Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
Jenae Leles (Fair Oaks, Calif.)
Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.)
Amber Patton (Forsyth, Ill.)
Brittany Rogers (Dacula, Ga.)
Melissa Roth (Long Beach, Calif.)
Taylor Schlopy (West Hills, Calif.)
Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Va.)

Continue to check out www.usasoftball.com for the most-up-to date info including roster and schedule.

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Whitehorse Named Site of 2012 Women’s World Softball Showdown

Fastpitch.US — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:52:40 +0000

PLANT CITY, Fla. – Whitehorse was named Wednesday by the International Softball Federation as the host city for the 2012 women’s world championship.

ISF president Don Porter said Whitehorse’s track record in hosting a successful 2008 junior men’s worlds helped its bid.

“Whitehorse will do a terrific job hosting our women’s world championship in 2012,” said Porter. “They proved as much when they organized our junior men’s world championship in 2008. Plus the community’s support for softball and their proven ability as a site for large sporting and cultural events assures us that our teams, the fans, and the media will all have a good experience that summer.”

With longer daylight hours during the summer, the ISF will be looking at playing more than 60 games over a 10-day period. The event will take place in July of 2012, with the final dates to be determined.

The 2010 event takes place from June 23 to July 2 in Venezuela.

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