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NPF Announces Fall Tour

Fastpitch.US — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:06:21 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (September 1, 2010) – National Pro Fastpitch announced today, in cooperation with USSSA, a tour of NPF All Stars that will be focused on competing with college teams throughout the fall. The NPF “Back to School – College Tour” presented by USSSA will kick off next week on September 10th in Memphis, TN against the University of Memphis softball team.

This fall tour will follow up a very successful 2010 season for National Pro Fastpitch that culminated with the League’s Championship Series in Sulphur, LA last weekend. The USSSA Florida Pride left Sulphur with the 2010 Championship Series trophy in hand as the Chicago Bandits captured the regular season championship for the 5th time in NPF’s short history.

The NPF Back To School – College Tour presented by USSSA will make over 15 stops on college campuses across the United States competing against some of the nation’s best college programs in their fall seasons. Team NPF will be comprised of athletes from all four of the NPF Teams (Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Tennessee Diamonds, and USSSA Florida Pride) and will include an accomplished list of competitors.

The Tour will kick off on September 10th in Memphis, Tennessee and will culminate on November 15th in Daytona Beach, Florida. In between Team NPF will make stops at Ole Miss, UMKC, Missouri Western, Nebraska, Arizona, New Mexico State, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida State, Florida, San Diego State, Texas, and Daytona Beach.

Team NPF will be decorated group of professionals with well seasoned and impressive resumes including Olympic Gold Medalists and NPF Champions and Award winners. Athletes playing on the tour will include: Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, Andrea Duran, Fransesca Enea, Vicky Galindo, Alissa Haber, Kelly Kretschman, Caitlin Lever, Jessica Mendoza, Stacy May, Charlotte Morgan, Sarah Pauly, and many more.

USSSA and NPF will also be coordinating clinics at some of the Tour stops. Information on clinic times, locations, and costs will be forthcoming. All admission to games will go through the respective colleges and universities.

For more information, contact the NPF office at info@profastpitch.com or 615-232-2900; or you can contact USSSA at 800-741-3014.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The League, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).
The USSSA Florida Pride joined the NPF as a franchise team in November of 2009, operated by Florida Pride LLC. USSSA managed the Pride Team during 2009, culminating their inaugural season with a second place finish in the Championship Series and most recently captured the 2010 Championship Series Title. USSSA Florida Pride is sponsored by USSSA, the world’s largest amateur sports association, and is headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.

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USSSA Florida Pride Win 2010 NPF Cowles Cup

Fastpitch.US — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:13:32 +0000

Sulphur, La. — Facing a decisive game three in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series, the Florida Pride handed the ball to ace pitcher Cat Osterman. Osterman was electric, pitching her way to a complete game, two hit, two run, seven strikeout performance.

Osterman and the Pride out pitched and out hit the Bandits, putting seven runs off 12 hits on the scoreboard. Osterman held Chicago to just two runs on two hits, both Samantha Findlay home runs, for a 7-2 victory. The end of this game not only marked the end of the playoffs, but also the end of two illustrious careers for the Bandits — Jennie Finch and Stacy May.

Leading off the top of the second, Bandits first baseman Samantha Findlay stepped up to face off with Pride pitcher Osterman. Findlay proceeded to blast the first pitch deep over the left field wall for the solo home run, giving the Bandits a 1-0 lead.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, Pride third baseman Andrea Duran dropped a bunt back to Bandits pitcher Kristina Thorson. Duran would be out on the play, but both runners would advance to second and third base.

Lauren Lappin, struggling in earlier playoff games, redeemed herself by blasting an 0-1 change up to the left field fence, scoring two runs to give Florida a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Bandits starting pitcher Thorson was pulled following the double for Nikki Nemitz. With Lappin on second, Tonya Callahan blasted her own double, scoring Lappin for a 3-1 Pride lead.

Nemitz stopped the bleeding shortly after, getting the Bandits out of the inning down by two runs. Thorson finished the 1.1 innings of work with three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

It was rookie versus rookie as Charlotte Morgan faced off with Chicago’s Nikki Nemtiz. Morgan got the better of the two in the bottom of the third, ripping a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Pride a 4-1 lead.

With two on and no outs, Kelly Kretschman continued her hot hitting, blasting a two RBI single to right field, giving the Pride a 6-1 lead. Immediately following the single, Nemitz was replaced by Jessica Sallinger in the pitchers circle.

Nemitz finished the game with 1.2 innings pitched, seven hits for three runs and one strikeout in 12 batters faced. Bases were loaded with no outs as Sallinger stepped into the circle to face the potent Pride lineup. Sallinger stopped the bleeding as she got three straight Florida batters to ground out.

The bleeding continued just one inning later as Natasha Watley blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the Pride up 7-1.

With three outs left till elimination, Chicago’s Samantha Findlay blasted off on Cat Osterman for the second time in the game, bringing the score to 7-2. The home run would be the final time the Bandits touched the scoreboard, losing in the 2010 NPF Championship Series final to the Pride, 7-2.

The championship victory is the second consecutive National Pro Fastpitch trophy for Cat Osterman and the first ever in Florida Pride history.

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NFCA Announces 2010 Diamond Sports Catchers of the Year

Fastpitch.US — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:19:42 +0000

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports have announced the ten student-athletes who are the recipients of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award.

The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award is presented annually to the top catcher from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC and high school.

A committee comprised of head coaches in each of the 10 divisions determines the winner of their respective award. The winners of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award are as follows:

NCAA Division I
Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State University
With her selection this season, Bramlett has now won the last three Diamond Catcher of the Year awards. She ended her record-breaking career as Bulldog by batting .536 on the year, the second-highest average in all of Division I. In addition to throwing out a career-high 21 base stealers in 2010, the four-time Louisville Slugger NFCA First Team All-American also stole a NCAA-leading 61 bases. For her work on the base paths this season she earned the 2010 adidas Golden Shoe, marking the second straight year she has won both the adidas Golden Shoe and Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year awards

NCAA Division II
Alyssa Shirey, Valdosta State University
Shirey helped guide the Blazers all the way to the National Championship game this season by hitting .432 and finished the year with one of the best slugging percentages in all of Division II at 0.814. Behind the plate, she threw out nine of 26 base runners, while in front of the plate she hit 20 home runs, the fourth most in Division II.

NCAA Division III
Tiffany Kruse, Luther College
Kruse started all 49 games for the Norse in 2010 and helped guide them to 42-7 record and a National Championship appearance. Kruse was an offensive force for Luther this season, leading the team in RBIs, home runs and stolen bases with 58, 18 and 14, respectively. Her 18 home runs was not only a school single-season record, but it was also the third most in all of Division III. Behind the plate, Kruse was equally as dangerous, throwing out nine of 23 would-be base stealers.

NAIA
Brittney Fisher, Bethel College (Ind.)
Fisher helped lead the Pilots to the school’s first-ever NAIA quarterfinal appearance this season by batting .404 on the year. By blasting 11 home runs, Fisher finished the season ranked 39th amongst all NAIA players. As a catcher, she played a key part in the Pilots’ deep run into the national tournament by throwing out 11 of 20 runners in 2010.

NJCAA Division I
Cyd Allen, Salt Lake Community College
Allen helped lead the Bruins to a top six finish at the national tournament by going 90-for-173 on the year for an astounding batting average of .520, the fourth best in NJCAA Division I. She also drove in a division leading 91 runs, while hitting for extra bases 33 times. On the field, Allen committed just four errors in 428 chances for Salt Lake, in addition to throwing out 12 of 27 base stealers.

NJCAA Division II
Ashley Heiberger, Iowa Lakes Community College
Heiberger was a major factor in the Lakers’ third place national finish in 2010, due in large part to her 39 extra base hits, 53 stolen bases and NJCAA Division II leading 101 RBIs. Behind the plate this season, Heiberger committed only four errors on 472 chances for a fielding percentage of .992, ranking her in the top 20 nationally.

NJCAA Division III
Val Karas, Joliet Junior College
Karas hit .396 the season for the Lady Wolves with 57 RBIs, 42 runs, 13 home runs and 13 doubles. She also played a key role as catcher and helped lead Joliet to third place at the Region IV tournament.

Cal JC
Adriana Perez, Antelope Valley College
Perez was the top hitter in Cal JC this season with a batting average of .575 to go along with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. As catcher, Perez helped lead the Marauders to the state tournament and a sixth-straight Foothills Conference crown by committing just three errors in 209 chances and throwing out 16 of 29 base runners from behind the dish.

NWAACC
Shaila Rivers, Walla Walla Community College
Rivers helped lead the Warriors to a league tournament berth this season by coming up big at the plate with a .417 batting average to go along with 15 doubles and 33 RBIs.

High School
Sarah Mooney, North Mecklenburg High School (N.C.)
Mooney was an integral component of the Viking’s state tournament run this year, hitting an astounding .605 for the season while driving in 40 runs and scoring 42 of her own. The James Madison commitment also showed power from the plate in 2010 by hitting 27 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, for a slugging percentage of 1.222. From behind the plate, Mooney was nearly flawless, throwing out 15 of 30 base runners and ending the year with no errors in 209 chances.

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USA Tested, But Tops Mexico at Junior Worlds Qualifying

Fastpitch.US — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:15:16 +0000

BOGOTA, Colombia — Despite a performance that included seven errors, the 2010-11 USA Softball Women’s Junior National Team beat Mexico 15-3 in six innings to improve to 4-0 at the III Pan American Championship (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia. Team USA closes out pool play Thursday with a doubleheader against Canada and Brazil.

“We had some shaky defensive moments but I am really proud of our offensive performance today,” said Head Coach Karen Johns (Starkville, Miss.). “On the day that we needed them the most, they stepped up to the plate and bailed us out. Our pitching was on target again but our offense is what got the job done for us against Mexico.”

The bunt was the problem for the Americans, as Devanie Gutierrez scored Mexico’s only earned run the top of the second when she advanced home on a sacrifice bunt from Maria Mercado Contreras. Gutierrez reached on a bunt then advanced when third baseman Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif.) misplayed a Grecia Garcia Silva bunt. A bunt from Maria Mata Fuentes advanced Gutierrez to third. Ivette Lopez Gonzales, bunting, then reached on another error that scored Garcia. After Goodacre misplayed a bunt from Saidy Lopez that allowed her to reach, Maria Gandanilla grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Stefania Aradillas Alanis started out the third with a single to right center. She advanced to second when the next batter, Kim-Li Gil Sanchez, reached on an error by third baseman Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), who replaced Goodacre. Alanis advanced to third on a Gutierrez sacrifice bunt. She scored on an error by catcher Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla.), who left the plate unattended when it was thought the batter, Fuentes, had struck out on what turned out to be the second strike in a 1-2 count. Fuentes later lined out with a highlight reel catch that sent shortstop Shelby Pendley (Albuquerque, N.M.) leaping into the air.

“Shelby’s catch was amazing,” Johns said. “It was incredible. Not only did she get us out of that inning, I think she really shifted the momentum back to our team. It was a real turning point.”

The USA defense was able to shut down Mexico in the fourth and fifth, then the Red, White and Blue offense took over, scoring 10 runs in the sixth. Chamberlain doubled to left field, scoring Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and moving Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz.) to third base. With the game at 6-3, Hallie Wilson (North Tustin, Calif.) doubled, scoring Haeger, who singled, and moving Chamberlain to third. Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif.) then walked. An illegal pitch from Lopez, who moved from third to pitcher, scored Chamberlain and advanced Wilson and Cordes. Wilson and Cordes later scored on two more illegal pitches.

After Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif.) singled to shortstop, Mercades Arzapalo Aguilar took the circle for Mexico. She allowed Lahners to double, scoring Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif.), who reached on a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Haeger doubles to score Lahners. A triple from Chamberlain scored Haeger. On a passed ball, Chamberlain scored. Wilson grounded out to end the 10-run sixth.

Team USA had 17 hits, including five doubles and two triples.

Cheyanne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) worked the first three innings for Team USA, striking out three while allowing all three of Mexico’s hits. Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) worked the next three innings, striking out six.

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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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Jennie Finch Announces Retirement From USA

Fastpitch.US — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:24:58 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY – Arguably the most recognized softball player in the World, Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) will hang up her Red, White and Blue uniform as she announced her retirement from USA Softball effective after the 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball presented by Six Flags, announced today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America. During her 10 year career with USA Softball, Finch has emerged as an icon bringing recognition to the sport on levels transcending the diamond.

“I feel an outpouring of gratitude for so much and for so many that it’s really hard to put into words. Playing USA Softball has been more to me than I ever imagined possible. I could never have dreamed what an amazing ride this has been,” said Finch. “I have been honored with so many amazing opportunities and I have to credit so many people; from the women before me to everyone at USA Softball to the fans and everyone involved in the sport who have made this such a special part of my life.”

Finch entered the USA Softball National Team program in 2001 at the Pan American Qualifier. She has been on the National Team every year since then and in 2004 earned an Olympic Gold Medal in Athens and in 2008 an Olympic Silver Medal in Beijing.

“To be a little girl, wearing USA stuff, watching the Olympics and then to grow older and to compete alongside the women you have admired is unbelievable. It’s so surreal that I was able to play with my role models in Leah (O’Brien-Amico), Lisa (Fernandez) and Laura (Berg.),” said Finch. “There is so much history, pride and tradition with USA Softball and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it for the last 10 years. It has taken me places I have never dreamt of and given me relationships that go way beyond the softball field. I am thankful to my teammates, coaches, USA Softball, sponsors, my friends and family who have allowed me to not only create my dreams but to live them.”

Along with her Olympic medals, the 6’1” pitcher is a three-time World Cup Champion, three time World Champion and a two-time Pan American Champion. She spent most of her time in the circle, but recently has emerged at the plate and defensively at first base. Her most recent Championship win in the circle was at the 2009 Japan Cup where she threw a one-hitter against 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Japan as well as hit a two-run double to lead the USA to a 2-0 defeat over Japan. In 2009, Finch was also named the USA Softball Player of the Year.

“Jennie has meant so much to the sport and the growth of it. She has brought it to a whole new level of recognition as a worldwide sport. She has been instrumental in growing the sport both on the fielder as a pitcher, player and hitter but also as a person,” said ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “She is one who has never turned down an autograph or photo requests and truly appreciates her fans. She is as fan friendly as anyone out there. She has a respect for the young athletes who aspire to be her because she was that young girl at one time. I know she will continue to do what she can to help grow the sport and we at ASA appreciate all the time she spent with USA Softball. She will always be a great person in the sport of softball but more importantly a good person.”

Finch came on the international scene in after a stellar career at the University of Arizona. She set the NCAA record for consecutive wins with 60 and was a two-time Honda Award winner for Nation’s top softball player. Outside of softball she was named one of People’s Most Beautiful people in 2004, was a member of The Celebrity Apprentice cast in 2008 and most recently she earned recognition for becoming the first female to hit a home run at the MLB Legends and Celebrities Softball Game.

“It’s a sad day for the sport of softball,” said the only four-time softball Olympian Laura Berg. “Softball is losing one of its greatest icons with the retirement of Finch. She has always been and always will be a great model for kids. She has been an amazing ambassador for the sport in the U.S. and globally. I’m honored to call her my teammate and friend.”

At age 29, Finch has played on several USA Softball rosters, being a rookie at age 19 but now a decorated veteran. During this time, she has touched the lives of many former and current teammates who will forever remember the athlete and most importantly person she is.

“Being able to see the sport grow so much in the past 10 years is such an honor. It’s incredible how much it has grown not only in the United States but also internationally. Hopefully I will continue to be involved with the development of the sport in some way just not in uniform. USA Softball will always be part of me and I plan to work in proving more opportunities in the future.”

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UCLA Named NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff Of The Year

Fastpitch.US — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:41:57 +0000

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The coaches of the 2010 NCAA Division I National Champions UCLA have been named as the 2010 National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced on Wednesday.

The Bruins went 50-11 on the year and were led by fourth-year head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, assistant coaches Lisa Fernandez and Gina Veccione and volunteer assistant coach Natasha Watley.

UCLA finished the 2010 regular season in second place in the Pac-10 and earned the fifth-overall seed with an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. UCLA beat St. Mary’s (CA), San Diego State and Fresno State to finish the regional round with an undefeated record for the 19th time in program history.

The Bruins then went on to sweep Louisiana-Lafayette in the Los Angeles Super Regional to earn their 24th trip to the Women’s College World Series. In Oklahoma City, UCLA capped its perfect post-season record by going 5-0, including two wins over conference rival Arizona in the championship series, to earn the 11th national title in program history.

Just the third head coach in the history of UCLA softball, Inouye-Perez now joins her predecessors, NFCA Hall of Famers Sharon Backus and Sue Enquist, in the ranks of the school’s head coaches that have led the Bruins to a combined 106 team national championships, the most by any school in the NCAA.

The Bruins had two players selected to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team this season, GiOnna DiSalvatore and the 2010 WCWS Most Outstanding Player Megan Langenfeld earning the honor.

For their work this season, Inouye-Perez and staff also earned the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year award.

Other regional winners this season were:

Central Region – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Co-Head Coaches: Michael Lotief & Stefni Lotief
Assistant Coach: Chris Malveaux

Louisiana was 45-18 this year and won both the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, marking the third straight season that they claimed both titles. The Ragin’ Cajuns then won the Baton Rouge Regional, which included then No. 17 LSU and No. 20 Texas A&M, and advanced to the super regionals for the second time in three years. Louisiana-Lafayette was led this season by first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region selections Vallie Gaspard and Christi Orgeron and second-team selection Donna Bourgeois.

Great Lakes Region – University of Michigan

Head Coach: Carol Hutchins
Associate Head Coach: Bonnie Tholl
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Brundage
Volunteer Coach: Becky Marx Keogh

Michigan won their third straight Big Ten title in 2010, marking the 13th time in the last 18 years that they have won the conference crown. The Wolverines then defeated Wright State once and then No. 24 Notre Dame twice to claim the Ann Arbor Regional championship, before falling to Tennessee in the super regionals. The Wolverines had four Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-Americans this season in Jordan Taylor, Dorian Shaw, Maggie Viefhaus and Nikki Nemitz.

Mid-Atlantic Region – Fordham University

Head Coach: Bridget Orchard
Assistant Coaches: Emily Friedman & Bob Baxter
Pitching Coach: Mike Forsythe

Fordham earned their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament this season and set seven new school single-season records including most wins with 49. Fordham finished second in the Atlantic 10 in both the regular season and the tournament and earned an at-large bid to the College Park Regional. The Rams defeated Maryland twice en route to the regional title game, where they fell to then No. 11 Oklahoma. Fordham was led this season by 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Jen Mineau, who was just one of three pitchers to be named to this year’s first team.

Mideast Region – East Carolina University

Head Coach: Tracy Kee
Associate Head Coach: Natalie Kozlowski
Graduate Assistant Coach: Keli Harrell

East Carolina claimed their first Conference USA regular season and tournament titles in 2010 and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years. In regional action, ECU eliminated both Iona and seventh-seeded Texas, before falling to BYU in the final. Helping lead the Pirates this season was third team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and two-time Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Toni Paisley.

Midwest Region – University of Missouri

Head Coach: Ehren Earleywine
Assistant Coaches: Melissa Tucci and Pete D’Amour
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Phil Bradley

Missouri, who spent much of the season ranked in the Top 10, took second place in this year’s Big 12 tournament and received an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. This year’s appearance marked the 14th time in school history and the fifth in six years that they were included in the field of 64. Entering regional play as the host and ninth seed, the Tigers went 3-0 and defeated DePaul and then No. 18 Illinois twice to claim the championship. Missouri defeated No. 14 Oregon, 2-0, in the super regionals to earn their second straight trip and fifth overall to the WCWS. The Tigers’ 51 wins in 2010 set a new school record, breaking last year’s mark of 50. Helping guide Missouri back to the WCWS this season was Louisville Slugger/NFCA third team All-American and WCWS All-Tournament selection Rhea Taylor.

Northeast Region – Long Island University

Head Coach: Roy Kortmann
Assistant Coaches: Bill Gehrke & Krystal Mejia Forbes
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jessie DePippo

Long Island claimed the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2010, earning a berth in to the NCAA tournament. The NEC Championship was the third in four years for the Blackbirds, who finished the season at 39-18. In the Amherst Regional, the Blackbirds defeated then No. 21 Massachusetts and Boston University, but eventually fell to 13th-seeded Arizona State in the title game. The tournament run not only marked the best post-season finish in program history, but the most wins as well, with 39. Long Island placed three players, Brynn Lewis, Blaire Porter and Bianca Mejia, on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region first team and two, Mariesha Marker and Chelsea Martinson, on the second team.

Pacific Region – University of Washington

Head Coach: Heather Tarr
Assistant Coaches: Gina Carbonatto, Lance Glasoe, J.T. Amico
Student Assistant Coach: Dru Hester

Washington spent the entire regular season as the No. 1 team in the nation and went 17-4 in league play to earn the program’s first Pac-10 championship since 2000 and third overall. The Huskies earned the right to host a regional and went 3-0 in the event to advance to the Seattle Super Regional against then 11th-ranked Oklahoma. After dropping the first game to the Sooners, Washington took the final two games to earn their 10th trip to the WCWS. The Huskies had three first team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans this season in Danielle Lawrie, Niki Williams and Jenn Salling. In addition, Lawrie was also named as the USA Softball Player of the Year.

South Region – University of Alabama

Head Coach: Patrick Murphy
Associate Head Coach: Alyson Habetz
Assistant Coach: Vann Stuedeman
Graduate Assistant Coach: Ashley Holcombe

Alabama claimed the SEC regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history in 2010 and were named the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Alabama improved to 32-9 all-time in regional play by going a perfect 3-0 in the Tuscaloosa Regional to claim its sixth straight regional crown. In the Tuscaloosa Super Regional, the Tide took game one from Hawaii, but dropped the final two games of the series to end a season-high 28 game win streak and finish the year with a 52-11 record. Alabama was led in part this season by Louisville Slugger/NFCA second team All-Americans Charlotte Morgan and Kayla Braud and third team honoree Kelsi Dunne.

Southeast Region – University of Tennessee

Co-Head Coaches Karen Weekly & Ralph Weekly
Assistant Coach: Marty McDaniel
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Marc Weekly

Tennessee finished third in the Western Division of the SEC in 2010 and advanced to the semi-finals of the post-season tournament. The Lady Vols, who went 49-15 on the year, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and were given the 15th seed. Tennessee went 3-0 in the Knoxville Regional, before moving on to the Ann Arbor Super Regional where it shocked then No. 2 Michigan by eliminating the Wolverines in two games. At the WCWS, Tennessee won its first two games to advance to the semi-finals out of the winner’s bracket, but lost to Arizona twice to bow out of the tournament. The Lady Vols had two Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American selections, with Raven Chavanne and Kat Dotson earning third team honors.

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Finch Throws Perfect Game

Fastpitch.US — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:43:30 +0000

Tension was thick in the ball park as Crystl Bustos stepped up to bat with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Not because she could win the game for the Akron Racers (12-7), but because she had the opportunity to ruin Jennie Finch’s (1-1) no hitter.

Bustos would ground out to Christine Knauer at short stop to end the game with a 2-0 Bandits (11-8) win.

Stacy May started off the game strong for the Bandits with a solo shot over the left field fence in the first inning. Finch helped herself out in the fifth inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to score Vicky Galindo for the final score of 2-0.

Finch of course pitched a great game, notching eleven strikeouts on the night including all three Akron batters in the sixth, but had the backup of her team mates, “Our defense, especially (Ashley) Holcombe came up huge. She caught so many fouled third strikes,” said Finch.

Everybody’s stomachs dropped in the seventh inning when leadoff hitter Lisa Modglin ripped a hard line drive on a 1-2 count, but Galindo’s glove at second base would reach just far enough to snag the ball for the out.

This is Finch’s second perfect game with the Bandits, her first coming in the 2009 season against the Philadelphia Force.

With Finch and others being away with the National Team recently, the pitching staff for the Bandits has had to work extra hard, “I owe this team,” said Finch, “the pitching staff has endured a lot of innings.”

Needless to say, the Bandits are glad to have Finch on their side.

Tonight’s win ties the series up at one game a-piece. Game three between the Bandits and Racers will take place tomorrow, Saturday, July 10 at 7:05 back at Judson University in Elgin.

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Alissa Haber And Women’s National Team Up For USOC Awards

Fastpitch.US — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:50:31 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY — The USA Softball Women’s National Team and Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.) are nominees for June 2010 awards from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The team is being considered for the Team of the Month Award for their Gold Medal performance at the recent ISF Women’s World Championship while Haber is being considered for the Female Athlete of the Month.

Fan votes count for 10-percent of the total votes while votes of the Olympic Family comprise the rest. The public is allowed to vote via Twitter through the U.S. Olympic Committee’s page at www.twitter.com/USOlympic/. Vote for the WNT by going to http://twtpoll.com/9ukf43 and vote for Haber by going to http://twtpoll.com/puta9c.

In her first appearance at the Worlds, Haber made her presence known, setting several records while helping Team USA to a seventh consecutive World Championship on July 2. Haber’s most impressive performance at Worlds came on June 17 against 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Australia. She went 3-for-3, hitting two doubles, with one run and four RBI.

In June, Haber played seven games, starting all in the outfield. She went 14-for-20 at the plate with one walk for a .700 average (.615 for the event overall). Even excluding the two World Championship games that fell in July, Haber set the record for most RBI in a World Championship, scoring 19 (20 overall) to push her past Jessica Mendoza’s (Camarillo, Calif.) 16. She ranks fourth for most career RBI at Worlds, trailing three-time World team member Mendoza by only 10 RBI. Haber is now tied for first for the most doubles in a single Worlds, hitting all seven in June, and is second for most hits with 14 of 16 also coming in June.
The USA Softball Women’s National Team went 8-0 in June, en route to winning a seventh-consecutive and ninth-overall Women’s World Championship on July 2 by shutting out 2008 Olympic Champion Japan in Caracas, Venezuela. The USA outscored opponents 84-6 in June (95-6 overall), highlighted by a 7-0, five inning win over host country Venezuela and a 20-0, three inning victory over Botswana. Four June victories were shutouts.

In June, the Americans went 79-for-186 at the plate, averaging .683 as a team. The team hit 18 doubles, including Haber’s seven, nine triples, three by Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and four home runs, three from Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.). USA batters were walked 30 times and even more impressive, struck out only 21 times in 186 at-bats.

In June 2010, pitchers Finch, Abbott (Salinas, Calif.), Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) and Women’s National Team rookie Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) all went 2-0 for a combined .80 ERA. Three struck out 13 batters each while Osterman struck out 21, giving the pitching staff a combined 60 strikeouts. The pitchers only allowed only 16 hits in eight games, including two extra base hits. USA fielders had two errors, compared to the opponents combined 17.

Overall for the Worlds, the 2010 team and team members rank highly. They now rank No. 1 in the history of the World Championships in batting average (.402), runs scored (95), RBI (78), walks (37) and triples (10). They are third in hits (92), second in doubles (20) and fifth in home runs (5).

The 229 at-bats ranks the 2010 team fourth. Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.), Haber and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) rank 1-2-3 in event batting average with .625, .615 and .542 respectively. Haber is tied for first with the most doubles (7). Cochran is tied for second in triples with three. Finch is tied for third in home runs with three. Mendoza, Watley, Cochran and Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) were walked five times, tying them for second.
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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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Pro Softball Player Alicia Hollowell Surprises High School Athlete With Elite Award

Fastpitch.US — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:34:12 +0000

Former U.S. National Softball Team pitcher and Akron Racer Alicia Hollowell helped surprise Kasey Fagan of Dunnellon, Florida this morning with the 2009-10 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award. Alicia surprised Kasey with the news that she is this year’s winner by dropping into a Dunnellon High School softball team breakfast this morning that the girls thought was in celebration of their recent State Championship

This is the 25th anniversary of the Gatorade Player of the Year program, which honors the top athletes in high school sports.

Kasey is an exceptional athlete. The 5-foot-11 senior pitcher and third baseman led her high school (33-1) to their second straight Class 4A Florida state championship this past season, posting a 26-1 record and a 0.57 earned run average along with 239 strikeouts. A two-time Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year, Kasey recorded three no-hitters, allowing only 56 hits in holding opponents to a .095 batting average in 147 innings this spring. At the plate, the 2009 Class 4A State Tournament MVP batted .574 with eight home runs, 53 runs scored, 61 RBI and amassed a slugging percentage of .989.

In celebration of the larger 25th anniversary, Gatorade will host 10 polls online that will allow consumers to decide who is the greatest all-time Gatorade Player of the Year in boys football, girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, boys baseball, girls softball, and boys and girls track & field. You can cast your vote for your favorite athlete of all-time once per sport, per day at http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

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