Canada Will Earn 1ST WWC Medal Since 1978

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. … Continue Reading

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

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. … Continue Reading

Eight Now Headed For Playoffs

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. … Continue Reading

One Day Left In Round Robin Play

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). … Continue Reading

World Championship Day 4 Recap

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. … Continue Reading

Japan Wins Battle Of The Unbeatens

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. … Continue Reading

Olympic Rematches Highlight Day 3 Games

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. … Continue Reading

Zeros Erased Over WWC Day 2’s Ten Games

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. … Continue Reading

Japan & Venezuela Are Day 1 WWC Winners

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. … Continue Reading

Pro Softball Player Alicia Hollowell Surprises High School Athlete With Elite Award

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 … Continue Reading