The stars of the next generation are in Pingtan: A preview of the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B

On the eve of the opening of the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B, which takes place in Pingtan, China from 14-18 August, captains from the six participating teams showed their readiness to take on the world, aiming for one of the two tickets on offer to next year's Finals. With six teams competing for just two spots, the next generation of softball stars are ready to show their determination and perseverance to play every game with everything they offer.

Felicia Di Pancrazio of Italy first described their preparation leading up to their arrival at Pingtan City, “We have participated in several tournaments in Italy, competing against high-level teams like the Czech Republic U-18 and some representatives from USA. We also spent about 10 days in Canada, playing against some of the best college teams there.”

According to Italy’s head coach Andrea Longagnani, his team also “draw on all the expertise available, working with top managers and coaches from USA, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to collaborate with our team.”

Coming to this tournament with the highest ranking, Japan’s captain Yuwa Shiota clearly stated her team's goal, “Yes, our goal is to secure first place.” According to Shiota, her team has prioritised communication among players and staff in Japan. “As the representatives of Japan, we need to communicate clearly about what the team needs to achieve victory."

Netherland’s captain, Senna Grootings, told her version of the keys to excelling in the games. “Historically, we always strive to be one of the best by playing with joy. Competing with each other and keeping the joy alive helps us improve."

"Our strength lies in being a cohesive team. The Netherlands is small, so we easily come together, knowing how to communicate and support each other," said Grootings, adding: "We are excited to play against diverse teams. Our culture is rich, and we are curious about their playing styles. We are grateful for the opportunity to compete against them."

Peru captain, Wendoly Nicole Santa Cruz Laya, said her team is confident about securing a spot in the Finals. "We've prepared extensively for this tournament. Over the past two to three years, we've trained hard. With this training and effort, we are confident in our ability to win."

Luna Maria Taboas, the captain of Puerto Rico, is very clear on the current status of her team. “I think we have one of the strongest defences on the field. It is solid. A big part of this is that we are all family. We act like a family, we work as a family, and we understand each other as a family. Our chemistry is just like family."

Being the hosting team in the tournament, China’s captain Zhou Menghuan identified the home field status as something that does bring pressure, “But it motivates us too.” Zhou concurred with Luna Taboas’s idea of being a member of a big family, “We face challenges together as a family.”

China held a long-term pre-tournament training camp, which lasted more than 160 days, from which Zhou recognised that “our technique, understanding, and cohesion have greatly improved. And I'm excited to compete against all the teams in this tournament.”

“Welcome to China, and I hope you all have a wonderful experience here," said Zhou.

The WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B tournament takes place from 14-18 August. Peru and Japan open the tournament at 13:00 local time, followed by the Netherlands taking on Puerto Rico at 16:00, and China playing Italy in the night game starting at 19:00.

All games are available on GameTime, the official online streaming platform of the WBSC. Fans in China can watch the games via the Chinese Softball Association WeChat account, local sports streaming programming provider hupu.com, and miguvideo.com.