19/07/2024 3 Minute Read

USA and Japan to compete for Women's Softball World Title

In the second Super Round Day, the defending World Champions defeated the Netherlands 7-0 in five innings. Japan outscored Canada 7-2. The World Championship Final is scheduled for Saturday, July 20. In the Placement Round, China beat Puerto Rico 4-1 in eight innings, and Australia triumphed over Italy 3-1.

World No. USA and No. 3 Japan will compete for the title in the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 in Castions di Strada on Saturday, July 20.

On the last day of the Super Round, Japan defeated No. 5 Canada, while USA beat No. 8 Netherlands.

"The trek to get to this point was not easy," commented Japan's head coach, Reika Utsugi, through an interpreter, "but we got where we wanted to be. We have a lot of younger players. We struggled at bat against the US on Thursday, and we will need to adjust."

USA head coach Heather Tarr said: "We have been together as a group since July 9. We feel like we are getting started now, but tomorrow will be our last game together. We will do our best for US Softball."

Japan will likely give the ball to Miu Goto. The 21-year-old left-handed pitcher has had a heavy workload so far, appearing in 17.2 innings.

"I don't see a problem," commented Utsugi. "We prepared well to perform at this level. Goto knew she would need to work hard to get us to the final. I think it will be an important experience for the young player she still is."

When asked about relying on the short ball against USA, Utsugi stated, "Bunting and the running game are very important, but it will depend on the situation. We will try to adjust to the United States and the game's situations."

Coach Tarr wouldn't reveal if Megan Faraimo will be her choice as a starting pitcher.
"We have a tough decision to make. We have four good pitchers, and we will sit down and go through our options tonight."

Tarr believes the Japanese running game may prove dangerous for the defending champions.
"They are very good at putting pressure on the opponent and even better when they can collect information."

Standings Super Round Standings Friday evening

The Placement Round Report

The Super Round Day 2 as it happened

Japan-Canada 7-2

World No. 3 Japan will face No. 1 USA in the World Championship Final. The Olympic Champions outscored and outhit, 10-5, No. 5 Canada. Starting pitcher Miu Goto limited the opponents to a couple of hits over 4.2 innings.

Japan gave the ball to Miu Goto. Canada responded with Dawn Bodrug.

Larissa Franklin led off the top of the second with a base hit, becoming the first runner to reach base.

Japan took the lead in the bottom of the second on three consecutive singles by Eri Shimoyama,

Shiho Suto and Ayana Karoji. Erika Polidori doubled up Shiho at the plate to stop the potential rally and end the inning.

Bodrug walked Yui Sakamoto to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Suto followed with an infield single and Yume Kiriishi drove Bodrug's third pitch to left-centre for a deep one-out RBI single.

Bodrug walked the bases loaded. She got Nakagawa to pop out to left field for the second out. Ishikawa followed with a two-RBI single to extend Japan's lead to 4-0.

The Olympic champions broke the score open on a two-RBI double by Hotaru Tsukamoto.

Katie Korstrom took over for Bodrug to get out of the inning.

Canada got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Kianna Jones off reliever Mio Sakamoto.

Korstrom hit Sakamoto to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Japan's third baseman advanced on a sacrifice bunt, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on Karoji's squeeze play.

Larissa Franklin was the last Canadian to give up. Her RBI double added a run for Canada in the top of the sixth, cutting the gap to 7-2.

Canada will play the bronze-medal game against the Netherlands at 17:00 (local time) on Saturday, July 20.

GAME REPORT

USA-Netherlands

World No. 1 USA shut out the Netherlands in five innings to head undefeated to the final.

Ally Carda started for the United States, while the Netherlands picked Lisa Hop.

Hannah Flippen put the US on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first when she turned Hop's second pitch into a two-run home run.

Lindsey Meadows replaced Hop in the bottom of the second. She walked the first batter she faced, then allowed Maya Brady a single and Hailye McCleney a double. The US extended the lead to 5-0 on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Bates.

USA replaced Carda with Kelly Maxwell.

USA scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to RBI hits by their pinch hitters. Tiare Jennings singled, and Rachel Garcia doubled to end the game by the run-difference rule.

GAME REPORT