The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) joins the worldwide chorus of support following the successful reception and endorsement of key Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms at the extraordinary IOC session in Monaco today, particularly regarding the adoption of a more flexible Olympic sports programme.
On behalf of the worldwide baseball and softball family, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari congratulated and thanked IOC President Thomas Bach, the IOC Members and working groups for leading and driving the reforms, which sport experts say will open a new chapter in world sport.
World Baseball Softball Confederation
“The WBSC fully shares the IOC’s vision of Olympic reform under President Bach, and stands ready to support and assist the Olympic Movement in implementing the reforms, wherever baseball and softball can help,” President Fraccari said.
“Above all the Olympic Games is the world’s most inspirational sporting event, and the Agenda 2020 reforms will inspire more young people and women, who are the future of all sports, to take up more sport and to participate in sport and in the values of sport, and make sport more relevant to the next generation, and as a catalyst for change in our communities and societies,” President Fraccari said.
President Fraccari indicated that the WBSC would wait for guidance and direction from the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 organisers to determine how the new reforms could involve baseball and softball.
As potential Olympic sports, baseball and softball — sports that embody and promote gender-equality — would also help to take the Olympic values and focus on sport to 65 million players and 250 million fans at all levels worldwide, and make the Olympic Games more relevant in more regions of the world where baseball and softball are growing in popularity, especially among young people and women, and have become national sports.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari credit ibaf.org
President Fraccari said that as the world governing body overseeing baseball and softball, the WBSC is humbled by the opportunity provided by the reforms to be included in the Olympic Games which enable future Olympic host cities and organising committees, including Tokyo 2020, to include additional sporting events in the Olympic sports programme, which could potentially include baseball and softball, two of the most popular sports in the world that have experienced a wave of global development in recent years.
The new more flexible approach to Olympic sport approved by the IOC session has provided a massive boost of optimism and hope that the changes could result in baseball and softball joining the Olympic Games sports programme.
“It’s like when the manager calls you off the bench to pick up the bat and warm up, and the bases are loaded,” President Fraccari said. “All you want to do is swing for the fences!
“Today, there is excitement circulating around the baseball and softball world and there is great hope that our athletes will now have a real opportunity — the pinnacle and highest honour in our sport — to play for their country, aiming to win an Olympic gold medal.
“The reforms herald a new era for sports and athletes worldwide, and provide important hope and inspiration for sports and athletes wanting to participate in the world’s most important global sporting event, the Olympic Games,” said President Fraccari.
The world governing body leader was confident that if included, baseball and softball could significantly enhance the Olympic experience, building on the vast fan, player and community support levels for the bat-and-ball sports worldwide.
“While baseball and softball have very deep historic and contemporary connections in sporting communities and at all levels of society in Japan, the sports are experiencing worldwide popularity and growth, with new as well as existing and upgraded venues able to host the sports in both traditional and new markets in Africa, the Middle East as well as in Europe,” he said.
President Fraccari said the huge legions of young people and women who play and support baseball and softball at all levels across the world, along with strong sponsor, broadcaster and viewing audiences and support would increase levels of excitement and engagement at the Olympic Games.
President Fraccari said the WBSC had devised a new shorter and more compact format for Olympic baseball and softball which included the use of a shared and existing competition venue in order to ensure the baseball and softball events were sustainable and affordable and leave meaningful sporting and community legacies for young people and women after the Games.
Tokyo 2020 chief, Yoshiro Mori, says baseball/softball in 2020 would be a “big plus”.
As support for baseball and softball to be included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games continues to mount across Japan, with a growing chorus from all parts of the globe, the political group consisting of 67 Diet Members campaigning for baseball and softball at the Olympic Games assembled in Tokyo for the second time in a month last Tuesday, November 18 in the Japanese Diet.
Kazuhiro Tawa, Senior Advisor of Baseball Federation of Japan, and Taeko Utsugi, Vice President of Japan Softball Association — as well as World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) executive member — made presentations to the supportive Diet members, exchanged ideas and were encouraged to expand the baseball/softball Olympic inclusion campaign.
The Diet Federation members from the LDP of Japan recognized the ongoing work by the baseball/softball family, including the screening of the promotional video on the stadium jumbotron during the recent WBSC-sanctioned “Japan Series” between the top-ranked Japanese National Baseball Team, Samurai Japan, and the MLB All-Stars at the Tokyo Dome, and University/High School Baseball Championship at Meiji Jingu Stadium.
Immediately following the Diet meeting, the 40-proposal Olympic Agenda 2020 reform programme was released from the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The potential reforms being introduced by the IOC would allow host cities to propose the inclusion of one or more events for their games — a move which would clear the way for baseball and softball to be included in the 2020 Games.
IOC Vice-President John Coates, who was visiting Tokyo with his IOC Coordination Commission team, and Chairman of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organizing Committee Yoshiro Mori, spoke to the media on how the IOC President Thomas Bach’s reform agenda could affect planning for Tokyo 2020.
“In the case of Japan, including baseball and softball would be a great idea,” Mori said at the news conference last Wednesday. “The two sports are very popular in Japan and having them on the program would be a big plus.”
World Baseball Softball Confederation
The Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms will be put to a vote by the full IOC membership at a special session in Monaco on December 8-9.
The first/last bid from the new world governing body, WBSC, to include baseball and softball in the 2020 Olympic Games was at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September 2013, where wrestling was voted back onto the official Olympic Programme the day after Tokyo was announced as the host of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Day 9 of the XIV Women’s Softball World Championship in Haarlem (Netherlands) again started with a brief and heavy rain shower. That led to the delay of the scheduled games in the Championship Round. But when the first game got underway around 2:30pm, it stayed dry. There was sun and there was a great atmosphere in the stadium at the Nol Houtkamp Sportpark in Haarlem.
And so, all games in the play-offs could be played and that not only led to several eliminations, but also the first team to reach the Grand Final. Reigning champion Japan outscored the United States 6-1 in the first semi-final to repeat as finalist.
And so, the 14th edition of the Women’s Softball World Championship is now down to the final three, which are the same three medalist of two years ago.
Game C3: Australia vs. Japan, 0-4
Japan became the first team to reach the semi-finals with a 4-0 shut out win over Australia. Japan outscored the Aussies 9-2, while Australia committed four defensive errors. With the loss, Australia would have to wait for the outcome of the game between the Netherlands and China to find out who their next opponent would be. Japan had to wait for the conclusion of USA vs. Canada to learn it would face the Americans in the semi-final later today.
The game remained scoreless in the first three innings. Japan got an opportunity in the second inning, but then left runners on second and third base.
In the fourth inning, Japan opened the score with two runs. Eri Yamada led off with a single, moved on a sacrifice bunt and, after a pitching change, scored on a single by Haruna Sakamoto. With two outs, the latter advanced to third base on a single by Rie Nagayoshi, then scored on a throwing error.
The Asian squad doubled its lead in the fifth at-bat, thanks to an one-out single by Misato Kawano and a 2-out single by Yukiyo Mine.
For Japan, Yukiko Ueno again dominated as pitcher. The veteran hurler struck out seven and gave up only two hits in the six innings she pitched. Sayuri Yamane then threw the seventh inning. Ueno retired the first ten batters she faced, then gave up an one-out single to Melinda Weaver in the fourth. With Australia trailing 2-0, Weaver went on to advance to third base, but was left there.
In the sixth, Stacey Porter was the second Australian batter to single off of Ueno, but was stranded on first base. Yamane then retired the side in the seventh, striking out the final two batters.
W-Yukiko Ueno (3-0), L-Vanessa Stokes (2-2).
Game C4: Canada vs. United States, 1-6
Sixteen minutes after completion of the game between Japan and Australia, the confrontation between Canada and the USA ended. Team USA won 6-1 and with that became the second team to secure a spot in the semi-finals, which were to be played later in the evening. Canada had to wait for the result of the New Zealand vs. Chinese Taipei confrontation to learn whom they would meet in their next game. The USA was to meet Japan in the semi-final later in the evening.
Like the previous game, this match-up also remained scoreless in the first three innings, then both team scored in the fourth. From the fifth inning on, the USA turned the game its way.
The USA, which had left four runners in the first three at-bats, took an 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Samantha Fischer (who went 3-for-4) led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt and was replaced by pinch-runner Destinee Martinez. The bases then got loaded when Amanda Chidester walked and Kellie Fox was hit by a pitch A single by Haylie McCleney brought in the first run. That led to a pitching change, two fly outs followed and so, the USA left the bases loaded. In the bottom of the fourth, Canada came along side when Carey-Leigh Thomas led off with a single, stole second base, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Erika Polidori.
In the fifth, the USA started to take charge of the game when it re-took the lead thanks to a 2-run homer by Michelle Moultrie. Three runs were then added in the sixth inning. With two outs, Raven Chavanne reached on a bunt single and Kelsey Stewart singled, then Lauren Gibson hit a line drive home run to right centerfield to make it 6-1.
Sara Nevins, who had taken over the American pitching in the fourth, retired the side in the fifth and sixth inning. After having retired nine batters in a row, she gave up a bunt single to Joey Lye, then was relieved by Jackie Traina, who struck out the next batter to end the game.
Game C2: New Zealand vs. Chinese Taipei, 0-3
Chinese Taipei advanced to the next round by winning 3-0 vs. New Zealand, which was eliminated because of this loss. With the win, Taipei knew it would meet Canada in its next game. Pei Chun Lin batted in all three runs for Taipei. With the loss, New Zealand ended in a tie for seventh place with China.
Both teams had five base hits in this game, but the one hit by Taipei came at the right moment.
Chinese Taipei took an 1-0 lead in the third inning. With one out, Miao Yi Chen singled, moved on a grounder and scored on a 2-out single by Pei Chun Lin, who later stranded at second base herself.
The second run was added in the fifth and again Miao Yi Chen and Pei Chun Lin were involved. This time, Chen led off with a walk, advanced on a failed pick-off and a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Lin.
In the seventh, Chinese Taipei added an insurance run. Yu Han Liu led off with a single, moved on a wild pitch and scored on a 2-out double by Pei Chun Lin, who was credited with third run batted in this game.
Hui Lin Chung made her sixth start for Taipei, went the distance and struck out seven batters. She never allowed a New Zealand runner to reach second base. Three runners were caught stealing by catcher Szu Shih Li and in the seventh inning, the Taipei defense ended the game with a double play. Chung earned her fifth victory of the tournament, one shy of the World Championship record, which is held by Lorraine Woolley (Australia), Nancy Welborn (USA) and Yukiko Ueno (Japan).
W-Hui Lin Chung (5-1), L-Jennifer Feret (2-2).
Game C1: China vs. Netherlands, 5-7 (10 inn.)
The Netherlands and China played a 10-inning thriller, which lasted three hours and two minutes. The Netherlands upset China with a 7-5 win to beat the Asian squad, which finished in the top-5 two years ago in Whitehorse (Canada), in the top-4 in the four Championships before that (1998-2010) and was a top-3 team in 1986 (silver), 1990 (bronze) and 1994 (silver). With this, the Dutch softball-team accomplished a major feat and qualified for the next round in which it will meet Australia. At the same time, it eliminated China, which ended in a tie for seventh place with New Zealand.
The Dutch Team took a quick 2-0 lead in the second inning, but China came along side by scoring runs in the fifth and sixth inning. Jingjing Yuan contributed to both Chinese runs. In the fifth, she scored and in the sixth, she batted in the tying run. And so, China force extra innings.
The Dutch Team re-took the lead in the top of the ninth inning. Tie-break pinch-runner Anne Blaauwgeers moved on a sacrifice bunt, then scored when Nathalie Timmermans belted a 2-out, 2-run home run.
The lead was short lived as China tied the score again in the bottom of the ninth. Tie-break pinch-runner Na Li then first scored on a sacrifice fly by Huan Li. Moments later, a 2-out double by Ying Lu brought in the tying run and so, the game continued with the suspense building.
The Dutch then struck with three runs in the 10th inning off of Lan Wang, who started her sixth game for China. A single by Britt Vonk, triple by Chantal Versluis and double by Jessie van Aalst made it a 7-4 score, leading to a pitching change. This time, the Dutch held onto the lead. In the home half of the 10th, China was able to add only one more run. A great catch in foul territory by Dutch 2B Chantal Versluis ended the game and secured the win.
W-Femke van Dusschoten (2-2), L-Lan Wang (2-3).
HR-Nathalie Timmermans (NED) (1).
Game C5: Australia vs. Netherlands, 8-0 (4 ½ inn.)
Moments after celebrating an upset victory against China, the Netherlands had to face Australia in its next game. This time, the Orange squad was unable to strike again and was shut out 8-0 by the bronze medalist of two years ago in Whitehorse (Canada). With the loss, the Netherlands was eliminated and ended in a tie for fifth place with Chinese Taipei. With the win, Australia reached one of the semi-finals in which it would meet Canada later in the evening.
Australia, which collected eight base hits off of three pitchers, set the tone in the first inning when lead-off hitter Stacey Porter was hit by a pitch and scored on a 2-out single by Chelsea Forkin.
Australia then struck with three more runs in the second at-bat and that more or less decided the game. Erin Thras led off with a single and Leigh Godfrey was hit by a pitch with two outs, then both scored on a double by veteran player Stacey Porter – the team’s leading hitter before today with a .636 batting average. But these were her first runs batted in of the tournament. After a pitching change, Porter scored herself on a single by Melinda Weaver.
Australia again scored three runs in the third inning. With Brenda De Blaes (single) and Belinda White (hit batter) on base, Clare Warwich tripled and went on to score herself on a bases loaded walk. Australia added another run in the fourth inning on a pinch-hit double by Rachel Lack to make it 8-0.
The Dutch Team collected five base hits, including another one by Virginie Anneveld, who also had hit two in the previous game against China to increase her tournament leading total to 14. The Dutch threatened to open the score in the first inning when Britt Vonk led off with a bunt single and Jessie van Aalst singled with one out, but the two were left behind. In the third, Merel Oosterveld led off with a triple, but was also stranded. Then, in the fourth, the Dutch got the bases loaded with two outs. This time, reliever Jocelyn McCallum avoided runs by ending the inning with a strike out.
W-Kaia Parnaby (2-0), L-Femke van Dusschoten (2-3).
Game C6: Chinese Taipei vs. Canada, 1-2
Canada won 2-1 vs. Chinese Taipei to become the fourth team to secure a spot in the semi-final in which it would meet Australia in the final game of today’s schedule. Chinese Taipei was eliminated and ended in a tie for fifth place with the Netherlands.
In the low scoring game, all runs were scored in the third inning. Canada opened the score with two runs. Sara Hopwood led off with a single, then Larissa Franklin singled with one out. An error on a grounder by Joey Lye loaded the bases and then the first two runners scored when Megan Timpf followed with a single. A pitching followed, an intentional pass with two outs set up a force play, then a fly out ended the inning.
Chinese Taipei got one run back in its third at-bat. Miao Yi Chen led off with a walk, moved on a sacrifice bunt and went on to score on a throwing error. But that was to be it for the Asians, who failed to add more runs, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth inning.
Jenna Caira went the distance for Canada and struck out eight batters. Hui Lin Chung made her seventh start in an attempt to tie the World Championship win-record. But this time, she threw only 2 1/3 inning and was the losing pitcher.
W-Jenna Caira (2-0), L-Hui Lin Chung (5-2).
Game C7: United States vs. Japan, 1-6
Japan became the first team to qualify for the Grand Final on Sunday by winning 6-1 vs. the United States. With the loss, the USA now will play in the Bronze Medal game on Sunday against Australia. The winner of that game becomes the second finalist.
Japan collected ten base hits and opened the score in the first at-bat. With two outs, Misato Kawano singled, advanced to third on a double by Eri Yamada and scored when a fielding error followed.
Three runs were added in the next at-bat, again with two outs. Rie Nagayoshi then singled and scored on a single by Yu Yamamoto, which was followed by a 2-run double by Rei Nishiyama.
In the fourth and fifth inning, single runs were scored by Japan on a bases loaded single by Misato Kawano and single by Minami Sato respectively to lift the lead to 6-0.
The lone American run was scored in the sixth inning when Taylor Hoagland walked with two outs, moved on a double by Kellie Fox and scored on an outfield error. The USA failed to score earlier in the game off of Yukiko Ueno, leaving two runners in the first inning, three in the third and two in the fifth at-bat.
Yukiko Ueno started her second game of the day and again threw six strong innings, striking out seven batters and giving up five hits. Just as in the game against Australia earlier today, Sayuri Yamane threw the final inning.
W-Yukiko Ueno (4-0), L-Jolene Henderson (2-1).
Game C8: Canada vs. Australia, 3-7
Day 9 of the World Championship ended with the game between Canada and Australia. The game started at 11:15pm and had a 3-3 score well after midnight. Australia then rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to win 7-3 in a game that lasted two hours and 18 minutes and concluded at 1:33am. With the loss, Canada was eliminated and finished in fourth place. With the win, Australia moved on to the Bronze Medal Game on Sunday to face the USA. The winner of that game meets Japan in the all-deciding Grand Final.
After four scoreless inning, Australia scored two runs in the fifth. Clare Warwick led off with a single and moved on a sacrifice bunt. An intentional pass and a walk then loaded the bases and led to a pitching change. After a force out at home, Chelsea Forkin singled in two runs.
A third run was added in the sixth, thanks to a double down the left field line by Leigh Godfrey.
However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Canada staged a come back and scored three runs to tie the score. Jennifer Yee began with a double and advanced on a wild pitch. Kaleigh Rafter then walked and Caitlin Lever followed with an RBI-single. Two runners then got into scoring position after a sac-bunt and Carey-Leigh Thomas’ single then brought in the next run to narrow the deficit to 3-2. A pitching followed and a grounder by Joey Lye then tied the score, but Canada stranded a runner on third base.
Australia got back on top immediately in its next at-bat, scoring four runs. With runners on first and third base, Belinda White singled in the go-ahead run, then Clare Warwick followed with a 2-run double and Stacey Porter added an RBI-single to make it 7-3.
Day 7 of the XIV Women’s World Championship in Haarlem (The Netherlands) saw the conclusion of the preliminary round, resulting in the final decisions for the ranking in the two groups.
During the course of the day, as the final games were played in Groups A and B, four more teams qualified for the Championship Round, which opens on Friday, August 22.
The eight teams that didn’t made the top-4 in their group will play in the Consolation Round, which also begins on Friday.
Japan, USA, Australia and Canada, the top-4 of the 2012 World Championship in Whitehorse (Canada) already had secured their spot in the next round. Today, they got company from China and New Zealand from Group A and Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands from Group B.
Japan, USA, Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands also were in the play-offs in 2010 and 2012. New Zealand returns to the top-8 for the first time since 2002 when the event was held in Saskatoon (Canada).
Day 7 had a remarkable feat today. It not only was the seventh day of the Championship, the first six games today all ended with a 7-run difference, five of them having a 7-0 score, the other an 8-1 score.
Game 49: Dominican Republic vs. Australia, 0-7 (6 inn.)
Australia concluded play in Group B with a 7-0 victory against the Dominican Republic. Pitchers Kaia Parnaby and Jocelyn McCallum, who both threw three innings, pitched a combined no-hitter.
Australia initially was held scoreless in the first two innings by Geovanny Nunez, despite threatening in the first at-bat when it loaded the bases. Stacey Porter led off with a double and Melinda Weaver followed with a bunt single. With two outs, Jade Wall walked, but Geovanny Nunez (who made her fourth start for the Dominican squad) then ended the inning with a strike out.
Australia then struck with four runs on four hits in the third inning. Stacey Porter again led off with a double and Melinda Weaver was safe on her sacrifice bunt/fielder’s choice, resulting in runners on second and third base. A sacrifice fly by Jodie Bowering and single by Rachel Lack then accounted for the first two runs. Moments later, Taylah Tsitsikronis added a 2-run triple to make it 4-0.
In the sixth, Australia added three runs. Taylah Tsitsikronis accomplished a rare feat by hitting her second triple in the game, then scored on a wild pitch. Hereafter, Australia loaded the bases on three consecutive singles, then a ground out by Melinda Weaver and a sac-fly by Rachel Lack lifted the lead to 7-0, which was enough to end the game via the run-ahead rule. After today’s games, Rachel Lack leads the event with eleven runs batted in.
W-Jocelyn McCallum (1-0), L-Geovanny Nunez (1-3)
Game 50: Cuba vs. Canada, 0-7
Canada also completed play in Group A with a 7-0 shut out victory against Cuba. Canada collected 12 base hits off of two pitchers, including three by Caitlin Lever, who was batting .500 before today’s games and by adding the three hits, she raised it to .556. Stacey Porter leads the team and the tournament with a .636 average. The World Championship record is .667. Cuba registered three hits, which were all hit off of starter Sara Groenewegen, who threw the first three innings for Canada.
Canada opened the score right away in the first inning with two runs. Joey Lye led off with a single, Megan Timpf was hit by a pitch and Jennifer Yee also singled to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Kaleigh Rafter and grounder by Caitlin Lever then gave Canada an early lead.
After two scoreless innings, two more runs were added in the fourth at-bat. Caitlin Lever and Jennifer Gilbert (who had both singled) then respectively scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Erika Polidori.
A double by Caitlin Lever raised the lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning, then two more Canadian runs followed in the seventh at-bat, thanks to a 2-run triple by Erika Polidori.
Cuba reached base for the first time in the first inning when Diamela Puentes singled with one out, but then the Canadian defense turned a double play on the following line drive. Cuba then got into scoring position in the second inning, but the runner was left behind on second base. In the third inning, at that moment trailing only 2-0, Cuba got its first two batters to reach base when Johandra Espinosa walked and Yilian Rondon singled. The two were in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt, but a strike out and pick-off then ended Cuba’s scoring chances.
The Cuban offense was retired in order from the fourth inning on, then got a final chance in the seventh when pinch-hitter Ludisleidis Napoles reached on an error. She was stranded, as a ground out ended the game.
W-Karissa Hovinga (2-0), L-Anisley Lopez (2-1).
Game 51: USA vs. Italy, 7-0 (5 inn.)
The United States remained unbeaten by winning 7-0 vs. Italy. This was the third consecutive game today that ended with a 7-0 score. It also resulted in the second no-hitter today, as USA pitchers Jackie Traina (4 innings) and Sara Nevins (1 inning) didn’t gave up any hits to Italy.
Traina, who has been named an All-American in all of her four seasons at the University of Alabama, struck out seven batters in the four innings she pitched. Nevins struck out the side in the fifth inning.
Team USA scored two runs in each of the first three innings. In the first at-bat, Raven Chavanne led off with a single, then scored on an one-out single by Lauren Gibson, who later scored herself on an error.
In the second inning, Kellie Fox hit an one-out inside the park home run. With two outs, Raven Chavanne singled and Kelsey Stewart doubled, then an error also accounted for the second run in this at-bat.
In the next at-bat, two more runs were scored. Amanda Chidester led off with her third home run of the tournament. Two years ago, she set a World Championship record with five home runs. She then also set a new record with 14 runs scored. After Chidester’s home run, Hallie Wilson tripled and scored on a single by Haylie McCleney.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, USA got the bases loaded with two outs, then Destinee Martinez hit a walk-off single, as it increased the lead to 7-0, enough to finish the game through the run-ahead rule.
Jackie Traina retired the first 10 batters she faced, then walked Elisa Grifagno with one out in the fourth inning. She would be the lone Italian runner in this game.
Game 52: China vs. Russia, 8-1 (6 inn.)
China won 8-1 against Russia, who therefore was eliminated for the play-offs. With the win, China became the third team from Group A to qualify for the Championship Round.
China decided the game early with a 5-run rally in the first inning. The Asian squad had five base hits in this at-bat, four of them extra base hits. It all began with a lead-off triple by Jia Chen, followed by a double by Huan Li and RBI-single by Ying Lu. With two outs, Ruomeng Guo also tripled to bring in the third run. An error and a double by Jia Guo then lifted the lead to 5-0 moments later.
Russia got one run back in the third via a single by Tatiana Zhuchkova, but China answered witth two more runs in its third at-bat. The first was scored on a passed ball, the second on a single by Jingjing Yuan.
Trailing 7-1, Russia got a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning and sixth inning, but was unable to add more runs in this game.
China then reached the 7-run difference in the home of the sixth when Huan Li led off with a single and scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Qianwen Feng, therefore ending the game.
Lan Wang made her fifth start and sixth appearance for China. She struck out four batters in two innings, then was relieved by Lingling Jin in the third. The latter, who made her first pitching appearance of the tournament, became the winning pitcher.
W-Lingling Jin (1-0), L-Ekaterina Eronina (1-2).
World Baseball Softball Confederation
Game 53: Chinese Taipei vs. Great Britain, 7-0 (5 inn.)
Chinese Taipei shut out Great Britain 7-0 and with that decided the outcome in Group B. With the win, the Asians qualified themselves for the play-offs, but also secured a spot for The Netherlands. In case of an eventual loss later in the day against Botswana, the Netherlands would end up in a three-way tie with the Dominican Republic and Italy, who were both defeated by the Dutch.
The first two innings remained scoreless, Chinese Taipei scored twice in the third at-bat. With one out, Hsiang Yun Wang walked and Pei Chun Lin bunt singled. The bases got loaded with two outs when Hui Wen Huang also walked, then two runs were scored on a following single by Hsueh Mei Lu.
A single by Hsiang Yun Wang brought in another run in the fourth and Taipei then rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to reach the run-ahead difference needed to end the game. With one out, Hui Wen Huang singled and Hsueh Mei Lu followed with a run scoring double. Lu was 3-for-3 today and also had three runs batted in. Miao Yi Chen added a single, then back-to-back doubles by Meng Ting Lai (one-run) and Yu Han Liu (2-run) increased the lead to 7-0 to end the game.
Hui Lin Chung started her fifth game for Taipei and threw her third complete game, striking out five and giving up seven hits. She improved her record to 4-1. The record for most victories in a World Championship is six. This was originally set in 1965 by Lorraine Woolley (Australia), then equaled later by Nancy Welborn (USA) and Yukiko Ueno (Japan). Carling Hare made her fifth start for Great Britain and fell to 0-5.
W-Hui Lin Chung (4-1), L-Carling Hare (0-5).
Game 54: Japan vs. Czech Republic, 7-0 (6 inn.)
Japan won 7-0 vs. the Czech Republic to register the fifth 7-0 final score in the first six games today. It also raised Japan’s record to 7-0. With the loss, the Czechs had to wait for the outcome of the New Zealand vs. Puerto Rico game (which was played after conclusion of this game) to learn if it had qualified for the play-offs.
Japan collected 12 base hits to raise its team batting average to a tournament best .387, leading the USA by only .004 points. Following these two teams in the top-5 are Australia (.375), Canada (.371) and the Netherlands (.284).
Japan opened the score in the first inning when Rei Nishiyama (one-out walk) and Eri Yamada (2-out double) scored on a triple by Yukiyo Mine.
The lead was doubled in the next inning. Haruna Sakamoto led off with a triple and scored on a following single by Rie Nagayoshi, who later scored herself on a single by Rei Nishiyama.
A sacrifice fly by Haruna Sakamoto made it a 5-0 score in the fifth inning and then the 7-run difference was reached in the sixth inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Sayaka Mori doubled, then back-to-back singles by Yuka Ichiguchi and Misato Kawano made it 7-0.
The Czechs had several base runners from the second through fifth inning, but was unable to score. Trailing 2-0, Lenka Spurna doubled with one out in the second inning and a hit batter led to another runner. The two advanced on a sacrifice bunt, but then were stranded. The Czechs also left runners on second and third base in the fifth.
W-Yamato Fujita (3-0), L-Jitka Horova (0-1).
Game 55: New Zealand vs. Puerto Rico, 3-1
In the last game of Group A, New Zealand decided the qualification for the final team to qualify for the play-offs. By winning 3-1 vs. Puerto Rico, it was New Zealand itself who advanced to the Championship Round for the first time since 2002. A loss would have meant that the Czech Republic and Cuba would share fourth place. In that case, the Czechs would have advanced due to its head-to-head result against Cuba. And so, the play-off hopes ended for the Czechs, which registered historic first wins against China and Puerto Rico during this tournament. But with the win, New Zealand created a 3-way tie with the Czechs and Cuba. As each had won one game between them, the runs against tie-break got into effect, which was in favor of New Zealand.
New Zealand was out hit 6-5, but nevertheless took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Mikayla Werahiko then led off with a walk, advanced on a sac-bunt and an error, then scored on a single by Stacey Webber. Cassie Siataga ran for Webber and went on to score on a single by Lara Andrews to make it 2-0.
In the fifth inning, Puerto Rico appeared to turn the game its way. However, it scored only once and left the bases loaded. With one out, Aisha Figueroa was on base. She then stole second base and scored on a single by Dayanira Diaz to narrow the deficit to 2-1. Karla Claudio followed with another single, which led to a pitching change. Next, Sahvanna Jaquish was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a force out at home and ground out then spoiled the comeback chance for Puerto Rico. Earlier in the game, in the second inning, Puerto Rico also had left three runners behind.
New Zealand immediately added an insurance run in the home of the fifth when Ellie Cooper was hit by a pitch, moved on a sac-bunt and a single, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Katrina Nukunuku.
W-Megan Farrell (1-3), L-Jailynn Jackson (0-1), SV-Tyneesha Houkamau (1).
Game 56: Botswana vs. Netherlands, 0-12 (4 inn.)
In the final game of the preliminary round, host Netherlands shut out Botswana 12-0 to seal its qualification for the Championship Round. The Dutch finished in fourth place in Group B based on the head-to-head result against Chinese Taipei, with whom it ended in a tie. Taipei won that game and therefore finished in third place in this group.
Dutch pitcher Ginger de Weert dominated against Botswana and struck out ten batters. Her perfect game ended with two outs in the third inning when Pauline Tukisi lined single down the right field line to become the lone runner for the African country.
The Netherlands opened with three runs in the first inning, thanks to three errors and an RBI-single by Virginie Anneveld. A 5-run rally followed in the second inning. Two runs were then scored on a wild pitch and another on a passed ball. Virginie Anneveld added another RBI-single. She now leads the tournament with eleven base hits and leads the team with a .524 average.
Four runs were added in the third inning, which was highlighted by a 2-run triple by Britt Vonk, who later scored her third run in the game. She now leads the tournament with nine runs. The World Championship-record is 14, set in 2012 by Amanda Chidester (USA).
In major boost to Women’s Sport, Japanese oil giant, ENEOS, named title sponsor of 2014 Women’s Baseball World Cup
— Sponsorship deal is viewed as a ‘home run’ for women’s sport.
The world’s governing body of baseball and softball, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), announced today that Japan’s largest oil company, Tokyo-based JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. (5020: Tokyo Stock Exchange), will have its leading brand, ENEOS, named as the official title sponsor of the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014. (See special event poster, photo and sponsor logo.)
The ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014 will be held in Miyazaki, Japan, from 1-7 September, and will include the women’s baseball National Teams of Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, three-time defending champion — Japan, Netherlands, United States, and Venezuela.
The sponsorship agreement includes cash remuneration, which will also place the ENEOS brand on the logo of the premier women’s baseball event in the world. In addition, the Japanese oil giant will have a presence around the two site venues in Miyazaki, as well as across the event’s digital/web platforms and in all of the WBSC’s forthcoming communications and announcements related to the event. The oil giant returns after being a key sponsor of the III Women’s Baseball World Cup, which was held in Japan in 2008.
WBSC officials are delighted that the ENEOS brand, which has several successful partnerships across motor sports, including high-profile sponsorships for Formula One and NASCAR racing teams, has expanded its portfolio to include the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014.
The addition of the Women’s Baseball World Cup to the ENEOS stable of blue chip sports sponsorship events also highlights the growing global community, and commercial interest and participation of women in bat and ball sports more generally, in softball as well as baseball.
“The WBSC is very proud to have a partner such as JX Nippon Oil and Energy and the ENEOS brand to support women’s excellence in sport and to deliver the best-ever Women’s Baseball World Cup in Miyazaki,” said the WBSC President, Riccardo Fraccari.
“The support and sponsorship of such an iconic Japanese brand has great potential to further raise the profile and appeal of women’s sport in the eyes of other major brands and broadcasters. And, we are very humbled to try to play whatever role we can to help increase opportunities for women through WBSC’s sport disciplines,” said the WBSC president.
Commenting on the sponsorship of the ENEOS Presents Women’s Baseball World Cup 2014, JX Group released the statement:
“Through baseball, we will continue to do social development and support the growth of the next generations.”
JX Group has a strong tradition of finding value in supporting baseball at the national level in Japan. The Japanese oil giant continues to sponsor initiatives that target people with disabilities, youth and women to encourage them to play baseball and become empowered through the team sport.
The recently elected WBSC leadership has made it one of its chief priorities to promote gender-equality and to provide more opportunities for girls and women to be empowered through sports that women like to play, like baseball-softball — and to harness the skills and leadership of women across all levels of WBSC’s decision-making structure.
“The WBSC shares and supports the Olympic Movement’s focus on boosting the number of women in sport, and we are working hard to promote the benefits of sponsorship of women’s sports in baseball and softball to major companies in order to help achieve a sporting landscape that is more relevant to women,” said WBSC Secretary General Ms. Beng Choo Low, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Women and Sport Commission.
The WBSC, along with other world sport governing bodies, is hoping for the opportunity to be included in future Olympic Games, pending the outcome of the Olympic Agenda 2020 review.
“It would be the highest possible honour and privilege for baseball-softball to serve under the Olympic umbrella, as an Olympic sport. This would significantly boost and harmonise our efforts in relation to increasing resources and opportunities to help more women and young girls participate in sport, from the playground to the podium, and in administration and coaching and other key sporting infrastructure roles.”
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