Five-time defending world champions Madonna Japan revealed their National Team roster for the VIII WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, which will be staged from 22 to 31 August in Viera, Florida, USA.
The 2018 Madonna Japan roster is a mix of World Cup veterans like pitchers Ayami Sato (2018 World Cup MVP) and Akino Tanaka, catcher Chihiro Funakoshi, infielder Yuki Kawabata, outfielder Iori Miura and young players like pitchers Ami Sakahara (born 2001), Nana Ishimura (2000), Asaka Tsuru (born 1999), Nanami Ohno (1999), infielder Nozomi Abe (1999) and outfielder Miku Kitayama (1999)
Manager Megumi Kitta said during a press conference that this is the best team that Japan could have selected at this time.
Megumi Kitta
Japan’s National Team training camp will open in Niigata-shi on 28 June and will end with 5 warm-up games.
Japan will be the favourites heading into Viera, carrying a 21-game World Cup win-streak, but other nations have been boosting their women’s baseball programmes, as the fast-growing discipline continues to expand.
Related Articles
WBSC REVEALED THE GROUPS
WBSC NAMED GAME OFFICIALS