Eight national teams make their debut at the 2017 WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship
CLEARWATER, FL, USA – All National Teams competed on Opening Day as each nation is battling to finish among the top two in their respective groups to advance into the Championship Round For The Title of World Champion.
CLEARWATER, FL, USA – The 12th WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship got underway today. A record 26 nations are participating in the highest softball competition for U-19 women – Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Peru, and Turkey.
All National Teams competed on Opening Day as each nation is battling to finish among the top two in their respective groups to advance into the Championship Round For The Title of World Champion.
POOL A
No. 2 USA (1-0) v Turkey (0-1)
13-0 (4 innings)
USA defeated Turkey 13-0 in the first game of the WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship, as two pitchers teamed up to throw a no-hitter. Madilyn Nickles led USA to victory by driving in four runs, including two home runs. Dejah Mulipola, Hannah Adams, and Nickles each collected multiple hits.
Win: Holly AZEVEDO
Loss: Gulseren GOKALP
Next Up
USA: 24 July at 6:00pm against Guatemala
Turkey: 24 July 1:00pm against South Africa
No. 9 Chinese Taipei (1-0) v No. 20 Guatemala (0-1)
2-1
Chinese Taipei got on board first scoring one run in the second inning. Guatemala tied the game up in the top of the seventh, but the Asians came back to win the game 2-1. Third baseman Ho Yi-Fan lead all batters going 2-for-4 with a double. Chinese Taipei was alert on the bases, stealing a total of seven bases in the game.
Win: Chien-Yu HUNG
Loss: Mari RIVERA
Next Up
Chinese Taipei: 24 July at 4:00pm against Philippines
Guatemala: 24 July 6:00pm against USA
No. 17 Philippines (1-0) v No. 12 Italy (0-1)
10-3 (6 innings)
Philippines handled the No. 2 European nation easily scoring two runs each in the 2nd and 3rd inning, and three runs in the 4th and 6th inning for the 10-3 win. Reese Guevarra recorded two doubles to lead all batters while six batters earned RBIs, including two each from Juliet Omul and Elsie Dela. Alessandra Rotondo hit a triple and was later driven in by Elisa de Trombetti to lead the Italian offense.
Win: Royevel PALMA
Loss: Sara RIBOLDI
Next Up
Italy: 25 July at 9:30am against Turkey
Philippines: 24 July at 4:00pm against Chinese Taipei
South Africa (1-0) v Turkey (0-1)
16-3 (4 innings)
Turkey, a country still developing the sport, recorded their first runs ever at a world championship as they were able to load the bases several times. But South Africa was able to overpower the European nation, defeating them 16-3 in four innings. South Africa got the bats going early scoring 11 runs in the 1st inning, followed by one run in the 2nd and two runs each in the 3rd and 4th. Ammaarah Larney had a monster game at the plate going 3-for-3 with two triples and one double, while batting in four.
Win: Nushka DE BEER
Loss: Seray ILKINCI
Next Up
South Africa: 25 July at 6:30pm against USA
Turkey: 25 July at 9:30am against Italy
No. 9 Chinese Taipei (2-0) v No. 17 Philippines (1-1)
13-0 (5 innings)
Chinese Taipei played perfect defense in the 13-0 lopsided win over their Asian counterpart. The first inning was quiet before Chinese Taipei exploded for six runs in the second. They followed up scoring two more runs in the fourth and put the game out of reach in the 5th, scoring five runs. Yi-Fan Ho and Yu-Ting Chen each batted in three runners, while Chia-Hui Ko recorded two RBIs and Tzu-Lin Chiang, Wen-Li Ma, and Kai-En Lin each punched in one.
Win: Chih-Chi LIN
Loss: Sierra LANGE
Next Up
Chinese Taipei: 25 July at 1:30pm against Turkey
Philippines: 25 July at 11:30am against Guatemala
No. 2 USA (2-0) v No. 20 Guatemala (0-2)
14-0 (3 innings)
USA’s Kathryn Sandercock and Mariah Lopez teamed up to a throw a no-hitter in USA’s 14-0 defeat of Guatemala. The Americans jumped to the unrecoverable lead in the first scoring on a ground out, a fielder’s choice, a home run, two doubled, and three singles. Baylee Klingler went 2-for-3 at the plate as she led the team with four runs batted in.
Win: Mariah LOPEZ
Loss: Maria RIVERA
Next Up
USA: 25 July at 6:30pm against South Africa
Guatemala: 25 July at 11:30am against Philippines
POOL B
No. 4 Australia (1-0) v No. 21 Peru (0-1)
12-5 (5 innings)
Australia defeated Peru 12-5 as Tarni Stepto led all batters with four RBIs. Peru got on the board first, scoring all of their five runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, Australia threw a wild pitch to score Alessandra La Puente Ykehara. Then with the bases still loaded, Michelle Iparraguirre hit Natalie Alegria Csengeri in. Emma Medina hit a triple to right field to score three more for the 5-0 lead.
But Australia answered back at their next at-bat, loading the bases with two outs as Maddison Schofield tripled to drive in three. The next batter later, Shannon Keevers singled to drive in Schofield to bring the game to 5-4.
But in the fifth, Australia got their bats working to put the game out of reach scoring 8 runs. Stepto hit a grand slam, while Montana Kearnes, Brianna Trim, and Tia Waters each had RBI doubles, and Kelsey Griffen had a RBI single.
Win: Tarni STEPTO
Loss: Natalie ALEGRIA
Next Up
Australia: 24 July at 6:30pm against Netherlands
Peru: 24 July at 4:30pm against Japan
Japan (1-0) v Israel (0-1)
22-0 (3 innings)
Japan had the bats going on their quest to reclaim the gold medal, defeating newcomers Israel 22-0. The Asian nation scored 11 runs in both the first and second inning, before the game ended due to the run-ahead rule. Marin Asai and Kiyomi Ito teamed up to pitch the no-hitter, striking out seven. Mihara Chisora went 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs, including a two-run homer in the first inning.
Win: Marin ASAI
Loss: Adi BARAN
Next Up
Japan: 24 July at 4:30pm against Peru
Israel: 24 July at 1:30pm against Bahamas
No. 11 Brazil (1-0) v No. 8 Netherlands (0-1)
4-3
Both teams were kept at bay through four innings before the Netherlands struck first in the 5th. They then scored one run in each remaining inning. But Brazil came back from behind, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game 4-3. Tammy Shiroma led Brazil to the victory with two RBIs, while Rebeca Diniz and Victoria Ribeiro also pushed runners across the plate with singles.
Win: Valeria COMOSAKO
Loss: Nina HENDRIKS
Next Up
Netherlands: 24 July at 6:30pm against Australia
Brazil: 25 July at 9:00am against Bahamas
Bahamas (1-0) v Israel (0-2)
10-0 (4 innings)
Bahamas earned their first win in their maiden world championship, defeating another rookie, Israel, 10-0. After a quiet first inning, Bahamas broke out with four runs in the 2nd, three runs in the 3rd, and top the game off scoring one more in the 4th.
Win: Valencia GIBSON
Loss: Alisa STUCHEVSKI
Next Up
Israel: 26 July at 9:00am against Netherlands
Bahamas: 25 July at 9:00am against Brazil
No. 1 Japan (2-0) v No. 21 Peru (0-2)
7-0 (5 innings)
Next Up
Japan: 25 July at 11:00am against Netherlands
Peru: 25 July at 4:00pm against Bahamas
No. 4 Australia (2-0) v No. 8 Netherlands (0-2)
3-0
Australia scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first inning, but added two more insurance runs in the 4th for a 3-0 win over Netherlands. Rhiannon Kemp led all batters going 2-for-2 with a double, but Montana Kearnes was credited for the game’s only earned run. Maddison Schofield, Maddison Smith, and Amber Hood also recorded singles in the game to complete the Junior Spirit’s offense.
Win: Gabrielle PLAIN
Loss: Roos-Marijn KRAMER
Save: Tarni STEPTO
Next Up
Australia: 25 July at 1:00pm against Brazil
Netherlands: 25 July at 11:00am against Japan
POOL C
No. 24 Dominican Republic (1-0) v No. 30 Argentina (0-1)
12-9
Dominican Republic defeated Argentina the slow and steady way, scoring in every inning but the 7th. Argentina tried to make a comeback, scoring nine runs in the 4th, but could not overcome the deficit, losing 12-9. Jayla Alexa Perez hit a solo home run, while Daniela Bautista slugged a double and triple to record three RBIs in the game. On the base paths, Suehellen Lecaros stole four bases, while Heidy Olivo (3), Jessica Rivera (2), Bautista (1), and Perez (1) also stole bases.
Win: Karen VASQUEZ
Loss: Maria ACUNA
Next Up
Dominican Republic: 25 July at 6:30pm against New Zealand
Argentina: 24 July at 6:30pm against Czech Republic
No. 13 Czech Republic (1-0) v No. 36 India (0-1)
14-2 (6 innings)
Both Czech Republic and India started their world championships ready to go as each team exchanged a pair of runs in the first inning. But the Czech Republic was too strong, scoring 5 runs in the 2nd, and blowing the game wide open in the 6th with eight runs crossing the plate. It was a team effort as 15 players entered the game for the Europeans. Barbora Kleckova hit a triple, while Veronika Klimplova, Michaela Regnerova, and Kristyna Mala were each credited with multiple RBIs.
Win: Adela LINKOVA
Loss: P PARKHE
Next Up
Czech Republic: 24 July at 6:30pm against Argentina
India: 25 July at 11:30am against Puerto Rico
No. 7 Puerto Rico (1-0) v No. 5 New Zealand (0-1)
8-6
It took all seven innings to determine a winner in the battle between Puerto Rico and New Zealand. The Junior White Sox struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the 1st inning. But Puerto Rico added excitement as they tied the game up in the 3rd inning, let the game slip away in the 5th, only to come back and win it in the 6th inning by scoring four runs. Kayla Garcia hit a two-run shot out of the ballpark, while Ariella Jackson (2), Kayla Jensen (1), Odalys Cordova (1), and Otero Adriana (1) each hit doubles in the game.
Win: Tiana HERNANDEZ
Loss: Stephanie FALLON
Next Up
New Zealand: 25 July at 1:30pm against Czech Republic
Puerto Rico: 25 July at 11:30am against India
No. 12 Czech Republic (2-0) v No. 30 Argentina (0-2)
6-0
Czech Republic defeated Argentina, scoring six runs on five hits for their second win of the day. The Europeans earned all the runs they needed in the 2nd inning, before tacking on their final run in the 6th. Tereza Novotna led the offensive charge going 2-for-4. Katelyn Humhej pitched the complete game, fanning 8 batters to earn the win.
Win: Katelyn M HUMHEJ
Loss: Sophie FARIGLIANO
Next Up
Czech Republic: 25 July at 1:30pm against New Zealand
Argentina: 25 July at 4:30pm against India
POOL D
No. 14 Great Britain (1-0) v No. 26 Korea (0-1)
1-0
Great Britain started their world championship with a close 1-0 win over Korea. Andrea Johnson recorded the game’s only extra base hit – a double – and run, while Hannah Burge, Megan Parno, Lauren King, and Olivia Lee all reached base with singles. Georgina Corrick pitched a five-hit shut-out and drove in the only run of the game for the tight 1-0 win.
Win: Georgina CORRICK
Loss: Hyeon HONG
Next Up
Great Britain: 24 July at 6:00pm against China
Korea: 25 July at 1:00pm against Mexico
No. 6 China (1-0) v No. 31 Ireland (0-1)
11-1 (4 innings)
Ireland debuted at a Jr. Women’s World Championship scoring first against China. Teresa Griswold scored Ireland’s first run ever. However, they could not hold on as the No. 6 ranked team scored three runs in the 2nd inning, seven runs in the 3rd, and added two more in the 4th for the 12-1 lopsided win. China’s 1st baseman, Xinyu Zhang, led the offensive charge going 3-for-3 with one RBI, while Jiaxin Xie and Mengru Wang each recorded multiple hits.
Win: Xinyu WANG
Loss: Makenzie MCGRATH
Next Up
China: 24 July at 6:00pm against Great Britain
Ireland: 25 July at 11:00am against Canada
No. 3 Canada (1-0) v No. 10 Mexico (0-1)
2-1
Canada opened their WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship with a walk-off 2-1 win over Mexico. Canadian starting pitcher Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage and Mexico’s starter Alyssa Loza went toe-to-toe in a fantastic pitching match-up, with Canada pulling out the win on a walk-off single by Grace Messmer in the bottom of the seventh inning after Rebecca Jones hit a two-out triple.
Win: Kara BILODEAU
Loss: Alyssa LOZA
Save: Brianna AGUILAR-BEAUCAGE
Next Up
Canada: 25 July at 11:00am against Ireland
Mexico: 25 July at 1:00pm against Korea
No. 6 China (2-0) v No. 14 Great Britain (1-1)
7-1
Great Britain held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning behind the pitching of Beth Fleming. But in the fourth and fifth innings, the British defense, which had been so good up to this point, suddenly cracked. Four errors were committed in the 4th and 5th innings, allowing China to score seven unanswered runs. YuJuan Sang and Huiqi Yang recorded two singles each to lead the Chinese offense.
Win: Xinyu WANG
Loss: Elizabeth FLEMING
Save: Xiaofan JIN
Next Up
China: 25 July at 6:00pm against Mexico
Great Britain: 25 July at 4:00pm against Ireland
