Women’s Baseball World Cup: Japan on top of group B, Cuba and Australia win

Japan remains in sole possession of first place in group B of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. The defending champions defeated Canada, 2-1, at the end of a game that was delayed by a thunderstorm.

Reigning MVP Ayami Sato worked one inning before the game was delayed by bad weather.
As play resumed, with one out, in the bottom of the first Hannah Mortensen inherited from 17-year old starter Elizabeth Loren a runner at third (Tomomi Nakada singled, advanced on a a balk and a sacrifice bunt). She gave up a run on a squeeze play executed by Chihiro Funakoshi.

Sato took the mound in the top of the second and loaded the bases on a couple of walks and an infield base hit, but she escaped the threat getting Veronika Boyd to fly out to rightfield.

In the bottom of the third Martensen loaded the bases on a couple of walks, that took her total to six, and a bloop single to left by Yuki Kawabata. She came out of the inning when she got Yuka Ogata to hit into an inning ending double play.

In the bottom of fourth Madison Willan took the mound for Canada. With two outs, she loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch but center fielder Mia Valcke got her out of trouble with a beautiful running catch on a deep fly to left center by Iori Miuri.

Japan took advantage of a couple of throwing errors to add a second run in the fifth.

Canada got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Kelsey Lalor and Jenna Flannigan got to Sato with back to back singles. With two outs, pinch hitter Emma March sent a line drive to right that scored Lalor from second and took Flannigan to third. Sato got out of the jam striking out Veronika Boyd with an off the table curve ball.

Akino Tanaka relieved Sato in the top of the seventh. With one out, a swinging bunt byDaphnée Gélinas put on the potential tying run. Tanaka struck out Nicole Luchansky but gave then up a single to Lalor. She got out of trouble inducing a grounder to shortstop by Flannigan. Ayaka Deguchi ended the game getting the force out at second.

Japan could celebrate at the end of a long night

Cuba earned the first win in the tournament as they shut out, 12-0, and outhit, 12-2 the Dominican Republic.

Cuba put on a running show as they took the lead in the top of the first. With one out, Dayanna Batista singled, stole second and third and scored on a double steal combined with Yordanka Rodriguez.

The show went on in the second. Jessica Herrera walked, then stole second and third and scored as Katherine Fals bunted for a base hit. Two stolen bases later, Yamisleidy Perez doubled in the gap to left center and made it 4-0.

Cuba broke the score open in the top of the third. The five-run rally was ignited by a defensive error. Cuba thrived on Dominican starting pitcher Juanita Mercedes control struggles and one more error. The Dominican Republic had to call Yocarla Guerrero to get out of the inning.
Cuba added three more runs in the top of the fifth.

Catcher Yordanka Rodriguez congratulates Cuba winning pitcher Dianelis Porro

A couple of big innings helped Australia dominate, 24-2, a game against Hong Kong that was tied at two at the end of the second inning.

Australia wasted no time in getting to starter Au Ho Ying. With one out in the bottom of the first, Natalie House and Tahnee Lovering hit back to back singles. House scored on an error, Lovering touched home on back to back singles by Abbey Mc Lellan and Morgan Doty.

Hong Kong struck back in the top of the second. With two outs, Australia starter Sinead Flanigan hit Fung Siu Ping. Cheung Tan Lee singled and both runners advanced on an error. Hung Yik Shan tied the game with a base hit.

Australia broke the score open in the bottom of the third with a nine-run rally ignited by two defensive errors and capped with a couple of doubles by Elodie O’Sullivan and Taylah Welch. Only two of the nine runs were earned and Hong Kong needed reliever Hung Yik Shan to get the third out.

Things didn’t work so well in the bottom of the fourth. Hung hit Elodie O’Sullivan, gave up a double to pinch hitter Maddison Tabrett, a single to Leslie Anglin and left. Hong Kong needed five pitchers to get three outs and get out of the inning, but couldn’t prevent Australia from scoring 13 runs.

Flanigan left with two outs in the fourth. Amy Collins and Kaila Borgomastro got the last four outs of the game for Australia.

Catcher Janice Lau can’t prevent Taylah Welch from scoring for Australia