29/10/2023 2 Minute Read

U-15 Women's Softball World Cup Final Day: Japan jubilant with bronze medal win in Tokyo

Japan pitcher Shion Yamamoto outplayed Chinese Taipei pitchers Li-Yu Kuo and Miao-Hua Chen while Sari Nagatomo and Lilia Lewis scored the crucial runs for Japan on offence.

World No. 2 Japan beat world No. 5 Chinese Taipei 2-0 to claim the bronze medal at the first ever WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup on Sunday at Ota Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan pitcher Shion Yamamoto was the home side's star, working seven innings with three hits and no runs. She also had four strikeouts. Sari Nagatomo and Lilia Lewis scored the crucial runs for Japan on offence.

The hosts had a 7-0 win-loss start before going down to Puerto Rico in their thrilling Super Round encounter on Saturday, while the visiting side had a total of five wins, losing one in the Opening Round and two against Puerto Rico and USA in the Super Round.

Chinese Taipei-Japan

0-2

BOX SCORE

Bronze Medal Game: Chinese Taipei v Japan 0-2

Hosts Japan clinched the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup bronze medal following a 2-0 triumph over Chinese Taipei at Ota Stadium on Sunday.

Japan pitcher Shion Yamamoto got the win, working seven innings with three hits and no runs. She also had four strikeouts.

Chinese Taipei's Li-Yu Kuo and Japan's Yamamoto each worked a no-hit, no-run first inning. Kuo allowed one hit in the next frame, but Japan could not convert the opportunity into a run.

After being held scoreless by Chinese Taipei in three innings, Japan finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, when Sari Nagatomo singled to right centre to score a run by pinch runner Yuki Imamura.

Japan added one more run on the board in the bottom of the sixth, when Lilia Lewis tripled and reached home plate on an error to put Japan 2-0 ahead.

Yamamoto took care of the seventh inning for Japan on two ground outs and a fly out to secure the bronze medal victory.