Japan defeated Australia, 13-3, on 22 August 2010 in front of 6,350 fans at Estadio José Perez Colmenares in Maracay, Venezuela to win the fourth WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup.
Madonna Japan got to Australia's starter Laura Neads in the first. Japan scored nine runs and cruised to a five-inning win. Yukari Isozaki earned the win going four innings and future Women's World Cup perennial MVP Ayami Sato pitched the fifth.
Ayaku Rokkaku, today a certified WBSC instructor, earned best hitter honours with a .643 batting average.
The USA defeated the hosts Venezuela, 15-5, in the third-place game to claim a bronze medal. Canada finished in fifth place, followed by Cuba, Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, Korea and the Netherlands.
The 11-team tournament proved a success, with a total of over 156,000 spectators. The early stages were characterized by an unprecedented accident.
During the opening round game against the Netherlands, Hong Kong player Cheuk Woon Yee was struck by a stray bullet in the leg while she was taking her position at third base. The game was played at Estadio Josè Antonio Casanova in Fort Tiuna, a military garrison in Caracas.
Hong Kong withdrew after the incident. The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) decided to move all remaining games to Maracay.
Related article: Japan wins Women's Baseball World Cup 2012
