WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup: Chinese Taipei, Peru, Puerto Rico and USA win on first day
The WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, the first WBSC Women's Softball World Cup to be held in Latin America, is the first edition of the U-18 age bracket. Previously there were junior and U-19 World Cups, of which 13 editions were celebrated. The United States has won the last three editions and five of the last six.
World No. 2 USA, No. 5 Puerto Rico, No. 6 Chinese Taipei and No. 30 Peru all started the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup with wins on the tournament's opening day at the Villa María del triunfo sports complex in Lima, Peru on Monday.
World No.6 Chinese Taipei claimed a five-inning, 9-0, win over No. 40 Colombia in a game played at Villa Maria del Triunfo sports complex in Lima, Peru. Kuei-Ping Yeh homered in the third inning.
The Asian team took an early lead in the game and never looked back. Three Colombian errors allowed Chinese Taipei to score six runs in the first inning, setting the table for the run-difference win.
World No. 5 Puerto Rico topped No. 4 Mexico in a very close game. The Puerto Rican squad took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues to score the only two runs of the match. Keira Bucher pitched a five-strikeout complete game shutout, giving up only three hits.
World No. 2 USA, the top ranked team in the tournament, beat the Czech Republic, 10-0. Right-handed pitcher Alissa Humphrey tossed a four-inning perfect game to guide USA to the Day 1 victory.
Humphrey was untouchable in today’s four-inning contest. The James Madison University sophomore used 47 pitches to retire all 12 batters she faced. She struck out seven Czech hitters.
Peru clinched a historic win in their tournament debut. The Peruvian squad beat the Netherlands, 3-1, in spite being outhit by the European squad (6-4).
All teams will be back on the field at Villa Maria del Triunfo on Tuesday, with Chinese Taipei and USA having two games each. The Asian representative will take on Puerto Rico at 11 a.m. (local time) and then battle the Netherlands at 1:30 p.m. USA will play Colombia at noon (on Field No. 2) and then face Mexico at 4:30 p.m. The second day of the tournament will finish with Peru facing the Czech Republic at 7 p.m.
