WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B Day 1: Wins for Cuba, China and Spain on opening day
18/07/2023 4 Minute Read

WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B Day 1: Wins for Cuba, China and Spain on opening day

The first day of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B in Valencia, Spain saw Cuba beat the Netherlands, China over come Puerto Rico and Spain prove too good for South Africa.

The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group B got off to a cracking start at the Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de València with two upsets and an impressive win from the home team Spain.

Cuba started the day with an impressive 4-3 come-from-behind against the Netherlands, to record their first win against the European champions after losing to the Netherlands in the 2016 and 2010 editions of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup.

POD DAY 1 - Casanova

China, the only country in this group to have medalled at a previous World Cup, then followed with a solid 2-0 win over tournament favourites Puerto Rico in the second game of the day.

Home team Spain then turned on an impressive 13-0 streak in their opening inning before beating South Africa 14-0 at the end of four innings, based on the run ahead rule.

Photos of the Day

20230718_G3_ESP_RSA_WSWC_GroupB_1_1380 Group B

South Africa v Spain

And now it's the turn of the host team Spain, ranked 12 in the world, taking on world No. 38 South Africa.

Spain has participated once in the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup previously, finishing 20th in 1994 while South Africa has finishes of 10th (1974), 14th (2002) and 15th (1998, 2006, 2010, 2012 & 2018)

Spain are first on the board in their first turn at bat after Sorangel Ledezma singled to centre field and with South Africa defence concentrating on her running to second, Carla Segura snuck home from third while Yaicey Sojo got home from second.

Candela Cabedo scored on the next pitch which wasn't able to be handled by catcher Shane Luyt before Anna Sobrino singled to right field, to score Uxua Modrego and Meritxell Blesa to put Spain 5-0 up. 

Sobrino and Carmen Caicoya scored after pitcher Hannah Hugo made a great return pick up but over threw Erin Peters at first base while Estibaliz Álvarez doubled to right centre to score Maria Caicoya.

Hugo was replaced in the pitcher's circle by Nushka de Beer but the runs continued with a Ledezma sacrifice fly to left field scoring Álvarez to put Spain 9-0 up.

Segura scored before Blesa's hit to deep left field saw her manage an inside the park homer, scoring Raquel Rodrigo and Modrego in the process. Spain 13-0 was the final score at the end of the first inning.

Bottom of the second and Maria Caicoya scored on a fly ball to right field, which second base Rachel Matsimela couldn't pick up but that was the only action the scorers saw the rest of the inning and the rest of the game.

China v Puerto Rico

Game two of the day sees tournament favourites Puerto Rico, ranked fourth in the world, play world No. 11 China.

Puerto Rico coming off a good win at the Central and Caribbean Games against Cuba in the final. China playing for the first time since the Women's Softball World Cup qualifier in Asia in April.

Puerto Rico finished fifth in the 2018 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup while China came in 10th.

Taran Alvaro, starting in the pitching circle for Puerto Rico, keeps China scoreless. Starting for Yinan Chai.

It started very tight with only three hits apiece until the fourth inning when He Xiaoyan singled over the top of pitcher Keira Bucher, who had replaced Alvaro at the start of the inning, and past the diving glove of Odalys Cordova at second base to score Min Ren and Jiaxin Xie.

You have the feeling that in this tight game, in this heat, that a two run lead could prove crucial.

And it does indeed. China continue to play great defence and hold onto an important first up win.

Netherlands v Cuba

The first game of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup sees the Netherlands, ranked 10th in the world, taking on world No. 28 Cuba in a very hot and humid Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de València.

The Netherlands finished eighth and fourth in the past two editions in 2018 and 2016 while Cuba didn't play in 2018 but finished 15th in 2016. Overall, the Netherlands beat Cuba in 2016 and 2010 while in 1990 they both finished ninth.

Maxime van Dalen gets the Netherlands on the board in the first inning with a left field double, which bounced over the outfield fence scoring Britt Vonk, the 2008 Olympian, and Brenda Beers. Good confidence booster for the European champions who are ahead 2-0 in the top of the first.

Cuba pulled two back themselves in the bottom of the second with Yanisleidys Casanova finding space down the right field foul line to score Rosangela Jardines and Maidelis Reyes.

Pause in play before the start of the third innings as home plate umpire Jason Carter is helped from the field, looking like he might be suffering from the heat. Standing by to see if he can return or if there will be a replacement. In the end, he is in heat recovery mode and Jana Mccaskill moved from second base umpire to home plate.

Back underway after 10 minutes with Cuba's star pitcher Yillian Tornes to restart against Dinet Oosting in the top of the third with the game locked up at 2-2.

Bottom of the third and Leannelys Zayas scores on a ground ball to left field to give Cuba the lead 3-2 before Elizabeth Robert hits over the head of Cindy Ven der Zanden in right field for a RBI double to put Cuba up 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Great defence from Cuba, with Robert on third, Van der Zanden makes a great catch, running back in centre field to catch out Rondon before a double play by short stop Leannelys Zayas closes the inning with Cuba still 4-2 up.

The Netherlands pulled one back in their last turn at bat, with Beers finding the turf in right field to score Suka van Gurp but with runners on, Cuba managed to tag out van Daeln to record their first win over the Netherlands in a WBSC Softball World Cup.

Pregame

Valencia Weather Day 1

The weather during Group A last week in Ireland was plagued by wet weather. This week, it will be the opposite conditions with heat playing an crucial factor. A high of 33 degrees today but it will feel like 38 degrees with humidity at 100% in the morning before dropping to 56% in the middle of the day.

  • Where to watch
  • First time that Spain, like Ireland and Italy, hosts a WBSC tournament.
  • New sustainable Mizuno ball - the M170 - in play.
  • Six teams participating in three groups. Top two teams from Group B “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year. Learn more about the tournament format here.
  • USA and Australia advance to Finals 2024 after finishing first and second in Group A in Ireland. Great Britain finished third. Check out the Group A review.
  • Group C in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy sees world No. 2 and Olympic champions Japan, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Italy, No. 26 Philippines and No. 29 New Zealand in action from 22-26 July.
  • First time the new two-stage format is being used in a WBSC tournament.
  • WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Full History
  • XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals to be played in July 2024 in Italy