WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C Day 3 - Italy & Philippines postponed due to weather; Canada, New Zealand and Venezuela collect crucial wins

A dramatic day of international women’s softball action, which featured two upset results on the third day of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C in Buttrio, Italy was ended on Monday evening with the postponement of the Italy v Philippines game due to a storm.

Unbeaten Italy was playing the Philippines in another fantastic contest at the Campo da Baseball-Softball G. Michelutti when in the bottom of the fourth inning with the score at 1-1 the game was postponed due to a storm. The game will be rescheduled at a time to be determined.

* The Italy v Philippines game has been postponed due to bad weather in the bottom of the fourth inning

Meanwhile, due to the uncertain weather conditions in the area, the games for Tuesday have been rescheduled as follows with two games moved to Buttrio:

Buttrio
12:00: Game 12 - New Zealand v Canada
15:00: Game 14 - Philippines v New Zealand

Castions di Strada
14:00: Game 13 - Venezuela v Japan
20:00: Game 15 - Japan v Italy

Italy still sit on top of the table as the only undefeated team with three wins from three games after earlier in the day world No. 2 and Olympic champions Japan suffered a shock defeat to world No. 5 Canada. The 6-5 loss, a thrilling bat and ball contest, was the first defeat Japan has suffered to any other team apart from USA in a World Cup or Olympic Games since losing to Canada 1-0 at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Japan now sit in third with a 2-1 win-loss record behind Italy 3-0 and Canada 3-1.

Meanwhile, Venezuela beat the Philippines in the morning 5-1 however their loss to New Zealand in the afternoon, which saw the Kiwis come from behind to win 4-3, sets up an intriguing final day of the round-robin Opening Round on Tuesday with all teams in contention for the top four positions, which will enter the playoffs on Wednesday to determine the two teams who claim a ticket to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024.

• 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. Group C Preview
• Group C head coaches discuss their chances
• 12 players to watch
• By the Numbers
• First time the new two-stage format is being used in a WBSC tournament.
• XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals to be played in July 2024 in Italy
• Photos
• Watch Live on GameTime.Sport

Italy v Philippines

The last game of the day sees hosts Italy looking for their fourth win from as many games and after Japan's earlier defeat to Canada, a chance to remain as the only undefaced side in the tournment.

McKenzie Barbara got Italy on the board in the top of the first by hitting to right field, scoring Erika Piancastelli in the process from second base.

Tight ball game as thunder and lightening starts to rumble in the distance behind right field.

And the Philippines tie it up in the bottom of the fourth as Angelu Gabriel hammers to right field scoring Nicole Hammoude while Elsie Dela Torre is tagged out trying to reach home.

The game is paused at 21:00 due to the thunder storm approaching. No rain yet, but precautions are being made for the forthcoming weather. The game is locked at 1-1 in the bottom fifth.

After strong wins and rain with massive hail stones, the size of baseballs, passed through for about 15 minutes an evaluation is now taking place to see the state of play of the venue and to see what happens with the current game.

It has been announced that the game will be aiming to restart at 23:30.

23:15 Officials and teams out on the field conducting the inspection and with thunder and lightening still in the air around the venue, the game has been postponed until a later time still to be determined.

New Zealand v Venezuela

World No. 22 Venezuela will be looking to back up after their win over the Philippines this morning to move to 2-2 for the tournament while New Zealand, ranked 29th in the world is looking for their first win of the tournament.

Venezuela won the Placement Game between these two teams in 2018 by 4-0.

New Zealand haka time.

First inning for New Zealand at bat, three up, three down as thunder claps are heard in the distance over left field and the wind starts to get up. It feels like rain is not far away.

And we have a weather delay with rain and wind hitting ground at 17:10 with Venezuela about to have a first turn at bat.

Both teams keeping themselves entertained while the rain falls, dancing and singing in the dugout.

Play restarts at 17:27. And out comes the sun again five minutes later with rain still falling. All tied up until the bottom of the fourth, loaded bases and with Tyneesha Houkamau being replaced in the pitcher's circle by Loran Parker, Yuruby Alicart doubles to right centre field to break the deadlock and score Freymar Suniaga, Bailey Olerich and Kimberly Caicedo. Venezuela 3-0 up after four innings.

Mikayla Werahiko's single to centre field scores Nerissa McDowell and New Zealand pull one back to make it 3-1 before Katrina Nukunuku hits over the infield to bring home Werahiko and captain Lara Andrews.and we have a tied ball game again 3-3 in the top of the fifth.

Tension all the way as Nukunuku comes up trumps for New Zealand again, getting her het past short stop Alicart to score Werahiku from third and we have a one-run ball game 4-3 top of the seventh.

And New Zealand's defence manages to hold, including a screamer of a catch from Erin Blackmore in centre field, to record their first win over the tournament and reverse the 4-0 defeat to Venezuela at the 2018 World Cup.

Canada v Japan

The game of the day features the Olympic champions and world No. 2 Japan against the bronze medallists from Tokyo 2020 and world No. 5 Canada. These two teams played twice at the 2018 World Cup with Japan winning the pool game 2-0 and the bronze medal game 3-0 while at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Japan won 1-0.

Japan, who have two wins from two games this week, got to work early with Kyoko Ishikawa getting on first, stealing second before being advanced to third. A double to centre field by Hitomi Kawabata scored Ishikawa are 1-0 after one inning.

But Canada, who have 2-1 win-loss record after losing to Italy the evening before, struck right back with Rylie Crane scoring off a Zoe Hicks single to third base.

Japan counter punched as well in the bottom of the second with left fielder Hotaru Tsukamoto hitting it out of the ground over left centre field.

But Canada definitely have their bats in better form than last night's game against Italy, with three runs in the top of the third. Erika Polidori's hot to centre right field scored Natalie Wideman before Janet Leung scored on a Larissa Franklin hit to left field and Polidori got home on a passed ball.

Top of the fifth and a superb dink from Callum Pilgrim over the top of Nodoka Harada, who was back pedalling in right field, scored Grace Messmer and got Pilgrim round to third. Canada 5-2 up in the top of the fifth and fans starting to ask could this be the first time Japan loses to a team other than US since Canada at the 2004 Olympics (1-0) or Australia in the 1998 World Cup?

Kelsey Harshmann hits Canada's second homer of the game, off Sakura Miwa and out comes the legend Yukiko Ueno, who celebrated her 41st birthday two days ago, to try and turn things around for the 2018 silver medallists with Canada 6-2 ahead in the top of the sixth.

Out comes pitching legend Sara Groenewegen to try and wrap things up for Canada but with one out Minori Naito gets two back for Japan with a home run that hits the left field foul pole with .Kanna Kudo on first to pull back the score to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

And another homer, this time to Harada over centre field - 6-5 to Canada.

With Groenewegen giving up three runs from two hits and two balls on base, coach Kaleigh Rafter called back Morgan Rackel who wrapped up the innings without any further hits, keeping it 6-5 after six innings.

Quick three and three down from Ueno and one turn at bat left for Japan to see if they can rescue the win.

Pressure increases on Canada as Japan, with two outs, put two on base with a single and a walk but the Canadian defence is up to the task with Rackel collecting a Naito bunt to throw her out at first, sparking Canadian celebrations.

Philippines v Venezuela

World No. 26 the Philippines take on No. 22 Venezuela with both teams looking for their first win of the tournament.

Plenty of hitting in this entertaining game, some to glove, others to ground, but neither side can get a runner home after four innings. Philippines leads four hits to two but on the scoreboard it's still 0-0.

A short rain shower surprises everyone in the bottom of the fifth to cool off some of this red hot action on the diamond and just as it finished with the sun reappearing Venezuela strike. Loaded bases and Eila Infante gets home after Nicole Hammoude fumbled the ground ball at short stop before her throw to first made Elsie Dela Torre stretch off the base.

Venezuela up 1-0 and then the moment of the game. Next batter up Yakary Molina at 0-2 smacks a beauty over the left field fence to put Venezuela up 5-0 after five innings.

There was hint of a comeback from the Philippines in their last turn at bat but with one out and loaded bases but with Mary Magaud's fly ball to centre field caught by Diana Arcay, Reyae Villamin was caught between second and third and eventually tagged out at third to end the game, Venezuela claiming their first win of the tournament 5-1.

• Where to watch
• First time that Ireland, Spain and Italy host a WBSC tournament.
• New sustainable Mizuno ball - the M170 - in play.
• Six teams participating in three groups. Top two teams from Group C “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.
• Puerto Rico and the Netherlands booked the two tickets from Group B in Valencia, Spain. Read the Group B review.
• WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Full History