USA claim inaugural WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup title
USA's win over Puerto Rico was based on a superb pitching performance from Macie Bryant who allowed only one hit and claimed 17 strikeouts while leadoff hitter Aspen Boulware, named tournament MVP, collected a hit and a run.
World No. 1 USA prevailed 3-0 in the unprecedented championship showdown with Puerto Rico in the final of the inaugural WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup at Ota Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday.
USA now holds every World Championship title in women's softball, namely the WBSC U-15, U-18 and Senior crowns.
The win was based on a superb pitching performance from Macie Bryant who allowed only one hit and claimed 17 strikeouts while leadoff hitter Aspen Boulware, named tournament MVP, collected another hit and a run, which contributed towards her impressive tournament record of 8-for-19, .421 batting average, 10 runs, four home runs and six RBIs.
Prior to the win, USA collected seven wins and dropped one match against hosts and world No. 2 Japan during the Super Round but bounced back against world No. 5 Chinese Taipei to secure a spot in the final. World No. 3 Puerto Rico also had seven wins, including four in the Opening Round and a perfect sweep of three wins in the Super Round.
The two sides had previously met in the Opening Round, with USA winning the game 6-0.
USA outplayed Puerto Rico behind Macie Bryant's masterful pitching performance to claim the title of World Champions in the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup. Bryant had seven innings of work, allowing only one hit and 17 strikeouts.
In the top of the first, Bryant struck out the first three Puerto Rican batters before leadoff hitter Aspen Boulware started the next half of the inning with a single.
Boulware got home after stealing second, and then thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Stevie South and a wild throw to first, Boulware home for USA's first run. South got home herself on another sacrifice bunt, this time from Anabela Abdullah, and another wild throw to first to complete the inning with USA 2-0 up.
By the fifth inning, Bryant have already collected 12 strikeouts, leaving the Puerto Ricans still searching for their first hit.
The US pitcher then gave up her first hit off Miyah Davis' bat, then got the third out in the top of the sixth inning with a swinging strikeout.
USA jumpstarted their offence one more time in the bottom of the sixth. With only one out and two runners in scoring position, Riley Staats lined a single down to right field to score Samantha Alekman and stretch the USA lead to 3-0.
Bryant finalised the gold medal win for USA by retiring the Puerto Rican batters in order with two strikeouts and a ground out to spark joyous celebrations.
