Edmonton (Canada). Just one more day is left on the schedule for the first round at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. On Thursday Canada, which remains undefeated, USA and Japan cruised to three easy victories. Also Venezuela prevailed over the Netherlands. Australia and Chinese Taipei missed out with upsets to drop to 3-3 each.
Both teams will meet on Friday morning at Telus Field in a direct battle for fourth place in the standings. The winner will reach the semi-finals, while the loser has to go to the consolation round. Within the top three, the highly anticipated clash between Japan and Canada (live on YouTube) in the evening will decide over the seeding. Afterwards we’ll know the schedule for Saturday.
Venezuela 14 – Netherlands 6
Day seven at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup started with a 14-6 victory of Venezuela over the Netherlands. The South Americans filled the scoreboard in each of the first six frames en route to their second victory in the tournament. The Dutch team rallied for six runs combined in the fourth and fifth, but couldn’t make up the deficit completely. Nidia Pineda went 4-for-4, while Leonela Reyes drove in three.
USA 13 – Chinese Taipei 3
The USA overcame an early scare en route to a 13-3 victory over Chinese Taipei. The two-time champion erased a first-inning deficit to win their fifth game in Edmonton, Canada. Playing at John Fry Park they scored in each frame between the second and the fifth to end the contest due to ten-run rule. Donna Williams collected three hits, three runs and three RBI for the US. Chinese Taipei is now 3-3.
Japan 10 – Australia 0
Japan has won its fifth game at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup on Thursday. The defending title holder defeated Australia 10-0 in six innings. They scored eight runs in the first two frames, providing an early cushion. Hurlers Risa Nakashima and Yukari Isozaki gave up just three hits and two walks in the game. Australia dropped to 3-3, battling for the fourth spot in the semi-finals.
Canada 12 – Cuba 2
Host Canada kept their clean slate by downing Cuba 12-2 in six innings in the evening game at Telus Field on Thursday. Six runs in the first put them quickly on the fast track towards victory lane. Cuba remained winless in the tournament. Nicole Luchansky was the player of the night, going 4-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and three RBI.
Schedule
Friday, August 18, 2012
11:00 Australia – Chinese Taipei (Telus Field)
14:00 Venezuela – USA (John Fry Park)
15:00 Netherlands – Cuba (Telus Field)
19:30 Japan – Canada (Telus Field)
Standings
1) Canada 6-0
2) USA 5-1
3) Japan 5-1
4) Australia 3-3
4) Chinese Taipei 3-3
6) Venezuela 2-4
7) Cuba
7) Netherlands
