Edmonton (Canada). The first round at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada ended on Friday with a thrilling game between Japan and Canada. The defending champion nearly blew an eight-run lead, finishing off the host with a 1-2-3 double play en route to a first-place after the round robin.
Canada drops to second in the standing, setting up a rematch against the United States in the semi-finals. Japan is facing Australia in the afternoon, hoping to qualify for the Gold Medal Game on Sunday. The team from Down Under had beaten Chinese Taipei in the morning to clinch the fourth berth in the semis.
The biggest surprise of the day happened in the afternoon at John Fry Park. Venezuela stunned the USA, but still has to settle for the consolation round, which also commences on Saturday. In the game between winless teams Cuba against the Dutch team prevailed.
Schedule
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Classification Round:
- 11:00 Chinese Taipei – Netherlands (Telus Field)
- 14:00 Venezuela – Cuba (John Fry Park)
Semi-Finals:
- 15:00 Japan – Australia (Telus Field)
- 19:30 Canada – USA (Telus Field)
Australia 11 – Chinese Taipei 0
It was supposed to be a close battle between Australia and Chinese Taipei on Friday morning at Telus Field, both trying to clinch fourth place in the final standings of the first round. However the team from Down Under had other plans and scored a combined 11 runs in the second and third en route to an 11-0 shutout and a berth in the semi-finals. Brittany Hepburn, Lauren McGrath and Maddison Lenard held Chinese Taipei to four hits combined.
Venezuela 5 – USA 1
Venezuela had a difficult first round at the tournament, but finished the round robin phase on a high note. They prevailed 5-1 in stunning upset over the United States at John Fry Park. Four runs in the bottom of the fourth decided the outcome. The big rally was highlighted by a bases clearing double of Ofelia Arrieche. The South American team still will miss the semi-finals, having to settle for the classification phase with a 3-4 record. The United States came in as third with five wins in seven games.
Netherlands 5 – Cuba 13
In a matchup of previously winless teams, Cuba out-slugged the Netherlands 13-5 at Telus Field in the afternoon. Both teams end up in the classification round, having been ranked seventh and eighth after the round robin. Yurismaris Baez had four hits and four runs for Cuba. Lianni Rodriguez went six innings for the win. Amber Dammers had two hits for the Dutch, but also got charged with the loss on the mound.
Japan 9 – Canada 7
Defending world champion Japan is entering the semi-finals on Saturday as the number-one seed. They defeated Canada 9-7 on Friday evening in front of the best crowd so far at Telus Field in Edmonton, handing the hosts their first loss in the tournament. Japan built up a 9-1 lead through four innings and looked to be en route to an easy win. Canada woke up and rallied in the fifth and seventh to make it a two-run game with one out in the ninth. However Ayami Sato escaped a bases loaded situation with a 1-2-3 double play, ending the game in style.
Standings
1) Japan 6-1
2) Canada 6-1
3) USA 5-2
4) Australia 4-3
5) Chinese Taipei 3-4
6) Venezuela 3-4
7) Cuba 1-6
8) Netherlands 0-7
