Four years ago today (11 September 2016), Japan won their fifth consecutive WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, as they outscored Canada, 10-0, in the final played at Hyundai-Gijang Dream Ballpark in Busan, Korea.
Ayami Sato went the distance for Japan, allowing only two hits. Four Canadian pitchers couldn't stop Madonna Japan. The Japanese lineup combined for 10 hits. Nine of them were singles. The lone double, by catcher Chihiro Funakoshi, was worth three runs. Funakoshi went two-for-four and was one of four players enjoying a multi-hit game. Center fielder Lori Miura went three-for-five with one RBI, leadoff hitter and third baseman Ayako Rokkaku went two-for-four and designated hitter Ayumi Terabe went two-for-two.
Japan also had two players voted to the All-World Team: pitcher Ayami Sato, the tournament MVP, and second basewoman Yuki Kawabata.
Japan recently celebrated the sixth anniversary of winning the 2014 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup. Sato, on her way to another MVP, threw a complete game on 7 September 2014 to defeat the United States, 3-0, in the final played in front of 14,500 fans at Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki, Japan. Madonna Japan was limited to four hits but thrived on a couple of defensive errors.
