2008 Women's Baseball World Cup

The 2008 Women's Baseball World Cup is the third Women's Baseball World Cup. It was held in late August 2008 in Matsuyama, Ehime and won by the host nation

Final Ranking

Rank	Nation
Gold	Japan
Silver	Canada
Bronze	United States
4th	Australia
5th	Chinese Taipei
6th	South Korea
7th	India
8th	Hong Kong

August 24

Game 1: 10:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	0	1	1	3	2	0	4	11	15	3
Chinese Taipei	0	0	1	1	0	3	0	5	7	0

OF Lilly Jacobson and 3B Donna Mills each rapped three hits to lead the US to victory over Taiwan. Taiwan rallied from a 7-2 deficit in the 6th as reliever Megan Meidlinger walked three batters in a row, C Veronica Alvarez dropped a throw to home on a grounder, Meidlinger walked home a run and Taiwan grounded in one more to make it 7-5 before Meidlinger escaped further damage. The US scored four in the 9th to put the game away.

Game 2: 12:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Hong Kong	1	7	1	0	0	-	-	9	4	6
Canada	5	2	2	10	-	-	-	19	11	6

The two clubs combined for 28 runs despite only 15 hits, thanks to 19 walks and 12 errors. Nicole Luchanski (2 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R) and Mel Harwood (2 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI) paced the Canadian offense while Ashley Stephenson (2 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R) drove in four runs to lead the team.

Game 3: 2:35 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
India	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	2	1
Australia	6	5	2	2	-	-	-	15	17	1

Kim Schulte and rookie Laura Neads combined on a 2-hit whitewash in a game shortened by the mercy rule. Shae Lillywhite went 3 for 3 with 3 runs and one of three inside-the-park homers hit by Australian batswomen. Tahnee Lovering and Samantha Hamilton each drove in 3 and had the other two inside-the-park circuit clouts.

Game 4: 6:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	1	1	5	1	3	-	-	11	7	0
South Korea	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	0	2	3

Miko Kayano and two relief pitchers combined on a 2-hit, no-walk shutout. Yukiko Kon went 1 for 1 with 3 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBI to lead Japan's charge.

August 25

Game 5: 10:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	9	0	7	11	-	-	-	27	23	0
India	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	0	0	6

Ashleigh Vargas, Christin Sobeck and Megan Meidlinger combined on a four-inning no-hitter ended by the mercy rule as the USA had scored 27 runs. OF Lilly Jacobson, SS Jane Uh and 3B Donna Mills each scored four runs in the 4-inning game and IF Keri Lemasters had 4 hits.

Game 6: 12:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
South Korea	1	0	5	3	6	-	-	15	9	1
Hong Kong	5	0	2	1	2	-	-	5	3	3

Korean leadoff woman Dae-lee Kwak scored four runs and stole 3 bases in an easy win.

Game 7: 2:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	1	1	0	4	6	-	12	10	0
Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	3	5

Simone Wearne tossed a 3-hit shutout while Kelly Manzie tripled twice and scored twice in a win.

Game 8: 7:00 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Canada	2	0	0	0	0	-	-	2	4	2
Japan	3	1	0	0	8	-	-	12	11	0

The Silver Medalists from the first two Women's Baseball World Cups easily beat the Bronze Medalist from 2004 and 2006. Kana Sakamoto easily outpitched Kate Psota and leadoff hitter Nodoka Harada went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a run and 2 RBI to lead a balanced Japanese offense.

August 26

Game 9: 10:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	0	0	2	1	1	2	0	6	9	1
India	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5

India was again hitless but avoided the mercy rule at least. Yu-Ying Tseng and two relievers combined on the no-hitter, while Chih-Hsuan Sung led the offense (2 for 3, R, 3 RBI, HR).

Game 10: 1 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Canada	10	0	2	3	-	-	-	15	10	0
South Korea	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	0	2	4

Starter Su-jung Park failed to retire a batter and allowed 7 runs in a rout. Due to rain, the 4-inning game took 5 hours to play. Marie-Josée Tremblay and Melanie Anctil teamed up on a 2-hit shutout. Ashley Stephenson (2 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R) and Amanda Asay (4 RBI) did their jobs out of the third and fourth slots in the batting order.

Game 11: 2:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	0	0	1	0	-	1	4	1
United States	0	1	3	2	3	2	-	11	8	0

More US hitters had runs (7) than had hits (4) in this win. The leaders were 2B Malaika Underwood (2 for 2, 2 R, 4 RBI, 3B, HR), C Veronica Alvarez (3 for 3, R, 2 RBI) and OF Lilly Jacobson (2 for 2, 2 BB, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI).

Game 12: 6:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	5	3	14	2	-	-	-	24	20	1
Hong Kong	0	0	0	1	-	-	-	1	2	5

Well, it was a lot closer than Japan's 43-0 rout of Hong Kong in the 2006 Women's Baseball World Cup. Miki Atsugase (3 for 4, BB, 2 RBI), Natsumi Nakano (4 for 5, 5 RBI), Tomomi Takashima (2 for 2, 2 BB, 2 RBI) and Yukiko Kon (3 for 4, BB, 2 RBI) scored four runs apiece.

August 27

Game 13: 10:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Hong Kong	1	0	1	0	0	-	-	2	3	4
Chinese Taipei	8	2	3	3	-	-	-	16	9	3

Chen-Chi Tseng went 2 for 3 with 3 runs and 3 RBI to lead Taiwan to a rout to even their record at 2-2.

Game 14: 12:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Canada	0	0	1	0	3	1	2	7	11	2
United States	0	0	2	1	0	3	0	6	10	3

The defending Gold Medalists fell to their northern neighbors in a close game. In the top of the third, Canada scored first when Kate Psota singled home Autumn Mills. The US quickly rallied in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Jane Uh hit a 2-out single to score veterans Donna Mills and Bridget Veenema.

Tara Harbert singled and stole to open the 4th and came home on a double by 2B Malaika Underwood. Canada retook the lead in the 5th. With no outs, they loaded the bases against Anna Kimbrell. Ashley Stephenson singled home two runs to tie it. Geneviève Beauchamp tried a suicide squeeze but wound up with a RBI single instead as she beat the throw to first.

Canada made it 5-3 in the 6th. Mel Harwood singled. She took two bases on a bunt when no one covered third for the US. Karine Gagné then delivered a run-scoring squeeze play.

The US rallied once more. Alex Hebert was hit by a pitch from Autumn Mills and Karen Costes reached on a fielder's choice with one out. Underwood loaded the bags with a shot to left. Keri Lemasters then singled home Hebert and Costes. Mills threw a wild pitch, then walked Donna Mills intentionally. Veenema grounded in run number 6 for a 1-run US lead.

Lemasters moved to the mound to try to protect the lead. The move backfird as Stéphanie Savoie singled in the tying run and Gagné had her second squeeze bunt of the game for a 7-6 lead.

Stephenson was now on the hill for Canada and allowed a 2-out single to Harbert in the 7th. Harbert stole second but got no further and Canada had a key victory. Psota finished 3 for 4 for Canada and Stephenson got the win.

Game 15: 2:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
India	0	0	0	4	1	1	1	7	6	3
South Korea	2	0	1	0	4	2	-	9	12	3

India not only got its first hit in three games and its first run of the tournament, but led by 3 going into the bottom of the 5th and were in the game until the end against South Korea. Hye-jin Seo (4 for 4, 4 R) and Kyong-hi Yu (3 for 4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2 2B, HR) are the reasons Korea won this one.

Game 16: 6:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	8	4
Japan	1	3	1	1	1	3	-	10	15	1

Japan remained the lone unbeaten team as Miku Kayano had a strong game on the mound. The offense was led by leadoff hitter Nodoka Harada (3 for 4, 2 R), #3 batter Tomomi Takashima (3 for 4, 1 R) and Kyoki Makino (3 for 4, 3 R).

August 28

Game 17: 5:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	3	0	1	0	1	1	3	9	15	2
United States	0	1	0	3	0	1	0	5	13	2

Starters Kana Sakamoto and Kristin Caldwell both struggled, allowing a combined 21 hits in 8 2/3 IP in a match-up of the top two teams from 2004 and 2006.

Japan began quickly. RF Nodoka Harada singled and 3B Junko Arai walked on four pitches. Tomomi Takashima laid down a bunt hit. A wild pitch by Caldwell made it 1-0. With two outs, LF Akiko Shimura singled home Arai and Takashima for a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 2nd, US 1B Keri Lemasters and SS Jane Uh singled to put women on the corners. LF Sarah Gascon singled home Lemasters bit Ih was thrown out at third on the play. The US loaded the bases but 2B Malaika Underwood popped up to Arai.

In the third, Shimua singled and stole second with two outs. 2B Miki Atsugase singled to drive in Shimura to make it 4-1.

The USA tied the score in the bottom of the 4th. Lemasters and Uh singled to open the inning. Gascon laid down a bunt and all runners were safe on a fielder's choice. C Veronica Alvarez singled home Lemasters. CF Tara Harbert singled to score Uh. Sakamoto was promptly yanked, having given up 9 hits in only 3 innings. Underwood then ground into a game-tying, run-scoring force.

Shimura started another rally in the 5th by reaching on a 2-base Uh error. Atsugase laid down a bunt, Shimura moving to third. Atsugase stole second. Miku Kayano struck out and SS Kyoko Makino popped up on a bunt attempt. Harada then singled to right, scoring Shimura. Atsugase was thrown out trying to score on the play. Japan was back up, 5-4.

In the 6th, Takashima doubled and wound up scoring on Uh's 2nd error of the day to put Japan ahead by two. The US made up one run when Harbert reached on an Atsugase error and scored on a hit by Underwood to close the game to 6-5.

Japan put it away in the 7th. With one out, Makino and Harada drew walks from reliever Heather Brusokos. Arai singled to load the bases and Takashima continued to star with a 2-run single, her 4th hit of the day. After an intentional walk, 1B Yukiko Kon singled home Arai for a 9-5 score.

Kasumi Noguchi allowed a 2-out double to Lemasters in the bottom of the 7th but nothing else to wrap up the win. Japan went to the Gold Medal game for the third Women's Baseball World Cup in a row whereas the US was left out of the Gold Medal game for the first time.

Game 18: 5:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	6	9	3
Canada	1	1	1	2	0	2	-	7	10	0

Canada ensured their first trip to the Gold Medal game in a Baseball World Cup, male or female, with another 7-6 victory. Manager André Lachance said “We are playing like bandits! We keep stealing games from our opponents in the late innings or our last at-bats!”

Australia jumped to a 3-0 lead but Canada pecked away with runs in the first, second and third. In the bottom of the 4th, they took the lead 5-3. Australia rallied to retake the lead, 6-5, in the 5th.

In the Canadian half of the 6th, Nicole Luchanski opened with a single off of Lauren Murphy. Autumn Mills then delivered a game-tying triple and Ashley Stephenson continued her strong tournament with the two-out game-winning single.

Kate Psota tossed two scoreless innings for the win and also led the offense, going 3 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI. Angela Catford had 2 runs and 2 RBI for Australia.

August 29

Game 19: 10:30 AM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
South Korea	0	0	0	1	-	-	-	1	3	2
Chinese Taipei	0	6	3	7	-	-	-	16	11	0

Taiwan easily finished 5th as Yen-Hen Liao drove in 4 and 3 players scored 3 runs between the 2nd and 4th: Chen-Chi Tseng, Ming-Chen Tsai and Chih-Hsuan Sung.

Game 20: 2:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Hong Kong	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	6	8	4
India	4	1	0	2	0	1	-	8	4	2

India took 7th place with its first win of the tournament despite being outhit 8-4.

Game 21: 2:30 PM

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	9	2
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	4	2

Marti Sementelli went the distance for a one-run victory over Simone Wearne (who also threw a complete game) as the USA won the Bronze Medal game. In the third, OF Tara Harbert and SS Sarah Gascon singled to put women on the corners. On a throw to first from Wearne, Gascon stayed in a rundown long enough to give Harbert time to score from third.

The USA benefited from two errors by Kelly Manzie in the 5th. 2B Malaika Underwood hit into a fielder's choice for her 12th RBI of the tournament to put the US ahead 2-0.

Australia challenged in the bottom of the 5th when Amy McCann reached on a two-base error by Donna Mills. Loren Vella laid down a bunt which Sementelli fielded; she threw to third but was unable to catch McCann, putting runners on the corners. McCann broke for home but was tagged out by C Veronica Alvarez.

In the bottom of the 7th, Australia rallied. Sementelli hit the first two batters to give her three plunked hitters on the day. McCann bunted the runners over. PH Laura Neads singled home Julia Fellows to make it 2-1. PH Kim McMillan attempted a squeeze bunt but popped up to Alvarez. Alvarez then fired the ball to Mills to complete the double play.

Gascon went 3 for 4 for the USA.

Game 22: 6:30 PM in Botchan Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Canada	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	3	12	2
Japan	0	0	0	4	7	0	-	11	11	1

Japan took its first Gold Medal, but the host nation had to battle back to win it.

Canada loaded the bases in the first but failed to score against Risa Nakashima. In the second, RF Marie-Josée Tremblay walked and both DH Nicole Luchanski and SS Karine Gagné singled to put Canada up by one. In the third inning, Kasumi Noguchi relieved and allowed a run when 1B Amanda Asay scored on a Junko Arai error at third.

Japan took the lead in the 4th. 2B Miki Atsugase, CF Miku Kayano and SS Kyoko Makino singled off of Kate Psota to make it 2-1. Arai doubled home Kayano and Makino for a 3-2 lead and scored later on a sacrifice fly by C Tomomi Nishi.

In the 5th, Tremblay singled in Geneviève Beauchamp to close the contest to 4-3 but Japan made it a rout after that with 7 runs in the 5th. Neither team scored again.

Arai (2 for 2, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI) and Atsugase (3 for 4, SB, 2 R) led the offense for Japan while Naguchi allowed only one run in five innings to finish the Cup at 3-0.

Leaders and Awards

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Kasumi Noguchi ( Japan)
• Outstanding Defensive Player: Tomomi Nishi ( Japan)

Leaders (Preliminary Phases only)

• Leading Hitter: .733, 11 H, 15 AB; Tomomi Takashima ( Japan)
• Pitcher with best ERA: 0.00, 5 IP, 0 ER; Kasumi Noguchi ( Japan)
• Pitcher with best won-loss average: 1.000, 2 W, 0 L; Kasumi Noguchi ( Japan)
• Most Runs Batted In: 11; Malaika Underwood ( United States)
• Most Home Runs: 1; Natsumi Nakano ( Japan)
• Most Stolen Bases: 5; Ashley Stephenson ( Canada)
• Most Runs Scored: 10; Tomomi Takashima ( Japan)

All-Stars Team

Position	Player	Nation
Pitcher	Marti Sementelli	United States
Catcher	Tomomi Nishi	Japan
First Baseman	Yukiko Kon	Japan
Second Baseman	Malaika Underwood	United States
Third Baseman	Ashley Stephenson	Canada
Shortstop	Kyoko Makino	Japan
Outfielders	Nodoka Harada	Japan
	Angela Catford	Australia
	Lilly Jacobson	United States
Designated Hitter	Tomomi Takashima	Japan

See Also

2008 Women's Baseball World Cup rosters