2010 Women's Baseball World Cup

The 2010 Women's Baseball World Cup was the fourth Women's Baseball World Cup. It was held from August 12 through August 22 in Caracas, Venezuela. Competing nations were Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Taiwan, Cuba, Japan, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United States. Japan won its second straight title while Australia got its first Medal ever - and became the first new medal winner since the first World Cup as Canada, the USA and Japan had gotten every medal int he first three events. Ayako Rokkaku won MVP honors.

See 2010 Women's Baseball World Cup rosters for roster information.

Round One Games

August 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Hong Kong	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	6
Chinese Taipei	4	7	1	5	-	17	12	0

1B An-Ya Cheng scores four and drives in three in a Taiwanese rout. Yu-Ying Hsieh and Pei-Hsuan Chou combined on a one-hitter. The lone Hong Kong run came on a RBI triple by SS Tsz-Chin Lau, their only hit.

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

In a matchup of the 2008 champs (Japan) and the 2004 and 2006 champs (USA), Japan won the highly-anticipated game in front of 6,000 fans. Yukari Isozaki and two relievers combined to hold the US to one run. The USA went ahead in the third on a double by SS Jenna Marston and a single by 1B Jennifer Hill. Marti Sementelli held Japan in check until the fourth when 2B Natsumi Nakano and 3B Ayako Rokkaku each hit two-run doubles. Rokkako went 3 for 3 with three RBI.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	0	10	4	6	21	8	4
South Korea	2	6	0	1	0	0	9	6	4

Korea roughed up Cuban starter Yaima Ramos for eight runs before she left in the second inning, but Cuba rallied for ten in the fourth thanks to four hit batswomen and four walks that forced in four runs between them - they only had three hits, the big blow being a bases-loaded triple by OF Yamisleidis Perez. 2B Dayana Batista scored four runs on the day.

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

Canada and Australia met in a rematch of the 2004 and 2006 Bronze Medal games and Canada once again won out. Teenaged SS Bronwyn Gell got Australia ahead 1-0 in the second when she singled in CF Amy McCann, but Kate Psota and Autumn Mills allowed nothing further. Canada tied it against Jacinda Barclay in the third on a single by CF Becky Hartley and a double by 2B Nicole Luchanski. Canada scored five times in the fifth to take the game. 1B Amanda Asay finished 2 for 2 with a walk and a RBI.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Venezuela	12	0	4	2	2	20	17	2
Netherlands	0	3	1	0	0	4	4	5

Two countries made their Women's Baseball World Cup debuts in drastically different fashions, with the host Venezuelans scoring 12 runs in their first inning alone. Thari Diefenbach gave up 16 runs (5 earned) in three innings for the Orange. 1B Johana Perez went 3 for 5 with 3 runs, 4 RBI and a double to lead a strong Venezuelan attack.

August 13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	0	0	1	0	5	0	0	6	7	0
Canada	0	0	0	2	2	1	2	7	12	3

In the closest game yet, Canada had to rally in the bottom of the last inning to squeak past Taiwan. Taiwan got on the board first, when RF Ting Wang singled in 2B Tzu-Hui Pan in the third. Canada took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, on singles by 1B Kate Psota, 3B Ashley Stephenson, C Jennifer Gilroy, RF Stéphanie Savoie and CF Becky Hartley against Chiao-Yun Huang.

The lead was short-lived as Melissa Armstrong struggled in the 4th. She allowed a single to CF Yung-Hsin Cheng, the #8 hitter, and a double to SS Hsjao--Chen Wang. Pan singled and errors by Psota and Stephenson on the play made it 2-2. Cindy Saavadra was called on to relieve Armstrong. She got one out, then intentionally walked Ting Wang. 1B An-Ya Cheng, the cleanup batter, drew a four-pitch walk to force in a run. Vanessa Riopel was called on next, but she plunked C Yu-Chuan Tu to make it 4-2 Taiwan. DH Shih-Han Sung ground in a run, then An-Ya Cheng stole home on a double steal for a 6-2 edge.

The defending Silver Medalists rallied. 2B Nicole Luchanski walked and Psota singled. Tzu-Ling Wen relieved Huang and allowed a Stephenson single. DH Amanda Asay hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Luchanski. An out later, Savoie doubled to close the gap to two.

Hartlet began the 6th with a walk from Wen-Cheng Hsieh, then veteran SS Karine Gagné (in her fourth World Cup) singled back to the mound. Luchanski bunted into an out at third, but Psota singled to load the bases. Stephenson hit a sacrifice fly to bring Canada within a run. Riopel, meanwhile, shut out Taiwan in the 6th and 7th. In the bottom of the 7th, newcomer Gilroy walked and was bunted over by backup CF Patricia Landry. Taelor Frederickson pinch-ran for the catcher and Autumn Mills pinch-hit. Yu-Ying Hsieh came from the bullpen and allowed a game-tying single to Mills. Mills stole second, then took third on a single by Hartley. Gagné then pulled off a successful squeeze bunt to bring home the winner. Psota finished 3 for 3 with a walk and two runs.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Japan	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	3	8	1
Cuba	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	6	1

Yui Xingu tossed a fine game, allowing only one run in a complete game outing. The run came in the third and put Cuba ahead - RF Yaile Luis led off with a walk and advanced on two bunts before 1B Yuleidy Charon hit into an error by 3B Junko Arai. Japan got the run back in the 4th versus Dianisleidis Moreno. With one out, they got three straight hits by C Tomomi Takashima, CF Miku Kayano and 1B Yui Oyama. RF Mari Yamazaki tried to lay down a squeeze bunt but wound up reaching on a Charon error to tie the score.

Japan went ahead in the 5th. 2B Natsumi Nakano singled and was bunted over. After an intentional walk, Moreno was charged with a balk, then intentionally walked Takashima as well. Kayano singled home Nakano for a 2-1 lead. They got insurance in the 7th verus Raysa De Feria. Arai drew a lead-off walk. After a sacrifice bunt, Takashima walked again and Kayano was intentionally walked to load the bases. Backup 1B Yukiko Kon hit a squeeze bunt for a 3-1 score. Xingu saved her second perfect inning (the other came in the first) for the end, going 1-2-3 in the 9th to end it.

• During the Netherlands-Hong Kong game on this date, a stray bullet hit Hong Kong third basewoman Woon-Yee Cheuk. All the remaining games for the day were canceled and all later games were rescheduled to take place in Maracay, with no more contests in Caracas. Hong Kong also withdrew from the competition due to this incident. The Netherlands was winning, 12-9, in the third, at the time of the shooting.

August 15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Cuba	0	2	1	8	1	0	12	13	0
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	1	0	-	1	3	7

In Puerto Rico's World Cup debut, they were held to three hits and one run by Yaima Ramos. Their Ramos, Johanna Ramos, was no match, giving up eight hits and nine runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Cuban 2B Dayana Batista was 3 for 3 with a walk, 2 runs and a RBI while 3B Virgen Vargas went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI. Puerto Rico had more than twice as many errors as hits.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
United States	1	7	9	0	4	21	18	1
South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2

Loren Smith and Christin Sobeck combined on a 3-hit shutout, shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. LF Tamara Holmes homered twice and drove in six while RF Jenna Marston was 2 for 2 with 3 runs and 3 RBI.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
Japan	0	10	3	1	-	14	15	0

South Korea's bad day got worse as Ayako Imai and Kana Sakamoto shut them out on two hits, topping the US effort, though the Japanese batters were less productive. Cleanup hitter and catcher Tomomi Nishi homered and drove in four.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Netherlands	2	0	0	0	1	3	5	2
Australia	4	0	3	9	-	16	13	1

1B Katie Gaynor drives in four and 3B-2B Brooke Shiels scores three as Australia cruises to victory.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	5	12	1
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1

Marti Sementelli went the distance, fanning nine and allowing four hits as Cuba took its first defeat. Mabel Cuello blanked the US for four innings as she engaged in a pitcher's duel with Sementelli before 2B Malaika Underwood opened the fifth with a home run. SS Jenna Marston went 3 for 4.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	5	12	2
Chinese Taipei	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	3	6	1

Of the three newcomers to the event, host Venezuela continued to look far better than Puerto Rico or the Netherlands, beating an established Taiwanese team in front of 8,451 home fans.

Venezuela got on the board first. With one out in the top of the second, 1B Johana Perez singled off Hsjao-Chien Wang. An out later, Perez stole second, then CF Marianne Perez, the #9 hitter, doubled her home. In the bottom of the second, Taiwan tied it with two out versus Maria Lopez. LF Shih-Han Sung singled. C Yu-Chuan Tu walked and Taiwan pulled off a double steal. CF Yung-Hsin Cheng walked to load the bases, then 3B Yin-Hsuan Wang singled in the tying run.

Taiwan took the lead in the fourth, again striking with two outs. Tu drew another walk, then stole second. Cheng singled her to third, then stole second. Wang singled to score Tu and an error by Marianne Perez on the play also let Cheng score, for a 3-1 edge. Diogcelis Guevara relieved Lopez and would shut out Taiwan the rest of the way.

In the 5th, Venezuelan RF Nidia Pineda singled and DH Kellyn Mendoza doubled her in to close the gap to tone. Still down by a run entering the final frame, Venezuela faced reliever Wen-Ching Hsieh. LF Leonel Reyes greeted her with a single. 2B Lelis Gomez bunted and wound up reaching on a fielder's choice. Pineda bunted both runners over. Chiao-Yun Huang replaced Hsieh but Mendoza again came up big, this time with a 2-run single to put Venezuela ahead. Pinch-runner Ofelia Arriechi stole second then scored on a single by Johana Perez for the game's last score.

August 16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Puerto Rico	0	1	1	6	2	10	12	0

Maria Zayas threw a two-hit shutout for Puerto Rico's first win ever at the Women's Baseball World Cup. RF Ninoska Amaro was 3 for 4 with two steals, a double and three runs.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Netherlands	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	3
Canada	5	4	1	2	-	12	11	0

2B Nicole Luchanski goes 3 for 3 with a walk, two runs and a RBI while Martine Nadeau and Shayla Sashavar combine to hold the Orange to three hits and one run.

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

Melinda Latimer and Laura Neads combine to fan ten in a 3-hit shutout, and they are backed by a balanced offensive attack in the win.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
United States	3	0	4	1	1	0	0	9	8	0

Six US pitchers combine on a 3-hit whitewash. 3B-1B Sarah Gascon gets three hits, SS-P Clarisa Navarro three runs and 1B Laura Watson 3 RBI.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	1	2	4	4	11	11	2
Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6

Wan-Yu Teng and Tzu-Ling Wen keep up the day's trend of combined shutouts, blanking the Netherlands on two hits. Six errors by the only European entry doesn't help their cause in the loss. Michelle Bruijn shuts out Taiwan for three innings before they break the scoreless tie.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
Canada	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	1	1
Venezuela	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	6	1

In a match-up of two of the three remaining unbeaten teams, the hosts won the tourney's first extra-inning game in front of 4,932 fans.

Canada went ahead first. In the second inning, C Jennifer Gilroy was plunked by Jessica Primera. She moved to third on an error by LF Leonel Reyes, then scored on a double by LF Megean Cornelssen; it would be the lone hit for the Canadians. Venezuela took the lead in the next inning. The catcher again started a rally, as Ofelia Arriechi singled off Autumn Mills. CF Marianne Perez bunted into a Mills error, then SS Solmarys Brito bunted both runners into scoring position. Reyes redeemed herself with a crucial 2-run double, knocking out Mills. Kate Psota relieved and would shut down Venezuela for the remainder of the scheduled 7 innings.

In the top of the 7th, the defending Silver Medal winners tied it. Dailys Gimenez had tossed three shutout, hitless innings after relieving Primera, but began the 7th by walking LF Becky Hartley. Hartley stole second, then Mills (now stationed in center field) walked as well. The wild Gimenez was relieved by Diogcelis Guevara. SS Karine Gagné bunted the runners over. 2B Nicole Luchanski hit a game-tying sacrifice fly, but Raiza Tarazaona relieved Guevara and retired Psota to end the threat.

In the 8th, Kerlys Perez became the 5th Venezuelan hurler. She started the extra frame by allowing Canada to load the bases with one out, but got 3B Ashley Stephenson to ground back to the mound to start a rally-killing double play. During the bottom of the inning, Psota finally cracked, as RF Nidia Pineda singled home Brito with the winner.

August 17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Japan	1	2	5	0	0	2	10	9	2

Ayami Sato and Mika Miyahara combined on a two-hit shutout as Japan ended the first round without a loss. Puerto Rican hurlers walked 11 and starter Zuleyka Santiago was knocked out during the third. 3B-SS Ayako Rokkaku walked four times, scored and drove in a run.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	9	2
Venezuela	0	3	0	2	0	3	-	8	8	1

Over 12,000 fans turned out to see the host country remained unbeaten, topping another more established women's baseball program. Kerlys Pérez, Yessica Meza and Diana Tovar combine to hold the Aussies to one run as the team again shows strong and deep pitching. Taylah Welch and Kim McMillan, meanwhile, could not stop the Venezuelan offense. SS Solmarys Brito, the leadoff hitter, scored three runs while 2B Lelis Gomez went 3 for 3 with a run and two RBI.

Round Two Games

August 18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
United States	2	0	1	0	2	4	1	10	14	0
Canada	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	2

Jenna Marston is a two-way star. She goes 5 for 5 with two doubles, two steals and three runs. She also starts on the hill and joins with three relievers to shut down Canada as the defending Bronze Medalists top the defending Silver Medalists. Canadian starter Cindy Saavadra lasts just three batters. LF Tamara Holmes hits a grand slam for the US and SS-P Clarisa Navarro is 3 for 3 with a walk and three runs.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	1	1	5	0	0	2	1	10	13	3
Japan	3	1	2	0	0	0	3	9	12	3

The defending champs took their first loss as their pitching proved to be human after all. With 7,000 fans in attendance in Maracay, SS Natalie Rawlings opened the game with a double off Yukari Isozaki and later scored on a single by 1B Katie Gaynor. In the bottom of the first, Japan took the lead against Jacinda Barclay. 2B Natsumi Nakano opened with a single to right, then 3B Ayako Rokkaku got a bunt hit. CF Miku Kayano bunted the runners over, then C Tomomi Nishi was intentionally walked to load the bases. DH Tomomi Takashima went down swinging, but 1B Yukiko Kon smacked one to left for a 2-run single. RF Risa Nakashima bunted and 3B Christina Kreppold made a throwing error on the play, scoring Nishi from second for a 3-1 lead.

In the second, Isozaki walked CF Amy McCann, who was bunted over then scored on a hit by C Tahnee Lovering. Japan made up the run in the bottom of the inning on a walk to LF Akiko Shimura, a single by Rokkaku and a wild pitch by Barclay.

Australia opened the floodgates in the third. 2B Shae Lillywhite hit into an error by SS Megumi Miyazaki. DH Kim McMillan bunted her over, then Gaynor singled. Kreppold made up for her error with a RBI double to make it 4-3. Kasumi Noguchi was summoned to relieve Isozaki. McCann hit into another Miyazaki error to tie the game. LF Samantha Hamilton singled in the go-ahead run. A sacrifice fly by Lovering put Australia in front, 6-4. RF Janna Loudoun singled, then Rawlings singled in Australia's fifth run of the inning before Noguchi retired Lillywhite with Japan now trailing by three.

Japan rallied in the bottom of the third. Takashima drew a leadoff walk. With two outs, Miyazaki singled her to third. They pulled off a double steal to close it to 7-5. Shimura bunted her way aboard, then stole second. Nakano singled to make it 7-6 but Rokkaku fanned to end the inning. Things then finally quieted down, with neither club scoring in the fourth or fifth.

In the 6th, yet another Miyazaki error put Lillywhite aboard with one out. McMillan bunted into a force at second, then Gaynor singled. Kreppold again came through, this time with a 2-run double off Noguchi for a 9-6 advantage. In the 7th, they got a (later to be proven crucial) insurance run off Ayami Sato. Lovering led off with a single, but was picked off. Loudoun walked and was bunted over by Rawlings. Veteran Lillywhite singled her in.

Japan staged another rally in their last chance. Takashima doubled off Laura Neads to open the inning. After Kon struck out, PH Yui Oyama drew a free pass, as did another pinch-hitter, Junko Arai. With the bases loaded and only one out, manager John Gaynor moved goat-turned-hero Kreppold to the mound with a chance to either remain a hero or revert to goat. Shimura hit into a run-scoring force. Nakano drew a walk to load the bases again. With the potential winning run now aboard, Rokkaku hit a 2-run single to move within a run, 9-8, sending Nakano to second. Yui Shingu pinch-hit for #3 batter Kayano, who was 0 for 3 on the day, but she only managed a shot to first basewoman Hamilton to end the game.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	7	3
Venezuela	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	7	2

The only remaining unbeaten team entering the game, Venezuela kept on rolling though they needed a dramatic late rally to win. They scored twice in the first off Yaima Ramos. With one away, LF Leonel Reyes singled, then was grounded over. DH Nidia Pineda doubled home Reyes. RF Kellyn Mendoza hit into a run-scoring error by Cuban 1B Yuleidy Charon. Maria Lopez made that lead hold up through four innings. In the 5th, Cuba put women on the corners with one out. Diogcelis Guevara relieved and promptly struck out 2B Dayana Batista and LF Yilenia Moreno to stop the rally.

Guevara didn't hold Cuba off for long, though. In the sixth, CF Mairobis Odelin singled and stole second, advanced on a grounder then scored on a sac fly by Charon to make it 2-1. 3B Virgen Vargas opened the 7th with a single, then pinch-runner Yaile Luis stole second. After an out, Batista tied the game with a double. She then stole third and came around with the go-ahead run on a throwing error by backup C Daivelis Montiel. Cuba got two more runners on but reliever Lelis Gomez struck out Charon to end the threat.

With their backs to the wall, Venezuela gave the home crowd of over 13,000 something to cheer about. 3B Dailys Gimenez grounded into an error by SS Yaluanis Cervantes. Montiel bunted her over then CF Marianne Perez, the #9 batter, doubled to tie the game. It was the first run off Yaima Ramos since the first. She was relieved by Liacnis Rodriguez, who balked Perez to third. SS Solmarys Brito then singled in the winner.

August 19

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	2	0
Australia	4	1	0	0	1	0	-	6	12	1

Sinead Flanigan and Katherine Welsh shut down the Cuban hitters on two hits while 3B Christina Kreppold (3 for 3, 2 R, RBI) leads the Australian charge. Australia gets four in the first and never looks back.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
South Korea	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	3	1
Chinese Taipei	3	1	2	3	1	2	12	11	1

Five Taiwanese batters score multiple runs in an easy win. Wen-Ching Hsieh allows just three hits in going the distance for the victory.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Netherlands	0	0	0	0	1	1	4	3
Puerto Rico	1	1	1	4	4	11	12	0

Johanna Ramos goes the distance for the win while DH Diamillette Quiles goes 3 for 4 with two doubles and five RBI.

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

In a rematch of last tourney's Gold Medal game, 1B Kate Psota hit a two-run double in the third to put Canada ahead but that was all they managed against Yui Shingu. Japan tied it by the fourth when Vanessa Riopel plunked SS Megumi Miyazaki with the bases loaded, then went ahead for good on an error by C Amanda Asay on a bunt. PH Junko Arai capped the scoring with a 2-run double off Shelby Gordon. Japan managed just two hits but scored six thanks to eight walks, three errors, three hit batswomen and two wild pitches.

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

Venezuela remained the only team to remain unbeaten, ekeing out another close win with a late rally. 14,501 fans showed up for this match at Estadio José Pérez Colmenares.

The US scored first, getting to Raiza Tarazaona in the second. 3B Sarah Gascon opened with a walk and stole second. C Veronica Alvarez bunted her way aboard, then DH Wynne McCann also bunted safely. 2B Malaika Underwood hit into a force at home. CF Tara Harbert hit into a run-scoring error by 1B Johana Perez. RF Jenna Marston drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0, then SS Clarisa Navarro hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

The Americans padded their cushion in the fourth. Underwood doubled and Harbert got a bunt single. Harbert stole second; on the play, catcher Ofelia Arriechi made a throwing error to let Underwood come home. Harbert later came home on a passed ball by Ariechi to put the US in front, 5-0.

Marti Sementelli, meanwhile, blanked Venezuela for four innings before manager Don Freeman replaced her with Anna Kimbrell. All heck then broke loose for the US. With one out, 3B Dailys Gimenez singled, then Arriechi walked. Kimbrell plunked CF Marianne Perez and SS Solmarys Brito to force in a run. She hit LF Leonel Reyes, the third hit-by-pitch in a row, making it 5-2. Lindsay Horwitz relieved and allowed a RBI single to 2B Lelis Gomez. DH Nidia Pineda singled to right and it the US lead was down to one with seven straight Venezuelans having reached. RF Kellyn Mendoza grounded to third and a Gascon error tied the contest. Johana Perez hit into a two-run error by Underwood for Venezuela's 6th and 7th runs. Gimenez ground into a Gascon-Underwood-Laura Espinoza-Watson (1B) double play but the home team had gotten all they would need.

Other than a hit batswoman, Diana Tovar threw a perfect sixth. In the 7th, the US attempted a comeback. Navarro led off with a walka and Lelis Gomez moved to the mound. She began by walking LF Tamara Holmes. Karen Costes pinch-hit for Espinoza-Watson and Navarro stole thkrd. Costes reached on a force. An error and two wild pitches scored one US run and put Costes on thirf as the potential tying run. With a chance to provide retribution for her error, Gascon popped out. Alvarez drew four-pitch walk from Gomez to put the potential winning run aboard. Ashley Sujkowski ran for Alvarez and pilfered second to put the potential winning run in scoring position. Up came McCann, the USA's youngest player at age 16. The high schooler failed to deliver the winner, flying out to Reyes to end the game.

August 20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cuba	2	0	0	0	1	1	5	9	11	2
Canada	0	0	5	1	0	0	4	10	12	2

In a preview of the 5th-6th place game, Canada edged Cuba in a dramatic contest.

Cuba started the high-scoring affair early against Autumn Mills. LF Yamisleidis Perez hit into an error by 2B Nicole Luchanski with one out in the first, then CF Mairobis Odelin singled and DH Dainari Morales doubled for a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch later scored Odelin to make it 2-0.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the third. With one out that frame, 3B Ashley Stephenson hit into an error by her counterpart, Virgen Vargas. 1B Kate Psota reached on catcher's interference and both runners took another base on a balk by Liacnis Rodriguez. DH Amanda Asay singled in one run, then RF Stéphanie Savoie tied it with a single to right. C Jennifer Gilroy singled home Asay and CF Becky Hartley cracked a 2-run double for a 5-2 lead, knocking Rodriguez from the hill.

In the 4th, Canada added insurance when Luchanski got plunked, Stephenson singled, Psota singled and Asay grounded in Luchanski. Cuba rallied in the 5th against Mills. Yaisleidis Perez reached on another error, this time by SS Taelor Frederickson. Odelin walked. Jessica Bérubé relieved Mills. Morales flew out then C Inima Vázquez hit into a force at second. 1B Yuleidy Charon singled to close the gap to 6-3.

Cuba got closer in the sixth as well. Vargas singled, but RF Yaile Luis hit into a force. 2B Dayana Batista singled home Luis but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Meanwhile, Dianisleidis Moreno had blanked Canada since entering in the fourth.

In the 7th, Cuba went ahead. With one out, Morales got hit by Bérubé. Vázquez singled. Stephenson moved to the mound and retired Charon for out number two. SS Yaluanis Cervantes singled to load the bases. PH Yordanka Rodriguez drew a Stephenson walk to cut it to 6-5. Luis then came up with a big double to left to put Cuba ahead, 7-6. Batista was walked intentionally but the move backfired when Perez doubled in two more and Cuba now was up, 9-6.

Canada staged a comeback of its own. Backup CF Patricia Landry singled off Moreno. Yaima Ramos relieved and walked Gilroy on four pitches, then Hartley singled to load the bases. After one out, backup RF Marie-Josée Tremblay singled in two runs to close the gap to one. Luchanski walked to load the bases once again. Stephenson hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score. Psota then delivered the game-winning single to center, driving in Tremblay.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Chinese Taipei	3	10	3	0	0	16	11	0
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	3

Tzu-Ling Wen and two relievers combine on a shutout while six Taiwanese players score two runs. LF Yu-Chuan Tu went 2 for 2 with two walks, two runs and three RBI.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Netherlands	1	1	0	3	0	0	5	5	5
South Korea	2	2	7	0	1	3	15	4	2

In a preview of the 9th/10th place game, South Korea drew 13 walks in an easy win. They scored seven times in the third inning off Thari Diefenbach and Linde Gerritsen. The Netherlands showed great speed, stealing 14 bases without getting caught, led by four from DH Jessica Kroeskop. CF Dae-lee Kwak drew three walks and scored three runs.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Australia	3	4	0	1	4	7	19	15	4
United States	1	0	1	0	4	0	6	7	5

The US suffered its worst loss in the first four Women's World Cups. US starter Loren Smith gave up four runs in one inning and only one of the six US hurlers (Ashley Sujkowski) finished with under a run and a half per inning. 2B Shae Lillywhite and 1B Katie Gaynor each scored four runs, and Gaynor and C Tahnee Lovering each drove in four. Australia banged out 15 hits and drew ten walks in the 6-inning mercy rule rout. Melinda Latimer got the victory.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
Japan	5	2	1	1	1	10	10	0

After a 7-0 start, Venezuela finally suffered its first defeat and did so in bad form. Ayami Sato blanked them with a two-hit shutout while their starter Aracelys Leon walked three of five batters she faced and gave up a hit to another. 1B Yukiko Kon (3 for 3, 2 BB, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI) and LF Akiko Shimura (3 for 3, BB, SB, 3 R) lead the potent Japanese offensive. 12,578 fans turned out to watch the top two teams so far this event.

Final Round

August 21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	3
Canada	1	1	3	0	0	5	6	0

Canada failed to take a Medal for the first time ever, but they salvaged some pride by beating Cuba for a second straight contest. Martine Nadeau and Melissa Armstrong provided strong pitching. 2B Nicole Luchanski and 1B Kate Psota each went 2-for-3 for Canada, which handed Dianisleidis Moreno her third loss of the Cup in as many decisions.

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

In the battle for 7th place, the newcomers gave the more established Taiwanese team a challenge before falling. Puerto Rico opened the scoring in the second. Facing Yu-Ying Hsieh, they got three straight singles by 3B Lisandra Berrios, DH Diamillette Quiles and CF Coraly Ortiz, but Berrios was picked off during that sequence. RF Danna Cruz got hit by a Hsieh pitch, then C Yariam Rivera singled in a run. 2B Ana Maldonado was hit, forcing in Ortiz, but SS Krystle Valliere ended the rally with a double-play grounder.

Maria Zayas shut out Taiwan for the first three innings but they got to her in the fourth. SS Hsjao-Chien Wang got hit by a pitch, then RF Yung-Hsin Cheng doubled. PH Ting Wang grounded in one run. 2B Ao-Ti Huang then bunted home Cheng to tie it.

Taiwan took the lead in the fifth. DH Tzu-Hui Pan led off with a single, then PH Pei-Ching Lin drew a walk. Lumarie Lourido relieved Zayas and struck out one batter. After a double steal, Hsjao-Cheng Wang grounded out. Yung-Hsin Cheng flew to center and a muffed play by Ortiz led to two runs.

Puerto Rico closed the gap in the 6th. Quiles drew a walk, then Ortiz laid down a bunt hit. A balk put both runners in scoring position. Pei-Hsuan Chou relieved. PH Leyla Hernandez hit into an error by Hsjao-Chen Wang to make it 4-3 and put Ortiz on third. Rivera hit one back to the mound and Chou fired home to get Ortiz at the plate. Maldonado flew out to end and Valliere grounded out to end that rally.

Puerto Rico staged one last scare in the seventh. With one away, 1B Yinoska Claudio singled. Berrios hit into a force. PH Paola Rosa got hit to put the potential go-ahead run aboard, but Ortiz flew out to right to end the game.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Netherlands	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	4	7	2
South Korea	2	2	1	3	0	3	-	11	12	7

South Korea 11, Netherlands 4. The Dutch scored first, on hits by C Minke Blok and CF Kirsten Vierdag (one of her three hits) in the opening frame, but it would be their only lead as Michelle Bruijn could not maintain it. CF Dae-lee Kwak went 3 for 4 with a walk, two doubles, two steals, two runs and four RBI for the Koreans while Su-jin Kim got their second win.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Australia	2	0	0	0	6	2	2	12	9	0
Venezuela	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	3

Australia avenged their earlier loss to Venezuela, beating the then-#1 seed to earn a spot in the Gold Medal game while sending the hosts to the Bronze Medal game. The outcome was far from the sure thing that the final score made it seem as it was not really decided until the 5th.

SS Bronwyn Gell opened the game with a walk from Jessica Primera and was bunted over. She took third on a fly, then 1B Katie Gaynor walked. A passed ball by C Ofelia Arriechi scored Gell and Gaynor later scored on an Arriechi throwing error to make it 2-0. Venezuela tied it in the second off Jacinda Barclay. RF Kellyn Mendoza led off with a double. An out later, 3B Dailys Giménez singled her to third. Arriechi got plunked, then CF Marianne Perez singled home Mendoza. SS Solmarys Brito drew a run-scoring walk but LF Leonel Reyes ground into a rally-ending double play.

From there, Barclay and Primera kept things scoreless until the 5th. RF Natalie Rawlings drew a leadoff walk. Maria Lopez relieved Primera and Gell bunted Rawlings over. 3B Christina Kreppold singled and stole second. A wild pitch by Lopez scored Rawlings to make it 3-2. DH Kim McMillan walked on four pitches. Diogcelis Guevara replaced Lopez and gave up a RBI single to Gaynor. CF Amy McCann walked to load the bags. LF Samantha Hamilton hit into a force at home, then 2B Brooke Shiels got plunked to force in another run, putting Australia up 5-2. C Tahnee Lovering smacked a double to clear the bases and double Australia's lead. They were up 8-2 and had the game well in hand. Other than the rough second, Barclay did not allow any runs in a complete game win.

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

The US had lost its opener to Japan but could still make it to the Gold Medal game with a win here. Instead, Japan beat them in front of 5,000 Venezuelan fans. Japan got on the board first, against collegian Jenna Marston. With one away in the first, LF Akiko Shimura singled and was bunted over. C Tomomi Nishi was intentionally walked, then DH Tomomi Takashima singled to load the bases. 1B Yukiko Kon got hit by a Marston pitch to put her team ahead, 1-0.

The USA briefly tied it in the third against Yui Shingu. 2B Malaika Underwood walked, then CF Tara Harbert hit into a force. Marston helped her own cause with a RBI double. The USA got two runners on in the fourth but failed to score as Shingu retired RF Karen Costes and Underwood on grounders.

In the fifth, Harbert bunted her way on and Marston walked. Manager Koichi Okura summed reliever Ayami Sato, who had gone the distance just a day earlier. She allowed a single to 3B Clarisa Navarro to load the bases but then came through in the clutch. Cleanup hitter Tamara Holmes hit into a 5-2-3 double play and 1B Jennifer Dalton-Hill grounded out. Sato would allow one hit and no walks or runs the remainder of the contest.

Japan went ahead for good in their half of the fifth. With one away, 2B Natsumi Nakano walked and Shimura bunted her to second. 3B Ayako Rokkaku singled Nakano in for a 2-1 lead. In the 6th, Anna Kimbrell relieved Marston. After two quick outs, Japan began putting up the insurance. SS Megumi Miyazaki bunted for a single. PH Junko Arai coaxed a walk, then both runners took a base on a wild pitch. Nakano singled to left, scoring Miyazaki and Arai. Navarro moved to the mound to replace Kimbrell. Shimura walked and both runners stole. Rokkaku then singled in two more and Japan had a solid 6-1 cushion.

August 22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Australia	0	0	1	0	2	3	6	3
Japan	9	1	1	0	2	13	11	1

6,350 fans came out for an anticlimactic Gold Medal game. Australia settled for its first medal ever, a strong Silver Medal, after finishing fourth the first three times out, while Japan repeated as champs. Yukari Isozaki got the win, allowing one run in four innings, before Australia tacked on two unearned and meaningless scores in the fifth in the mercy rule loss.

Japan had the game over before the end of the first. Laura Neads began the bottom of the first by walking 2B Natsumi Nakano (the first of her three walks). After one out and a wild pitch, 3B Ayako Rokkaku hit into a Neads error to make it 1-0. C Tomomi Nishi walked, then DH Tomomi Takashima doubled her in. 1B Yukiko Kon got plunked and CF Miku Kayano walked to force in a third run. After SS Megumi Miyazaki struck out, RF Mari Yamazaki singled in two. Nakano drew the second of her three walks. Katherine Welsh relieved but allowed a 2-run single to LF Akiko Shimura and it was now 7-0. Rokkaku bunted into a 2-run error by 3B Christina Kreppold. By the time Nishi flew out and the first inning was over, Japan led 9-0 and had sent 13 batters to the plate. The game's conclusion was foregone.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	3	2	0	5	7	5
United States	4	2	1	3	2	3	15	20	3

Attendance was down for the home team with them out of Gold Medal competition, but 6,000 fans for an international baseball tournament was still very impressive. Unfortunately, they were to be disappointed by the pitching of Marti Sementelli, who repeated her 2008 feat of winning the Bronze Medal game.

Raiza Tarazaona, on the other hand, couldn't even survive the first. With one away, RF Jenna Marston doubled. SS Clarisa Navarro hit into an error by CF Marianne Perez. LF Tamara Holmes singled in one run, then 1B Jenny Dalton-Hill plated two more with a single. Diana Tovar relieved Tarazona but errors by 3B Alinson Velasquez and Perez scored a 4th tally. The US rout was on. 2B Malaika Underwood finished with three of the Americans' 20 hits and Navarro scored three of their fifteen runs as they took a second straight Bronze. Venezuela had made it to the Medal round in the first Women's World Cup, an excellent debut, but had dropped their last three games to place fourth instead of taking home a medal.

Final Standings

1.  Japan
2.  Australia
3.  United States
4.  Venezuela
5.  Canada
6.  Cuba
7.  Chinese Taipei
8.  Puerto Rico
9.  South Korea
10.  Netherlands
11.  Hong Kong withdrew before the tournament ended.

Leaders and Awards

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Ayako Rokkaku ( Japan)
• Outstanding Defensive Player: Tara Harbert ( United States)

Leaders (Preliminary Phases only)

• Leading Hitter: .611, 11 H, 18 AB; Ayako Rokkaku ( Japan)
• Pitcher with best ERA: 0.00, 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER; Kasumi Noguchi ( Japan)
• Pitcher with best won-loss average: 1.000, 3 W, 0 L; Ayami Sato ( Japan)
• Most Runs Batted In: 13; Katie Gaynor ( Australia)
• Most Home Runs: 3; Tamara Holmes ( United States)
• Most Stolen Bases: 7; Dayana Batista ( Cuba)
• Most Runs Scored: 14; Clarisa Navarro ( United States)

All-Stars Team

Position	Player	Nation
Starting Pitcher	Ayami Sato	Japan
Relief Pitcher	Laura Neads	Australia
Catcher	Tomomi Nishi	Japan
First Baseman	Kate Psota	Canada
Second Baseman	Lelis Gomez	Venezuela
Third Baseman	Christina Kreppold	Australia
Shortstop	Jenna Marston	United States
Outfielders	Akiko Shimura	Japan
	Leonel Reyes	Venezuela
	Tamara Holmes	United States
Designated Hitter	Kim McMillan	Australia

Further Reading

• Jennifer Ring: "American Women Play Hardball in Venezuela: Team USA battles invisibility at home, is celebrated abroad, and faces gunfire at the Women's World Cup", The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 41, Number 1 (Spring 2012), pp. 53-56.