WBSC
Nova Scotia team beats 5-time defending champs to win Canada’s Men’s National Softball title
SASKATOON, Canada — For only the third time in 37 years, a team from Nova Scotia can be called the kings of Canadian men’s fast-pitch softball. The East Hants Mastodons brought home gold in the men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championships after beating Newfoundland’s Galway Hitmen 6-5 in the title game on Sunday in Saskatoon. “Going into this year we really felt like this was going to be our year,” said East Hants coach Chris Hopewell. “But when we won it, it was absolutely surreal, it was just crazy.” The Newfoundland team, loaded with several members of Canada’s national softball team, had won the last five national championships. East Hants beat them twice in the playoff round and left no doubt they were the top team in Saskatoon, the same city where the Brookfield Elks won Nova Scotia’s first national title back in 1980. Dominant pitching performance Annapolis Valley pitcher Justin Schofield, also a member of Canada’s national team, led the way for the Mastodons. He pitched all 21 innings of his team’s three playoff games and won them all to take playoff MVP honours. Donnelly Archibald, Nick Shailes and Joel Isenor were also named to the tournament all-star team. While based out of East Hants, the Mastodons were an all-star team made up of players from all over mainland Nova Scotia. “We actually run a league in East Hants with six teams in it and a lot of our guys from nationals were playing on those teams and playing against each other all season long,” said Hopewell. “So the competition at home was good and that helped out in pulling everybody together and seeing good pitching during the league year which really helped out at nationals.” Looking to repeat on home soil The Mastodons are hoping they can make it back-to-back championships when they host the nationals in St. Croix, N.S., next summer. The other Nova Scotia team to win the men’s national title was the Halifax Jaguars back in 1998. Article courtesy of CBC.ca. |
Pools announced for the 2017 Men’s Softball Pan American Championship
WBSC Americas Softball announced the pools for the X Men’s Pan American Championship, to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from September 15 to 24. Sixteen teams will be playing the tournament: Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA and Venezuela. The teams were divided into two eight-teams pools, according to the final standings of the last Pan Am Championship, played in Parana, Argentina, in 2014. The pools are as follows: Pool A: Venezuela, USA, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Aruba, Brazil, Colombia and Puerto Rico. Pool B: Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica and Panama. Every game of the X Pan American Championship will be played in the two diamonds of the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte, and will be streamed by www.internetv.tv, with a cost of U$S 11,95. |
Men’s European Super Cup features world’s top softball players
AMERSFOORT, Netherlands – The 2017 Men’s European Super Cup got underway in the Netherlands this week, featuring the top men club teams in Europe. However, there are many top non-European players competing as well, including players from Argentina, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand. The Men’s Super Cup is the largest men’s fastpitch tournament in Europe. This year, 20 teams entered to fight for the title of “European Club Champion 2017”. The tournament is known for its special format. In the first phase, teams play in a round robin. For the second phase, the teams are divided into two groups (top 12 teams in one group and the bottom 8 teams in the other group) depending on the results of the round robin games. The top twelve teams play for the Super Cup, while the remaining teams compete to win the ESF Cup. The most exciting thing about the Super Cup is the number of world’s top-level players, who come to Europe to play for various club teams.
More non-European players:
Europe will host their first WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship in June 2019 in Prague and Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic. For all the Men’s Super Cup tournament details, including play by play, results, and stats, click here.  |
Japan wins 2017 Japan Softball Cup with walk-off over USA
TAKASAKI CITY, Japan — World No. 1 Japan defeated No. 2 USA in the final of the WBSC-sanctioned 2017 Japan Softball Cup. The U.S. vs Japan rivalry lived up to the hype as Japan had to come back, after being down three runs going into the seventh inning, to earn the 5-4 victory and the back-to-back title. USA scored first after Kelsey Stewart was hit by a pitch and then driven in by Michelle Moultrie’s line drive double to right field. That lead would not last long as a solo home run by Natsuko Sugama tied the game at one run each. That score would hold until the top of the fifth inning when the U.S. re-took the lead. A lead-off single from Delaney Spaulding put a runner on base and she would later score after Haylie McCleney doubled with a line drive to the left/center gap. The U.S. added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Amanda Chidester singled with one out before Morgan Zerkle entered as a pinch runner. Zerkle beat out a fielder’s choice on a ground ball from Valerie Arioto to put two on and a walk to Kasey Cooper loaded the bases. Aubree Munro then singled to plate Zerkle, followed by Arioto who was pushed in when Janie Takeda was hit by a pitch for the 4-1 lead. Down three, Misato Kawano led the bottom of the seventh off with a single to center. Mana Atsumi then walked and Hitomi Kawabata singled to load the bases. A wild pitch would allow Kawano to cross the plate for Japan and an intentional walk to Eri Yamada would once again load the bases with one out. A single to left field by Yuka Ichiguchi cut the lead to just one run, which resulted in the fourth pitching change of the inning for USA. A walk to Sugama tied up the ballgame before a Yamato Fujita sac fly resulted in Japan earning the 5-4, walk-off win. 3rd Place Game In a classic pitchers’ duel, No. 4 Australia came out on top with a 1-0 win over No. 3 Canada. Australia’s Kaia Parnaby pitched a complete game to strike out six while allowing only two hits and a walk. Making life tough for the Aussie Spirit was the fact that Canadian pitcher Karissa Hovinga was almost as good, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out six. Canada’s best chance to score was in the first inning after lead-off batter Kelsey Jenkins doubled with no outs. But Parnaby then struck out the next batter and induced two ground outs to end the threat. Australia also produced a scoring opportunity in the first inning after Stacey Porter and Taylah Tsitsikronis drew back-to-back walks with two outs. But Porter was forced out on a fielder’s choice to end the threat. The key moment of the game came in the second inning, when Australia’a Samantha Poole led off with a double. Belinda White sacrificed Poole to third, then Jemma Freegard bunted, allowing Poole to score the game’s only run. Canada had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning after Holly Speers led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second. But Parnaby took care of the next two batters to ice the game. |
A WBSC led baseball and softball Camp opened in Belgium
The Baseball and Softball Federation of Belgium hosts in Antwerp (Royal Mortsel Stars facility) a 3 day (24 through 26 August) baseball and softball Camp led by WBSC envoy coaches. The Camp is designed to provide Flemish and Wallonian baseball and softball coaches basic information on practice organization and in game coaching.  Andrea D’Auria The baseball Camp is led by Andrea D’Auria and Jaime Blum. D’Auria (Piacenza, Italy) is part of Development Programs for WBSC and USSSA, manager of the Romanian National Team and a coach at the youth level in his home town Piacenza. Bluma (Beaufort, South Carolina, USA) has been a professional pitcher at the College (87 games for Wichita State) and Minor League (277 games over 6 seasons, 131 at AAA) level. He also appeared in 17 games in the Major Leagues for the Kansas City Royals during the 1996 season, performing as their closer.  Alice Ronchetti The softball Camp is led by Alice Ronchetti (Milan, Italy), a pitcher who was on Italy’s roster when they won the 2015 European Championship. Ronchetti pitched over 160 games in the Italian Softball League and is currently playing for Bologna. |
2017 Japan Cup kicks off featuring top ranked softball national teams
TAKASAKI CITY, Japan – The WBSC-sanctioned Japan Cup begins tomorrow in Takasaki City, featuring the top four ranked Softball National Teams in the world — No. 1 Japan, No. 2 United States, No. 3 Canada and No. 4 Australia. The tournament will begin with a two-day round robin, followed by the two medal games on the third day of competition. Japan enters the event as the defending champions, following their 9-1 victory over USA in 2016. Games will be televised in Japan on BS Japan. Schedule (all times local): August 25 August 26 August 27 |
Olympian leads Scrap Yard Dawgs to first U.S.-based National Pro Fastpitch title
BATON ROUGE, USA – The Houston-based Scrap Yard Dawgs claimed their first National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league title in franchise history with a 5-2 win over the Orlando-based USSSA Pride in the best of three-game championship series. 2016 Softball World Champion and current USA national team member, Kasey Cooper, charged the offense with three RBIs, the bulk coming on a two-run home run in the sixth inning that gave the Scrap Yard Dawgs (35-19) the lead for good. Olympic medalist, Monica Abbott, pitched her second complete game of the afternoon, limiting the Pride to two runs off four hits while striking out 11. It was Abbott’s two-hit, 14-strikeout performance earlier in the day that forced the decisive third game. Abbott was named MVP of the NPF Championship series and limited foes to 15 hits while striking out 56 over 29 innings in the tournament. Due to softball’s continuing raised profile, the Scrap Yard Dawgs signed the first million-dollar contract with the Olympian beginning in the 2017 season. The Dawgs also feature four other national team players — Hannah Flippen, Ali Aguilar, and Morgan Zerkle from the USA and Britt Vonk from the Netherlands. Australia’s national governing body of softball and WBSC Member, Softball Australia, has partnered with the NPF for the 2017 season and beyond as eight elite Australian women’s softball athletes played for the Chicago Bandits franchise. The agreement allowed Australian high-performance coaches to work with the Bandits’ coaching staff during the season. The Chinese national governing body for softball and WBSC Member, Chinese Softball Association, also partnered with the NPF to form the sixth team in the league – the Beijing Shougang. The team was made up of players currently in the Chinese national team pool, along with a select few American team members, and was managed by CSA. Both nations will use this opportunity to strength their National Team programme and athletes as they work to qualify for the 2018 WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship in Chiba, Japan and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The NPF, an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, is a six-team league that takes place June through August in the United States. The NPF, with franchises in Akron, Beijing (play all games in the USA), Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Orlando, features players from the USA, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand. |
USA wins Pan American Women’s Softball Championship over Mexico, qualify for Chiba 2018
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — USA was crowned as Pan American Champions after defeating Mexico in the final by 9-0. Previously, in the Bronze Medal game, USA defeated Canada by 11-3 to reach the final game. Besides, we already know the Americas countries qualified for the next WBSC World Championship and Pan American Games. USA (#2 in the WBSC World Ranking), Canada (#3), Puerto Rico (#7), Mexico (#10) and Venezuela (#16) will play the Worlds next year; and will join Peru to compete in the Women’s Softball competition in Lima 2019. USA had a furious offensive day this Sunday, in the Stadium 1 of the Centro Olimpico Juan Pablo Duarte, defeating by knock out their two rivals in five innings. In the final, USA defeated Mexico by 9-0 with a no-hitter by Kelly Barnhill. In the first inning both teams retired the side, with Dallas Escobedo for Mexico and Barnhill for USA. However, the second inning was a slugging festival for USA to reach the victory. Amanda Chidester led off with a single, and advanced with a bunt by Valerie Arioto. From there, the US bats got hot and the fireworks started. Ali Aguilar hit a two run homer; Delaney Spaulding and Aubree Munro followed her with consecutive singles, and Jannie Takeda hit a three run shot to make it 5-0. Chyanne Tarango replaced Escobedo in the circle, but couldn’t stop the US offense. Chidester step up to the plate for second time in the inning, and hit an RBI single to plate Kelsey Stewart, and Arioto closed the party with a three run bomb to left field, scoring the last runs of the tournament. In the other hand, the Mexican lineup was dominated by Barnhill, who allowed only one runner in the game (a hit by pitch in the second inning), and fanned 10, including the last three outs of the game to clinch the title. This way, USA got the Gold Medal, Mexico the Silver and Canada the Bronze. To play in the final, USA defeated Canada by 11-3 in the Bronze Medal game. Canada scored three runs in the first inning, but USA came recovered from a bad start and took the game. Canada scored early against Danielle O’Toole, scoring three in the bottom of the first. Kelsey Jenkins walked, and scored with an RBI single by Erika Polidori. After that, Holly Speers hit a long homer to center field to put the game 3-0. In the top of the second USA score done. Delaney Spaulding walked with the bases loaded for the first run of the US team. One inning later USA tied the game. Valerie Arioto hit a change up to left field for an RBI double, and scored with a single by Ali Aguilar, to make it 3-3. The champions took the lead in the fourth inning. Munro singled to left field and Stewart was hit by pitch, before Michelle Moultrie hit a three run bomb for the 6-3 lead. Finally, in the top of the fifth, USA sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs with five consecutive RBI singles, to end the game by knock out. Puerto Rico, the last guest Puerto Rico clinched the fifth spot in the tournament defeating Cuba by 1-0. This way they will play the next World Championship and Pan American Games. In a very close game, with a dominant performance by the pitchers, Puerto Rico took advantage of an error to take the lead and the game. In the bottom of the second, Puerto Rico scored the only run of the game. Morganne Flores singled to right field, and advanced with a sacrifice by Casey Gordon. Aleshia Ocasio hit to the pitcher, who got the runner in a rundown between second and third, but a throwing error by the Cuban defense allowed Flores to reach third. With runners in the corners, Dayanira Diaz hit a rolling to second base to plate the game winning run. All tournament team During the closing ceremony, the organization announced the All tournament team: Pitcher: Anyibel Ramírez (Venezuela) Qualified teams:
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Mexico in the final, USA and Canada in the Bronze medal game at Pan American Women’s Softball Championship
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Mexico continued with their hot streak today and defeated Canada by 5-0 in the first semifinal of the tournament. Once again Dallas Escobedo guided her team with 9 Ks, allowing only 3 hits. With both teams qualified for the Worlds and the Pan Am Games, they jumped to the diamond with only one goal: to get a spot in the final of the tournament. Mexico scored first in the second inning, with a two run homer by Koral Costa. Previously, Erika Polidori stole a homer to Anissa Urtez, but couldn’t do anything with Costa’s blast. One inning later Mexico scored again. Brigette Del Ponte hit a line drive to the center field fence, for an RBI double, and a few batters later scored with a single by Urtez. The last run of the game was scored after three consecutive hits, by Forbes, Del Ponte and Vidales, the last one a double to produce the fifth run of the game. This way, Mexico is finalist of the IX Pan American Championship, while Canada will face USA in the bronze medal game. USA defeated Puerto Rico by 4-0 and clinched their spot in the next WBSC World Championship and Pan American Games. US hurler Danielle O’Toole had a dominant outing, allowing only 1 hit. In the bottom of the second USA took advantage of an error to open the score. Ali Aguilar hit softly to short stop but Quiana Diaz couldn’t make the play. The runner advanced to second with a sacrifice, and then scored with two outs. Puerto Rican pitcher Taran Alvelo tried to strike out Janie Takeda with a change up, but the batter hit a line drive to left field to plate the first run for her team. In the third USA scored the 2-0 run. Haylie McCleney singled, and two outs later scored from first with an RBI double to center field by Amanda Chidester. After that, Megan King came in relief for Alvelo. In the fifth the North American team scored again. Takeda and McCleney hit back to back singles to put runners on the corners, and Kelsey Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to center field to produce the third run of the game. For the sixth inning, Aleshia Ocasio replaced King in the circle, and Aguilar welcomed her with a monster shot to center field, for the final run of the game. O’Toole was nasty, pitching 5.1 innings without allowing a hit, before Elizia D’Orazio reached first with an infield hit. The left hander pitcher worked 6.2 innings, with 1 hit, 2 walks and 4 Ks. Kelly Barnhill retired the last out of the game with a strikeout. The loss was charged to Alvelo. Venezuela defeated Cuba by 4-0 with a shutout by Desiree Ibarra, who pitched seven innings with 5 hits and 7 Ks. Venezuela opened the score with a two-run single by Ana Corcorrosa, to score Yaicey Sojo and Ingrid Escobar. In the sixth Venezuela doubled their difference with only one swing. Sojo singled and one out later Yuruby Alicart hit a two run shot to left field for the final 4-0. In the last game of the day, USA beat Venezuela by 8-2 and clinched a spot in the podium. Michelle Moultrie hit an RBI single in the first to open the score, and Jannie Takeda did the same in the second, to put the score 2-0. However, in the third Venezuela tied the game. Aly Carda walked Sojo and Escobar, and Alicart singled to produce the first Venezuelan run. Later, Alicart scored the tying run on a passed ball. But in the bottom of the sixth, USA sent nine hitters to the plate to score six runs. An RBI single by Delaney Spaulding led the way for the big inning. With these scores, Puerto Rico will play tomorrow against Cuba at 11:00 for the fifth place, looking for the last ticket to the World Championship and Lima 2019. After that, Canada will face USA in the bronze medal game and finally Mexico will be waiting in the final game. |
Softball National Teams qualify for multi-sport Barranquilla 2018 Games
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Following the conclusion of the round robin at the Pan American Women’s Softball Championship, seven national teams have now qualified for the Barranquilla 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Curacao (for the English Caribbean region) will join host Colombia in the women’s Softball competition in the regional multi-sports event. The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia, from July 20 to August 3, 2018. These Games is a multi-sport event held every four years since 1926 in different cities and countries from Central American and Caribbean Sea region and is the oldest regional multi-sport event in the world. The event is coordinated by the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (ODECABE). The last edition was held in Veracruz in 2014, and the Dominican Republic won the Gold Medal in Softball, after beat Cuba in the final by 6-5. Bronze Medal went to Colombia, while Mexico, Venezuela and Guatemala ended outside the medal zone.
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