THUNDER BAY, Ontario – After a memorable run in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, Team USA suffered its first and only loss, 11-6, against Japan in the World Cup Championship Saturday afternoon at Port Arthur Stadium. With the win, Japan successfully defended the title and won its seventh consecutive Women’s Baseball World Cup Championship. The United States took home silver and earned its first World Cup medal since 2014.
In a battle of the giants, Japan emerged as the victor in a matchup between the best women baseball players in the world. While Team USA beat Japan Thursday and put a halt to Japan’s 39-game win streak, the defending world champions proved their potential to bounce back and took down the U.S. by five runs.
A quiet first two innings suggested a low-scoring affair, yet the contest was anything but that. Jillian Albayati earned the role as starter for Team USA, and put forth a valiant effort, striking out a pair and holding Japan scoreless through two complete. Remi Schaber registered the first hit for Team USA in the home half of the second and kept a five-game hit streak intact with a double smoked down the left-field line. Schaber put together an outstanding World Cup Finals performance, slashing .538/.571/.615 with five RBIs. Albayati also dazzled at the plate, as she hit at a .385 clip and drove in seven runs for the Stars and Stripes.
While a relatively clean week of baseball was played for the United States in which the team did not surrender a single unearned run, defensive miscues proved to be the fatal flaw for Team USA in the World Cup Championship. A leadoff single in the third by Nanako Hanabusa followed by a sacrifice bunt was the beginning of what would be a four-run inning, and produce a hole Team USA would not be able to dig itself out of. A pair of singles and a throwing error gave Japan a 1-0 lead and set the stage for Yuki Kawabata, who drove a ball over the right field wall for Japan’s first home run and a 4-0 advantage.
Although Japan quickly picked up two outs in the home half of the third, back-to-back hit-by-pitches and a defensive miscue on the part of Japan allowed Team USA to cut into the deficit in its half of the inning. This sequence of events made it a 4-1 contest and hinted at the potential of a U.S. rebound.
Starting center fielder Kelsie Whitmore took over on the mound in the fourth, igniting a series of switches for the U.S. defensively. Doing a little bit of everything including a single, walk, hit-by-pitch, and a sacrifice bunt, Japan quickly put traffic on the base paths. Back-to-back bunts scored the fifth and sixth runs for Japan, while a fielder’s choice manufactured the third and final run. Olivia Pichardo took over pitching duties later that inning, coming in clutch with back-to-back punchouts to limit Japan’s offense and suppress the damage. Pichardo concluded the week with a tournament-best eight strikeouts and a 1-0 record. She also tallied three hits and an RBI at the plate for Team USA.
A single to left field by Albayati was all Team USA could muster in the bottom half of the fourth, as Miyu Shimizu continued to be a reliable arm for Japan.
Japan strung together three singles and a walk to initiate the fifth inning and did not stop there, as a single by Ayaka Deguchi and a fielder’s choice ballooned Japan’s lead to 11-1.
Threatened by the prospect of being run-ruled, Team USA showed its grit and inability to give up in the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Jamie Baum was the spark plug for the U.S., as a leadoff single was followed by a free pass to land a pair of runners on base. Alex Hugo stepped up to the plate with two on, and no outs, and delivered accordingly. The second baseman smashed a 3-1 offering deep over the centerfield wall for her second homer of the week and a three-run frame for the U.S. Hugo led all players in the long ball category with two home runs (including playoffs) and boasted a team-best 10 total bases and eight runs scored.
During a week that featured a handful of highlight-worthy plays at the hot corner, Ashton Lansdell had one left in her in the top of the sixth frame; a laser off the bat of Miwa Naraoka found the glove of Lansdell, who made a heads-up play off her knees to double up the runner on first.
The U.S. continued to persevere in the home half of the sixth, as base hits by Denae Benites, Kylee Lahners, and Lansdell put an ounce of pressure on Japan and made the score 11-5. Team USA had one more moment of resistance left, however, thanks to an RBI off the bat of Naomi Ryan which chipped away at the deficit, 11-6.
In its last chance, Team USA provided one more opportunity to attempt to rally with a leadoff line drive by Albayati. As it had done all week, Japan’s pitching got the team out of trouble and thwarted the United States’ chance at a comeback, as a popout in foul territory sealed Japan’s victory.
QUOTABLE
- “One of my favorite things about this team is its resiliency,” Women’s National Team Manager Veronica Alvarez said. “They didn’t roll over or give up at any point, they kept battling and stayed aggressive at the plate. This team plays together and the players always have each other’s back.”
- “It’s tough when you set the standard high and don’t accomplish your goals,” Assistant Coach Malaika Underwood said postgame. “You can see it in their eyes, though, they’re ready to get back after it.”
- “Even though we didn’t win, a game like this is going to make us work and play harder moving forward,” Pitching Coach Reynol Mendoza remarked. “I’m super proud of this team and what we’ve done, but we’re not done yet until we win that gold medal.”
- “It’s difficult to come out here, get behind, and come back from that,” Assistant Coach Alex Oglesby stated. “As a coach, I’m super proud of them. They did not give up on the fight and every single player showed heart and resiliency.”
TEAM USA AWARDS
- Best ERA: Jamie Baum (2.74)
- Best record: Kelsie Whitmore (1-0)
- Most home runs in fewest opportunities: Denae Benites (1)
- Most RBIs: Jillian Albayati (7)
IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup All-World Team
- SP: Miyu Shimizu (Japan)
- RP: Elizabeth Gilder (Canada)
- DH: Remi Schaber (USA)
- C: Nanako Hanabusa (Japan)
- 1B: Naomi Ryan (USA)
- 2B: Alex Hugo (USA)
- 3B: Edith De Leija (Mexico)
- SS: Mia Valcke (Canada)
- LF: Miu Shiraishi (Japan)
- CF: Sena Catterall (Canada)
- RF: Miwa Naraoka (Japan)
SOCIAL MEDIA
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