12-31-10 December 31 Update

Meanwhile, two international teams were going head-to-head as Puerto Rico downed the Bahamas, 15-0 in a game shortened by the international run-ahead rule. It was only 1-0 after the first inning, but the winners got five more runs in the top of the second and nine in the top of the third while setting down all nine Bahamas batters in order – seven by strikeout – over the game’s three innings. Six different players had two hits each for Puerto Rico, including Kiara Resto, who had three RBI.

In the main stadium, Easton California Impact topped Russia, 10-1. The victors scored one or more runs in five of the game’s six innings (shortened due to the international run-ahead rule) and were helped by five Russia errors. In the circle, winning pitcher Katy Kibbe surrendered just one hit and struck out ten. She also led the team offensively with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring one.

Another team from close by was in action when the South Florida Mini Bulls defeated Manitoba (Canada) #1 by a score of 11-0 (four innings). Two Bulls pitchers combined on a seven strikeout no-hitter and catcher Lee Ann Spivey went 2-for-3 with two RBI. The knockout punch was a five-run top of the fourth inning in which South Florida got a three-run home run from Morgan Litchfield and then, two batters later, a two-run shot from Erica Nunn.

And, the Oviedo (Florida) Blaze held off Regina Gold (Saskatchewan, Canada), 2-1. The southerners had a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth but center fielder Ellen Kirkness led off with a single and would score to cut the Oviedo lead in half. Regina had the tying run on base one inning later but couldn’t close the deal as pitcher Haley Wiseman went the distance for the Blaze with eight strikeouts for an opening game win.

Opening Ceremonies consisted of all teams (and then the umpires) marching into the stadium, followed by the U.S. national anthem from vocalist Jessenia Figueroa. A local ‘boy band’ then entertained the girls, who were lined up around the perimeter of the infield. ISF President Don Porter gave a welcome, and then introduced Plant City Mayor Dan Raulerson, who spoke briefly before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Northwest Elite (Oregon, USA) then took to the stadium field for a game against the Philippines, who emerged with a 3-1 triumph over the Americans. The winners jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and got past Northwest despite registering just two hits for the game. Shareen Garcia went the distance in the circle for the victory.

Meanwhile, Brazil blanked the White Rock Renegades (Canada), 2-0. Raquelli Harumi Bianco tossed a one-hitter and struck out nine while Daniela Narumi Fukunishi hit a sixth inning solo home run in a 2-for-3 outing. Losing pitcher Sarah Lazarowich struck out seven.

The Blue Mountain Bucks (Vermont, USA) were not at the diamond for their opening game scheduled against Manitoba #2 (Canada), which resulted in the American team going down as a 7-0 loser by forfeit.

Also, (South) Korea edged the East Norriton Avalanche (Pennsylvania, USA), 3-2, in eight innings. Amazingly, the game was scoreless after regulation. The international tiebreaker rule, which places a runner on second base at the start of each half-inning (effective with the top of the eighth) certainly had its intended effect, although the Avalanche got both of their eighth inning runs via Korean errors. In the bottom of the eighth though, the first two batters singled to cut the lead in half, and Hyein Jung hit a two-out, two-RBI single to give Korea the victory. Jung also just happened to be the winning pitcher who went eight full innings and struck out twelve Avalanche batters, spoiling a 3-for-4 performance at the plate by East Norriton left fielder Taylor Robinson.

And, Ontario Red (Canada) shut out the Colorado All-Stars (USA), 3-0. The Canadians got the game’s first – and winning – run in the bottom of the fifth and put up two more runs an inning later while scattering seven hits. The Red’s pitching duo of Lyndsay Butler and Rachel Young combined on a three-hit, eleven-strikeout performance while Rebecka Mintz took the loss in the circle for Colorado.