WORLD GAMES FRIDAY
FINAL ROUND ROBIN GAMES
Canada 3, Netherlands 0
Chinese Taipei 3, China 0
Japan 1, Australia 0 (9)
USA 12, Guatemala 0 (5)
FINAL ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS
ELIMINATION GAMES Friday
Game 29 Netherlands vs Guatemala
Game 30 Australia vs China
ELIMINATION GAMES SATURDAY
Game 31 Winner 29 vs Loser 30
Game 32 Winner 30 vs Winner 31
PLAYOFFS SATURDAY
Game 33 Canada vs Japan
Game 34 Chinese Taipei vs USA
BRONZE MEDAL GAME SUNDAY
Game 35 Winner 33 vs Loser 34
GOLD MEDAL GAME SUNDAY
Game 36 Winner 34 vs Winner 35
Using the Page System, Australia, China, Netherlands and Guatemala can finish no higher than 5th. The winner of the Chinese Taipei vs USA game goes immediately into the Gold medal game.
JAPAN 1, AUSTRALIA 0 (9)
Japanese pitcher Mariko Goto hurled a no-hitter that was a ground-ball error in the 7th away from a perfect game. The ladies from Down Under fell out of Gold medal contention – but they fought to the end.
Joss McCallum held the Japanese to four hits. But, her mates could not reach base until Leah Quackenbush reached on an error at short in the 7th. Prospects brightened in the 8th, with the International Tie Breaker rule putting Sarah Tutchener on 2nd. With one out, Stacey Ritter was safe on a fielder’s choice when Japan failed to force Tutchener. But, Lauren Rose grounded into a 5-6 fielder’s choice, forcing Tutchener at 3rd.
The Australians held in the 8th, thanks to a pick by catcher Kym Turnell of the ITB runner at 2nd, Yuka Komori. Fortunate, because Emi Myashita bunted for a hit that would have put the winning run on 3rd.
In the top of the 9th, Danielle Curtois was the ITB runner at 2nd. Amanda Smith grounded out to 3rd, holding the runner. Lauren Daykin hit a bouncer to 3rd, which Yuki Takeno fielded and threw to 1st – but Curtois was sent home and nailed at the plate -- 5-3-2.
The Japanese thought they had a score in the 5th. Mina Kowatari tripled with one out. Mayu Obata lofted a deep fly ball to center – and Kowatari raced home – a bit too fast for the field umpire who called her out for leaving early.
Now, in the 9th, Yuk Takeno was at 2nd and went to 3rd on Yukiko Fujisaki’s sacrifice bunt. Saori Shirai laid down a perfect squeeze bunt and the speedy Takeno was at home with the winner before the Australians could field the ball.
USA 12, GUATEMALA 0 (5)
Kami Keiter (2 innings/winner) and Amy Harre (3 innings) combined for a perfect game.
The USA scored 12 runs in the 1st, and had 10 hits overall.
The first six USA batters scored: Caitlin Benyi (leadoff double); Norrelle Dickson; Andrea Duran; Sara Dean (triple); Heather Scaglione; Kristie Fox; Lisa Dodd; and Catalina Morris scored (eight of the nine in the lineup) and started over, still in the 1st. Benyi, Duran, Dean (double) and Scaglione scored again.
Give Guatemala credit; they keep trying no matter the score – and little chance of hitting Keiter or Harre, two barnburners. In 7 round robin games, they gave up 76 runs while scoring just two (against China). First place Chinese Taipei won 17-0.
SPY did not see the wins by Canada or Chinese Taipei. If obtained, this report will be updated after tonight’s elimination games.
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