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The following recaps are courtesy of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)…
World No. 4 Puerto Rico claimed the first ticket to the WBSC Softball World Cup Finals 2024 from Group B after beating China 2-1 in the final on Saturday at the Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de València, Spain.
In a wonderful showpiece of international women’s softball, Puerto Rico reversed their opening day defeat to China, to beat the world No. 11 in a come-from-behind win.
European champions the Netherlands won the second ticket with an impressive 2-0 win over China in the repechage game while hosts Spain beat South Africa in the opening game of the day to finish in fifth place in the group.
So here is the final order for Group B, with the first two joining the USA and Australian, both in Group A, as teams moving on for next year’s World Cup Finals:
- Puerto Rico
- Netherlands
- China
- Cuba
- Spain
- South Africa
🏆🥎 Check out the Group B bracket!
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico and 🇳🇱 Netherlands to the Finals! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/GnmuU54bek
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
Meanwhile, Group C started today in Buttrio and Castions di Strada, Italy with Olympic champions Japan beating New Zealand 16-2, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Canada overcoming the Philippines 5-0 before Italy play Venezuela.
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Talented pitcher Aleshia Ocasio of Puerto Rico was named the event’s Most Outstanding Player:
🇵🇷🏅 Congrats to Aleshia Ocasio the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B Most Outstanding Player! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/SYuhEpkBpw
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
Here are highlights of the final four games from Group B and the Day 5 competition:
FINAL: Puerto Rico 2, China 1
Aleshia Ocasio pitches complete game, scores a run to send Puerto Rico to Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024
Two-way player Aleshia Ocasio carried Puerto Rico to a 2-1 win over China, sending her team to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024. Ocasio struck out eight in seven innings of work, giving up only one run; offensively, she went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
China took the lead in the top of the first inning. A walk and a pair of hits produced the first run of the game, including an RBI single by Jiaxin Xie. This was the only run allowed by Ocasio, who silenced the Chinese lineup for the next six frames.
Puerto Rico tied the game in the next inning, thanks to aggressive base running by Aleimalee Lopez from second base. She took advantage of an error of China’s second baseman Jiaxin Xie to tie the game.
The Caribbean team plated the game-winning run in the fifth inning. Ocasio hit a line drive to right-centre field for a stand up double, and Karla Claudio recorded another clutch hit with an RBI single through the middle, driving in Ocasio from second.
🇵🇷 A Karla Claudio clutch hit gives Puerto Rico the lead!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/jwyTifDNvD
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
The one-run lead was all Ocasio needed to win the game. She tossed seven innings and allowed five runs and a walk, with eight Ks.
Puerto Rico joined USA and Australia as the first teams to book a spot in the Finals 2024.
🎟️ Ticket punched 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/EzSBqXEDTr
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
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REPECHAGE* (Loser of Final vs. Winner of 3rd & 4th Finishes): Netherlands 2, China 0
* = ticket awarded to 2024 Word Cup Finals
Jessie Van Aalst outstanding evening gives the Netherlands ticket to Finals 2024
Jessie Van Aalst was the Netherlands’ star this evening in Valencia, with an impressive performance, both offensively and from the circle. The two-way player produced the only two runs of the game in the first inning, and tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in Netherlands’ 2-0 win over China, to carry her team in Group B’s finale, securing a ticket to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024.
🎟️🇳🇱 They have a ticket and they go to the Finals!
💪🥎 Congrats, @HonkbalSoftbal!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/8osdP9qc5e
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
Netherlands jumped ahead in the first inning. Britt Vonk ledoff the game with a single to the right field and Brenda Beers walked, to put on base the first to hitters of the game. Two outs later, Van Aalst stepped on the plate and hit a triple down the right field line, producing the two only runs of the game.
In her second start of the tournament, Van Aalst struck out eight opponents against three hits and three walks.
In the sixth inning, China put two runners on with no outs. However, Xinyue Jiang lined a fly ball to center field, and Yue Xie was thrown out in second base, on a key double play. Lisa Hop replaced Van Aalst in the circle and pitched 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
For China, Yinan Chai was charged with the loss after pitching 2.1 innings, giving up five hits and two runs.
With this win, the Netherlands secured their ticket to the Finals 2024, joining USA, Australia (from Group A) and Puerto Rico.
🇳🇱 Netherlands advance to the Finals 2024!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/d1evABt2hG
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
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3rd vs. 4th: Netherlands 2, Cuba 1
Eva Voortman pitched a complete-game gem for the European Champions, with 11 strikeouts and two walks, while giving up two hits and one run.
World No. 10 Netherlands eliminated No. 28 Cuba in today’s win-or-go-home game, 2-1, and remain in contention for a spot in next year’s Finals. Eva Voortman pitched a complete-game gem for the European Champions, with 11 strikeouts and two walks, while giving up two hits and one run. She outdueled Cuban Yilian Tornes, who also went the distance.
🇳🇱 Netherlands take a two-run lead in the third!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/NnryhlsQCE
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
The Netherlands scored their two runs of the game in the third inning. With a runner on first, Brenda Beers hit a blooper to the left field line that was misplayed by Leannelys Zayas, allowing Beers to reach third base in the play. A few pitches later, she scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Dinet Oosting.
From that point, Tornes retired 12 batters in a row, keeping her team in the game. And Cuba scored in the bottom of the sixth, on a double by Yilian Rondon, who advanced to third on an error, with one out. However, Voortman retired the next two batters to defend the one-run lead.
In Cuba’s last at bat, Leannelys Zayas drew a leadoff walk, but again the Netherlands left-handed pitcher retired the next three batters to seal the win.
Tornes surrendered three hits and two runs in seven innings. She was charged with the loss.
🇳🇱 Netherlands take a two-run lead in the third!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/NnryhlsQCE
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
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5th vs. 6th: Spain 5, South Africa 0
Beatriz Alonso pitches shutout against South Africa; Spain finish in fifth place
World No. 12 Spain closed today their participation in Group B of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup with a 5-0 win over South Africa and clinched fifth place in the group. Beatriz Alonso pitched the complete game shutout, allowing two hits and one walk, while striking out four rivals. It was her first win of the tournament.
In the bottom of the first, Spain took an early lead on an RBI single by Yaicey Sojo that allowed Maria Caicoya to score the first run of the game.
One inning later, with two outs, Spain used four hits to add four more runs and get a comfortable five-run lead. Anna Sobrino sparked the two-out rally with a triple to right field, followed by singles by Carla Segura, Maria Caicoya and Carmen Caicoya.
Beatriz Alonso pitched the complete game shutout, allowing two hits and one walk, while striking out four rivals. It was her first win of the tournament.
With this result, Spain finish Group B in fifth place. South Africa is sixth.
🇪🇸 Spain finish in fifth place at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/VyWswmV34b
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 22, 2023
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That wraps up the action for Group B… this week we’ll report on Group C which includes Canada, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, Philippines and Venezuela.