International News: WBSC World Cup Group C Action Concludes Opening Rounds… Playoffs Start Tomorrow

The following recaps are courtesy of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)… 

The following recap, tweets and photos are courtesy of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)… 

The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group C is the last of the three “Group” playoffs as Group A saw the USA and Australia qualify for next summer’s World Cup Finals and Group B produced two more teams in Puerto Rico and Netherlands.

Group C kicked off the final round of action last Saturday with six countries—Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Philippines—vying for the final two spots as they compete in Buttrio and Castions di Strada, Italy.

Today, Tuesday, was the last day of the Opening Round schedule as tomorrow sees the start of the playoffs and which two squads from the six in Group C will advance to compete in 2024 for the World Cup.

Here are the results from today:

🏆🥎 Check out XVII Women's Softball World Cup Group C Opening Round final day results!

🔝 Canada, Japan and Philippines on the winning side!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/DVldaIZeGq

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

Starting off this week’s action, favorite Japan got out of the gate last weekend with two four-inning run rule games beating New Zealand 16-2 and Philippines 13-0 but lost on Monday in a close one to Canada which won 6-5.

That was no problem for the Japanese today, though, as the world power captured two wins today, scoring a total of 10 runs while the super strong pitching staff blanked their opponents.

In the first game for Japan Tuesday, pitcher Sakura Miwa tossed a no-hitter over five innings to beat Venezuela 7-0 (click HERE to read the complete article) and, in its second game of the day, gave Italy its first loss with a 3-0 win as two standout Japanese pitchers, Miu Goto and Yukiko Ueno, combined to give up just three hits over seven innings while striking out eight Italian batters.

🇯🇵 Japan finish Opening Round with a 4-1 record and move to the playoffs!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/34pYtJAmjY

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

🇯🇵 Japan take the lead in the top of the second inning!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/z9PfXybcql

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

Also Tuesday, Canada topped New Zealand 4-0 as Sara Groenewegen and Dawn Bodrug pitched the combined shutout allowing only three hits while strikeout out eight, the Philippines defeated New Zealand 5-3 and

🇵🇭 Nicole Hammoude homers to lead Philippines to their second win!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/M508Gd41uB

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

🇮🇹 McKenzie Barbara drives in two with a double into the left field corner#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/3WgJZ6XFDD

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

The upset of the week so far may have been today when the Italians—who started this week 3-0 thanks to wins over Venezuela (score of 4-2), New Zealand (9-0) and Canada (6-1)—dropped to 3-2 with a loss to Japan yesterday and then a heartbreaker to the Philippines today.

The host country went ahead on a big two-RBI double by McKenzie Barbara to break a 1-1 tie in the 5^th inning, but the Philippines won 6-5 to put them into the playoffs tomorrow on a wild play at the plate with the bases loaded, one out and a full count…. check it out:

🇵🇭 Philippines win!!!! Philippines win!!! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/liHm9TrF6w

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

🇵🇭 Walk-off win for Philippines!! They earn a spot in the playoffs!!!!#SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/XlpfUQ6W3E

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 25, 2023

Starting tomorrow, we’ll have results of the playoffs….

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball