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You couldn’t have written a better script for Team USA last week in the WBSC Women’s World Cup Group A round of games that decided the two teams of the six who move on and will compete next July in the 2024 World Cup Finals to be held in Italy.
The Red, White & Blue went undefeated and, impressively, the pitching staff composed of Ally Carda, Megan Faraimo, Montana Fouts and Kelly Maxwell didn’t give up a single run in the five wins for Team USA in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland.
The offense wasn’t too shabby, either, leading the group of six teams with a collective .326 batting average as Nicole Bates was the top hitter with a .500 batting average, ahead of Australia’s Jade Wall (.467; who had the most hits in Group A with seven). Also for the Red, White & Blue, Hannah Flippen hit .462, Ali Aguilar batted .444 with two home runs) and Sahvanna Jaquish compiled a .429 average.
On Monday (July 17) the WBSC announced that Hannah Flippen was selected as the Group A Most Outstanding Player after she batted .462, led the tournament with six RBIs and had the game-winning walk-off hit in the eighth inning of the 1-0 win over Australia.
As noted in the WBSC release announcing Flippen as the MOP, the Olympic Silver Medalist called the award a “great accomplishment” and gave her teammates the credit.
“Playing with USA softball is always competitive and challenging. It feels great to be recognized for my performance last week,” Flippen told the WBSC.
“I couldn’t have been the MOP without teammates being on base and having quality at-bats, and coaches that continue to share their knowledge to make our team better.”
Flippen started all games at third base, going 6-for-13 at the plate, and playing an error-free infield (third and second) while compiling eight assists.
🇺🇸🏅 Congrats to Hannah Flippen the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group A Most Outstanding Player! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/ibFrr9mJv3
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 15, 2023
Hannah will now compete in the Athletes Unlimited League and in the Japanese pro championship telling the WBSC that the 28-year-old is excited to continue her summer into the fall playing the game she’s so good at.
“I love this league (Athletes Unlimited) because I get to compete in the U.S. and play with my friends. After that, I’ll return to Japan for the second half of the Diamond League. My team Hitachi Sundiva is full of awesome humans and athletes, and we will be fighting to win a championship this fall!”
Australia Other Qualifier in Group A
In the title game of Group A, Team USA topped Great Britain 7-0 but that didn’t mean the loser’s took second in the event.
Team Australia defeated Chinese Taipei and then beat Great Britain to secure the second spot from Group A. Also competing in initial group to compete this Summer were Ireland (finished 5th) and Botswana (6th).
🇦🇺 Congratulations @SoftballOz!!!!! #SoftballWorldCupW pic.twitter.com/6YukgRFu33
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 15, 2023
*****
Group B Kicks Off Action on Tuesday
With Group A play done, it’s time for the six teams in Group B to compete and see which pair will advance to the Finals in 2024.
The action will run from July 18 through July 22 and feature teams from the countries of Spain, China, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands and South Africa.
There will be five days of competition at the Camp Municipal de Valencia with four days of round-robin pool play before the playoffs on Saturday determines which two teams advance.
In a preview done by the WBSC earlier this month, the organization listed the favorites in Group B.
“… all six teams will have strong aspirations to advance to the Finals next year. However, world No. 4 Puerto Rico and No. 10 Netherlands appear as the main contenders, with No. 11 China, No. 12 Spain and No. 28 Cuba looking to defy them on the diamond. African champions and No. 38 South Africa also aim to surprise in their quest to make the top-eight of the Women’s Softball World Cup for the first time.
Click HERE to read more about the half dozen teams battling it out this week in Group B.
🇪🇸 Valencia is ready to welcome the world
🥎🏆 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B opens tomorrow
🇨🇳🇨🇺🇪🇸🇳🇱🇵🇷🇿🇦#SoftballWorldCupW
📰 Read more ➡️ https://t.co/ToktkSWLD6
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) July 17, 2023
*****
Group C Begins Play This Saturday in Italy
The last round of competition for spots in the 2024 Finals will start on Saturday, July 22 and will include three teams that played in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Japan, which captured the Gold; Canada which took the bronze and Italy, which finished 6th.
Also participating will be Venezuela, the Philippines and New Zealand.
Click HERE to read more about the six teams that will compete in Group C
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