OKLAHOMA CITY – One run proved to be the deciding factor in both the Bronze and Gold Medal games at the World Cup of Softball XI as both the USA Softball Women’s National Team and Women’s Elite Team fell just one run short in each of their final games. In the Bronze Medal match, the USA Elite dropped a 4-3 decision to Australia, while Team USA dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Japan in the Gold Medal finale.
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Gold Medal Game
Japan 3, USA Elite 2
It was a typical USA vs Japan ballgame, as one run proved to be the difference in the Gold Medal finale at the World Cup of Softball XI as Team USA fell 2-1 to Japan.
“You take a look at what we did, and what the USA Elite did, and you can see the future is bright for USA Softball,” said Head Coach Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla.). “I was very proud of the fact that we had young kids step up this week, we didn’t panic and sometimes the difference between a Gold and Silver is a fingernail. I think when you take a look up and down our lineup, everybody can hit it well. We’ve got rookie pitchers out here that are moving in the right direction. I can’t wait for us to get to the Worlds and get started.”
Team USA struck first in the top of the first inning as Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) reached on an error. On a 1-1 count, Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) lined up on the ball for a standup double to allow McCleney to cross the plate. Japan responded in the bottom of the frame after a leadoff walk to Yu Yamamoto. USA’s starter Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) retired the next two with a pair of popups. Back-to-back singles brought Yamamoto home before a grounder to Kasey Cooper (Dothan, Ala.) at third ended the at-bat.
Both Team USA’s and Japan’s pitching staff’s kept the offenses off the base paths through the bottom of the third when Yamamoto reached on a fielding error. Retiring the next batter with a ground out, USA opted for a pitching change as Delanie Gourley (Lakeside, Calif.) entered the circle. After a walk put two runners on, McCleney made a beautiful diving catch in center field to pick off the runner at second for a double play.
The bats were silent for both sides until the bottom of the fifth when Japan plated a run after two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases. After McCleney made another diving catch in center, Hitomi Kawabata tagged up and scored to give Japan the 2-1 lead. After a hit batter loaded the bases, Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) entered the circle and issued a strikeout to end the rally.
The game stayed in a 2-1, Japan favor through the top of the seventh. Down to their final at-bat, Team USA looked to get a rally going as Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) singled with one out. The bases would become loaded with one out after Cooper was hit by a pitch and Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) walked. The U.S. rally was halted, however, with a popup and a strikeout to give Japan the 2-1 win.
With the loss, Team USA finished the World Cup of Softball XI with the silver, compiling a 6-1 record. Spaulding led the U.S. offense, finishing the World Cup of Softball with a .529 (9-for-7) with three home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored. Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) led the U.S. pitching staff with a .636 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 11 innings in the circle.
“In the last couple of weeks that we’ve been together we’ve continued to grow upwards,” said Arioto. “We’ve gotten a lot of information on what we need to do the next time we face Japan, so even for the World Championships we’re that much more connected as a unit. It was a tough loss, but we’ll be better for it in the long run. I’m looking forward to the next few weeks with this time and to see what we can do.”
Bronze Medal Game
Australia 4, USA Elite 3
It was a tightly fought game between the USA Softball Women’s Elite Team and Australia in the Bronze Medal Game of the World Cup of Softball XI, with the Aussies pulling off a 4-3 win over the USA Elite to earn the Bronze. It was an exciting matchup, as the two teams swapped the lead back-and-forth down to the final at-bat.
“The team hit the ball well, it just comes down to whoever plays the best at the end,” said Head Coach Tairia Flowers. “This team can swing the bat, and now they’ve gotten the chance to see how international softball is. We have some really talented girls. They’re young, they’re excited and they want to get better.”
As the visiting team, the USA Elite headed to the plate first to start the game. Reaching on a one-out single, Astin Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) stole second and advanced to third after Amanda Lorenz (Moorpark, Calif.) singled. The U.S. looked to strike first, as Donovan tagged up on a fly out from Sam Fischer (Simi Valley, Calif.) to center, but was thrown out at home to keep the game scoreless.
The game didn’t remain scoreless for long, as the Aussie’s capitalized on a USA Elite error. With two outs, a miscue gave Australia a runner at first, who advanced to second on a passed ball and then came around to score on a double by Chelsea Forkin. The Aussies added to their lead in the bottom of the second, stringing together a pair of singles after a two-out walk.
The USA Elite tied up the ball game in the top of the third inning as Allexis Bennett (Corona, Calif.) got things started with a single. Swiping second with a stolen base, Lorenz doubled to bring Bennett home. Entering as a pinch runner for Lorenz, Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W. Va.) came around to score on an RBI single from Fischer to make it a tied ball game.
Entering in relief in the bottom of the third, Paige Lowary (Grimes, Iowa) retired the Australia offense through the bottom of the fifth before the Aussie’s punched in another run to regain the lead. A leadoff walk and a double plated Janie Blackman, giving Australia the 3-2 lead. Trailing by one, Madeline Jelenicki (Santa Clarita, Calif.) blasted her third home run of the World Cup of Softball to once again tie the game.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh with a 3-3 score, Australia loaded the bases after Lowary issued a lead off strikeout. Stacey Porter singled, and an error allowed her to get to third as Chelsea Forkin reached first safely and an intentional walk to Jade Wall put runners on each bag. A fielder’s choice to Madilyn Nickles (Merced, Calif.) at short stop got the out at home, but after a back-and-forth duel with Taylah Tsitsikronis a walk was issued for the walk-off, Australian win.
With the loss, the USA Elite finished the World Cup of Softball XI with a 4-2 record and fourth place finish. Bennett had the hot bat for the USA Elite, compiling a .500 (9-for-18) batting average with two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored. Lowary led the USA Elite pitching staff, compiling a 1.43 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 14.2 innings of work.
“Japan and Australia are some of the best teams in the world and we competed with them,” said Fischer. “The thing about our team, is anyone can get the job done. We were young, with many of us having our first taste of international softball, but the confidence was there. I’m proud of the way our team played, and how we played together throughout the week. I’m excited about the future of this team.”
