Japan Claims Seventh Straight Women’s World Cup Baseball Title
Image credit: Yuki Kawabata hit a three-run home run to lead Japan to a WBSC World Cup gold medal win. (Photo courtesy WBSC)
For a few moments, it seemed possible that Japan’s total domination of women’s baseball could end.
On Saturday, the champs showed that they aren’t going anywhere. Madonna Japan knocked off Team USA 11-6 to win its seventh consecutive Women’s World Cup. The streak, which stretches back to 2008, has gone on so long that multiple generations of players have played a role.
Japan’s 39-game international winning streak was halted by an eighth-inning Team USA win on Thursday. But that was in a game where both teams had already clinched spots in the gold medal game.
With a title on the line, Japan jumped out to an early lead and just kept adding to it.
Japan got a home run from first baseman Yuki Kawabata in a four-run third against Team USA starter Jillian Alabayati. Japan took advantage of Kelsie Whitmore’s wildness in a relief appearance in the fourth for three more runs.
And a Miu Shiraishi RBI single, a Nanako Hanabusa RBI single and an Iori Miura fielder’s choice widened the lead further in the fifth.
Team USA had allowed just 10 runs in 10 games between the World Cup qualifier and round robin play. But Japan’s lineup was filled with patient contact hitters who also extremely adept bunters. And they were relentless.
An Alex Hugo three-run home run to straight center field did cut the lead in the fifth. But Akino Tanaka kept Team USA off the scoreboard in the seventh, with veteran catcher Nanako Hanausa catching a foul ball to set off a championship-clinching celebration.
Why is Japan so dominant in women’s baseball? Because they encourage girls and women to play the sport.. High school girls baseball is popular in Japan, and multiple NPB teams have women’s teams as well, which means playing pro baseball is a viable option.
It shows on the field. Japan played a very polished, relentless approach.
But even with a five-run loss in the gold medal game, Team USA showed it’s narrowing the gap. The majority of the team was born in the 21st century, including 17-year-old first baseman Naomi Ryan, who batted in the middle of the lineup all week. Remi Schaber, one of the best hitters in the tournament, is 21. Pitcher/outfielder Olivia Pichardo is 20.
Canada beat Mexico 4-2 to win the bronze medal.
