The USA initially took the lead, but pitchers Kelly Maxwell and Megan Faraimo were unable to contain the formidable Japanese lineup. Miu Goto excelled, allowing just one run over five innings, while Yukiko Ueno secured the victory, conceding only three walks. This triumph marks Japan’s fourth world title.
World No. 3 Japan defeated No. 1 United States in the final, 6-1, before a sell-out crowd of 3,200 in Castions di Strada, Italy, to win the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2023/2024 on Sunday.
US pitchers blanked Japan in the Super Round. The Japanese lineup impressed in the final, combining 11 hits against Kelly Maxwell, Megan Faraimo and Ally Carda,
“After the Super Round game, I told my players that I saw too many big swings and that they needed to look more for contact,” said head coach Reika Utsugi. “I also told them I believed their best effort would be enough to win.”
Utsugi started Miu Goto and relieved her with veteran Yukiko Ueno after five innings.
“I needed the younger pitcher to start such an important game, but I knew she may feel the pressure or get tired. Having Ueno ready made everybody relax, including Goto and me.”
Miu Goto has pitched over 22 innings in the 2024 World Cup Finals.
“I work hard every day to be well prepared. After every game, I have my routine to get to the next game in the best condition possible.”
The US bats got to Goto in the first, scoring one run. They would not add any in the next four innings.
“I regret allowing them a run in the first. When I got the third out, I said to myself that the goal was to keep them at one. I think that control and spin on the ball were what made me effective,” Goto said on her strongest weapon in the game.
Goto dramatically lost the U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup against USA in 2019, helped Japan win in Tokyo, and finished second again at the World Games.
“Playing the US is always special. I expect to face them in the final of every big event. I was anticipating this World Cup Final against them.”
Yukiko Ueno talked through an interpreter about her feelings when she got the call to enter the game.
“I was nervous, but I don’t mean negatively. I was tense, which gave me a lot of energy.”
Ueno did not allow a hit to the US lineup, only three walks.
“I’m pleased about that, but I think we achieved a great result as a team. My individual performance was just a contribution to a team effort. I want to congratulate my teammates one by one.”
It is Japan’s fourth Women’s Baseball World Title, the first after 2014. Japan finished second at the 2016 and 2018 Women’s Softball World Cups and the 2022 World Games.
“Softball is not part of the 2024 Olympics programme,” commented Utsugi. “We are concentrating on the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This victory will encourage the whole [Japanese] softball community to work even harder. We have a lot of young players on the roster. This world title will give them a lot of confidence.”
The World Championship Final as it happened
The US wasted no time getting to Japan’s starter, Miu Goto. They loaded the bases with one out for Amanda Lorenz, who turned Goto’s fourth pitch into an RBI single.
Japan reversed the lead in the top of the second. Eri Shimoyama reached on a leadoff single. She stole second and ran home on a base hit by Yui Sakamoto. US starter Kelly Maxwell got the first out on strikes, then Ayana Karoji hit an RBI single up the middle to put Japan ahead
Karojii advanced to second on the throw home. Maxwell used some help from Jessie Warren at third and shortstop Nicole Bates to record the second and the third out of the at-bat.
Ayane Nakagawa led off the third with a base hit and the US called Megan Faraimo from the bullpen. Kyoko Ishikiwa lined into a double play to shortstop.
Faraimo allowed a two-out double to Hotaro Tsukamoto, then got out of the inning on a Shimoyama’s fly to left field.
Hannah Flippen and Jessie Warren hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the third. Goto got Dejah Mulipola to ground into a force out at second.
Goto got the second out on strikes. With runners at third and second, Jocelyn Alo hit a slow grounder to shortstop. Ishikawa prevented a run with a fine play.
Japan added a run in the top of the fourth. Faraimo allows a one-out walk to Shiho Suto, who reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Yume Kiriishi’s bloop single to centre.
Kiriishi stole second, and the US intentionally walked Urara Fujimoto. Ayane Nakagawa made the most of the opportunity with an RBI single through the right side to extend Japan’s lead to 4-1 and put runners at third and second.
Ishikawa lined the eighth pitch from Faraimo into right field for a two-RBI single that broke the score open to 6-1. It was all for Faraimo, who left for Ally Carda.
The US got the third inning of the top of the fourth at home.
In the bottom half of the frame Japan handed the ball to 42-year-old legend Yukiko Ueno.
Ueno allowed a leadoff walk to Lorenz in the bottom of the sixth and two walks to McCleney and Flippen in the bottom of the seventh. Warren worked the count full, then hit a comebacker that Ueno could only touch. Suto got to the ball, and her throw barely beat Warren at first, ending the game.
