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12 and Under World Cup in July

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

It is not the Little League World Series, but it is a group of elementary school kids playing in an event to call themselves the best in the world at baseball for the 12 and under generation.  The difference between the Little League World Series and the World Cup is the Little League is restricted to players who palyed in a specific organization.  You couldn’t grab the best kids from each of the Little League’s from around the country to play in the Little League World Series.  You are kind of stuck with the players who played in your Little League organization.

The 12 and under World Cup is supposed to be composed of the best 12 year olds in your country, if you can find them and convice them to play.  They will be going to Taiwan to compete in the 12 and under World Cup.  It is not a surprise the defending champs from the last 12 and under World Cup is Taiwan.  They were briefly prohibited from playing in the Little League World Series after winning so many titles because many of their teams were All Star teams, and not just composed of players just from a specific Little League organization.

Now the world is not restricted by that.  Any country can select who they think are the best 12 year olds.  And they will be competing in Taiwan.  And because the United States does not have a separate bracket just for itself, there is no guarantee a United States team reaches the finals.  Let’s hope they don’t use their WBC major league brethen as an example of how you get to the finals.

16 teams have entered this tournament.  A true 12 year old World Series.  They have been broken out into two groups.  The event will be held from July 18 to July 25.  The top four teams from each group will advance to a quarter finals.  There will probably be major league scouts there trying to get a head start on their scouting reports.  There has to be another Jurickson Profar or Todd Frazier among that group.  Maybe even another Rinku Singh.

Group A - Taiwan, Mexico, Japan, Italy, Colombia, Czech Republic, India and Hong Kong

Group B - USA, Venezuela, Brazil, Korea, Panama, Nigeria, Russia and Pakistan

Myworld guesses a couple of those countries may drop out due to lack of funding.  It costs money to get to Taiwan and house the players.  I don’t believe the IBAF is funding their travel.  A team absent from this list is last year’s second place team Cuba.

For the USA, Colombia, Czech Republic, India, Panama, Nigeria, Russia and Pakistan it is the first time they are competing in this event.  Since this is only the second 12 and under World Cup that is not a surprise.  It is probably a good thing they put India and Pakistan in separate pools.  It might also be a good thing if they force the two to play each other.

Details of the event can be found here: http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2013/04/22/16-teams-to-play-in-ii-ibaf-12u-baseball-world-cup/01cdca0d-faa7-4888-a654-88863d2f13b3

Posted in World Cup, Tournaments, Other | No Comments »

New Organization for International Baseball

Sunday, April 14th, 2013

In an effort to get Olympics back in baseball, the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) has combined with the International Softball Federation (ISF) to form a new organization the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).  The purpose of this union is to get baseball and softball back in the Olympics for 2020.

You can read the article discussing this union here: http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2013/04/14/new-world-baseball-softball-body-born-at-historic-/75492541-8081-452d-a203-df3523006093

You can go to the new website here: http://playball2020.com/

Posted in World Cup, World Baseball Classic | No Comments »

Selig Envisions a True World Series

Sunday, March 10th, 2013

Back in the day when the United States was the only country playing baseball calling the event between the winner of the American League and National League a “World Series” was appropriate.  The game has expanded to Asia, Central and South America and Europe since then, making the name a bit obsolete since the only team outside of the United States in the major leagues is Toronto.  http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/03/selig-true-world-series-is-eventual-goal/ has an interesting discussion of Bud Selig’s expectation of how the game will transform in the future.

Of course, a World Series would be a completely different concept of the World Baseball Classic.  A World Series would be a battle of the best teams from each country, not a group of the best players from each country.  With the growth of baseball internationally Americans will have to accept sharing the game with the world, or be stuck in the corn fields of Iowa still celebrating past heros while the international game leaves them behind.

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Japan Takes the Women’s World Cup for Second Time

Monday, August 20th, 2012

For the second straight year Japan won the women’s baseball world cup with a 3-0 win over the United States.  Yukari Isozaki threw a complete game seven inning shutout giving her the MVP honors for the tournament.  The previous day she had pitched a complete game seven inning one run victory against Australia.  That’s 203 pitches in two days.  It was Japan’s fifth shutout of the tournament, two of them by Isozaki and avenged an earlier 5-2 loss to the United States in pool play.

Japan scored all their runs in the third inning, Yukiko Kon getting the big hit with a 2-run single.  The first run scored on a bases loaded hit by pitch with Yuki Kawabata getting the bruise to drive in the run.

Earlier in the day, Canada outslugged Australia 17-13 to win the bronze.

The awards and All star team listed below as identified by http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2012/08/20/japan-repeats-as-womens-baseball-world-champion/890ca319-dfa8-4164-8dd7-b95cc74b3ee3

Individual Awards

Leading Hitter: Tamara Holmes (USA)
Pitcher Best ERA: Lauren McGrath (AUS)
Pitcher Win-Loss Average: Yukaria Isozaki (JPN)
Most Runs Batted In: Yukiko Kon (JPN)
Most Home Runs: Nicole Luchansky (CAN)
Most Stolen Bases: Bronwyn Gell (AUS)
Most Runs Scored: Shae Lillywhite (AUS)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Ayako Rokkaku (JPN)
Most Valuable Player: Yukari Isozaki (JPN)

All Star Team

Best Starting Pitcher: Yukari Isozaki (JPN)
Best Relief Pitcher: Ayami Sato (JPN)
Catcher: Stephanie Savoie (CAN)
First Base: Kate Psota (CAN)
Second Base: Nicole Luchansky (CAN)
Third Base: Christina Kreppold (AUS)
Shortstop: Ayaka Deguchi (JPN)
Outfield: Iori Miura (JPN)
Outfield: Jenna Flannigan (CAN)
Outfield: Hsiao Mei Chen (TPE)
Designated Hitter: Tamara Holmes (USA)

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United States to Play Japan for Women’s World Cup Gold

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

The United States brought their bats and blistered Canada 17-4 in the semi finals.  Malaika Underwood lashed out five hits, including three doubles to drive in three runs to lead the United States attack.  Bessie Noll and Alexa Maldanado also drove in three runs for the United States team.  A seven run third and eight run fifth made the score 17-0.  Canada rallied for four in the bottom of the fifth, but needed four more runs to continue the game.  Box score can be found here: http://ibaf.prod.kgroup.eu/stats/2012/canada/games/32.htm

Japan did it with pitching, getting a complete game from Yukari Isozaki in their 5-1 victory.  Australia scored the first run in the third inning, but Japan answered back with three runs in the bottom of the third for Japan.  The box score can be found here: http://ibaf.prod.kgroup.eu/stats/2012/canada/games/31.htm

In the second division, Taiwan nipped the Netherlands 7-5 while Venezuela beat Cuba 9-6.

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Japan Downs Canada; Australia Advances

Saturday, August 18th, 2012

In the two big games of the women’s World Cup, Japan sent Canada down to their first defeat with a 9-7 win and Australia advanced to the semi-finals with an 11-0 win.  Venezuela upset the United States 5-1 to prevent a three way tie for first place and gave Japan the number one seed in the playoff.  They will play Australia in the semifinals.  The United States will take on Canada in the other semi final game.

In a battle of winless teams, Cuba came out on top with a 13-5 victory over the Netherlands.  The two will duke it out again tomorrow in a battle for seventh place.  Taiwan and Venezuela will play for fifth.

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Women’s World Cup Update

Thursday, August 16th, 2012

Three teams are guaranteed a final four spot.  Canada is still undefeated in the tournament while defending champ Japan only has one loss.  The United States team also has one loss.  The two teams battling for the final fourth spot for the semifinals are Australia and Taiwan.  They just happen to play each other tomorrow on the last day of pool play.

You can see all the results of the tournament here: http://www.ibaf.org/en/competition/ab0f26e6-4b5f-420f-b773-414f2a6c4a68/results

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United States and Japan Remain Undefeated in World Cup

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

The United States team upset the defending women’s World Champion Japanese team 5-2 to become one of two undefeated teams in the women’s World Cup.  Tamara Holmes had one double and two triples to become a one woman wrecking crew.  Canada edged Australia 5-4 to also stay undefeated.  Rebbeca Hartley broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI triple to lead Canada.  Australian Christian Kreppold almost had as many hits (3) as the whole Candadian team (4).

The other two teams that are still in contention with three victories each are Japan and Taiwan.  Cuba and the Netherlands are still without a victory, though the Netherlands lost a slugfest to Australia 13-11 to end their two game shutout streak.  The United States and Canada face off tonight.  The loser drops back with Japan and Taiwan at 3-1 while the winner moves to 4-0.

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Women’s World Cup Update - Day 2

Saturday, August 11th, 2012

The defending champs got off to a good start when Japan stomped the Netherlands 21-0.  For the Netherlands it was their second loss of the tournament and the second game in which they were shutout.  Japan had 9-run bookends to end the game in five innings.

Taiwan had lost its opener to Canada last night, but didn’t let the early morning start deter them from evening their record at 1-1 with a convincing 6-3 win over Cuba.  For Cuba it was their second loss.  Two Cuban errors allowed three unearned runs to score, which proved to be the difference in the game.

The host Canadian team romped over Taiwan late last night 12-2.  Nicole Luchanski, Stephanie Savoie and Katherine Psota each combined for three hits to lead the offense.  Luchanski scored three runs while Meagan Cornelssen drove in three.

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Women’s World Cup - Day One

Friday, August 10th, 2012

The United States cruised past Netherlands 10-0 and Australia downed Cuba 12-4 in the opening games of the Women’s World Cup.

Kristin Caldwell did not give up a hit in her four innings of work.  Kayla Bufardeci gave up the only hit in her one inning of work, with the game ending after five innings.  The Netherlands committed four errors, including two by the catcher who allowed 10 stolen bases in the five innings that were played.  Leadoff hitter Natalie Land stole three bases and crossed the plate twice to lead the United States team on offense.

In the other game, Australia broke the game wide open against Cuba with a six run fifth inning to down Cuba 12-4.  Kim McMillan pitched four innings of relief, giving up only one unearned run to get the victory.  Christina Kreppold was a homerun short of the cycle, finishing 4 for 5 with four RBIs.

You can see more at: http://www.ibaf.org/en/competition/ab0f26e6-4b5f-420f-b773-414f2a6c4a68

Posted in World Cup, Australia, Cuba, Netherlands, United States | No Comments »

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