WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2024 Group C - Day 5: USA, Canada secure tickets to Finals 2025; Mexico earn wild card
USA and Canada secured today their spots in next year's Finals. USA defeated Canada 7-0 in the Final, while the Canadians bounced back in the Repechage defeating Mexico, 9-2, in the last game of the tournament. USA went undefeated through the tournament, while Canada closed the event with an overall 5-2 record.
Mexico finished in third place in Group C and earned a wild card for the Finals along with Puerto Rico, as they were the highest finishers in the last World Cup among the three third-place teams from the Group Stage. New Zealand, which finished third in Group A, did not participate in Lima 2021.
With the conclusion of Group C, the eight teams advancing to the Finals have been confirmed: No. 1 USA, No. 2 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Mexico, No. 10 Czechia and No. 11 China. The teams in the Finals will represent the Americas, Asia and Europe, and all of them are in the top-12 of the World Ranking.
All three past World Champions will be present in Dallas in 2025, with USA holding eight titles, Japan five and China one. USA are the four-time defending world champions.
In addition, six of the seven historic medallists will also be present in Dallas: USA (14), Japan (13), China (3), Chinese Taipei (3), Puerto Rico (3) and Canada (1). The only medallist not qualified for next year's Finals is Australia.
USA's third baseman Ella McDowell was the Most Outstanding Player of the event. She played in all six games for USA, going 11-for-15 for the tournament for a stunning .733 batting average. She also collected two homers and two doubles with eight RBIs. She led the tournament in batting average, home runs (tied) and slugging; and finished second in hits, doubles, RBIs and runs scored.
Key Links
- Schedule/live scoring
- Rosters
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- Live clips on X
- Videos
- Photos
- WBSC/KONAMI Women's Softball World Ranking
Mexico recovered from a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the fifth to claim a dramatic win, 6-5, to advance to the Repechage game this evening. A two-run double by Ava Tapia in the bottom of the seventh gave Mexico the walk-off win over Australia.
Australia's Indi Munro had an outstanding game. She belted two home runs and drove in four runs being the driving force of Australia's offence.
Jayda Lorigan pitched a good game for Australia, allowing two earned runs in 5.2 innings. However, the seven error made by her defence, including two key plays in the bottom of the seventh, made the difference in the game.
With the game 5-2, Clarissa Mejia and Natalie Rodarte walked, and then Danna Viera hit a fly ball to left field that wasn't gloved by Haylee Nelson allowing one run to score and leaving runners on second and third. A new error, this time by shortstop Angelique Iredale, kept the rally alive and finally Tapia smashed a two-run line-drive into the left center field gap to walk off the game.
With this result, Australia finished fourth in the Group C and they will not be playing in the Finals next year. Mexico moved to the Repechage game, waiting fot eh loser of the game between Canada and USA.
USA defeated Canada, 7-0, in the Final of the Group C competition and clinched their ticket to the Finals 2025. Addisen Fisher tossed six scoreless innings allowing three hits, while striking out eight.
In the bottom of the third, USA took the lead with an RBI by Ella McDowell. However, Canadian right fielder Avery Tucker threw out two runners at home with two perfect plays.
In the fifth, USA took advantage of three errors to score five and break the game open. One inning later, they plated their seventh run to end the game. Townsen Thomas went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, while Elsa Morrison and Isabella Ruggiero collected two RBIs.
With this win, USA clinched the first place in Group C and their ticket to the Finals. Next year, they will try to win their fifth consecutive World Cup in this category. Canada will play next Mexico, with the second ticket on the line.
Avery Tucker went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, leading Canada to a five-inning, 9-2 victory to clinch their ticket to the Finals next year. The left-handed hitter finished the tournament with a .476 batting average.
From the circle, Danika Nell struck out six in three innings, while giving up four hits and two runs, both in the top of the first inning. She was the winner of the game. Rylee Ruppel retired the las six outs for Canada, two of the via strikeouts. She allowed two hits.
Valeria Vazquez and Ixeyana Vera collected an RBI each in the top of the first to give Mexico the lead, but Canada recovered in the bottom of the second with a six-run rally to take control of the game.
With this result, Canada finished second place, while Mexico ended third.
Philippines starter Callie Christian pitched a gem today against Ireland, leading her team to a 4-0 in the game for the fifth place. The right-hander went the distance giving up one hit and one walk while striking out six. She finished this event with a 2.63 ERA.
Christian also contributed offensively, going 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs. Mylia Perez had two hits in three at bats and scored twice in the game.
Ireland's only hit came off the bat of shortstop Cameron Kelly , who whent 1-for-3 in the game. It was her fourth hit of the tournament, finishing with a .235 batting average.
Whit this result, Philippines finished fifth in the group, while Ireland ended sixth with no wins in the competition.
Key News
- Day 4: Morgan Reimer perfect game sets up matchup between Canada and undefeated USA. Mexico vs Australia in elimination game
- Day 3: USA clinch first place in Opening Round; Canada beat Ireland & Philippines to secure Play-Offs spot; Shutout win for Australia.
- Day 2: USA beat Australia, Canada to remain perfect; Mexico win in extras; Philippines claim first triumph
- Day 1: Australia win opener against Philippines; Canada too good for Mexico; USA beat Ireland
- WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group C press conference: Head coaches on mindset, preparation ahead of tournament start on Thursday
- Softball superpowers, rising nations collide in WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group C
- WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup: A bright future for Olympic softball
- Meet Dallas, home of the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group C & Finals 2025
- The Village Dallas, much more than a host for the WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group C
- WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group C: GameTime to live-stream all 19 games
Mexico 2 - 9 Canada - Boxscore
Bottom 5th - Canada add two to walk it off. Chloe Bethune and Avery Tucker with the RBI singles to end the game in five innings.
Bottom 2nd - Canada put together a six-run rally to take control of the game with RBIs by Kenzie Hess (1), Cali Chapman (2), Avery tucker (1) and Danika Livingstone (2).
Bottom 1st - Avery Tucker led off with a single, stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error. From there, she scored on a sac fly to right field to make it a one-run ballgame.
Top 1st - Mexico score two runs on four hits and take the lead in the board. RBI singles by Valeria Vazquez and Ixayana Vera for the Mexicans. They lead 2-0.
Canada 0 - 7 USA - Boxscore
Bottom 6th - With the bases loaded, Elsa Morrison hit a single up the middle to plate Townsen Thomas. USA win.
Bottom 5th - Three Canadian errors opened the door to a big five-inning rally for USA, who only had three hits in the inning. The game is now 6-0.
Bottom 3rd - USA loaded the bases with no outs. However, Brooke Taylor sent a line to right field caught by Avery Tucker, who fired out Harlie Chism at home plate to prevent the hosts from scoring. Ella McDowell then singled to right field, scoring one, but Tucker again showed her arm throwing out Townsen Thomas at home. USA is leading 1-0.
Preview - The Final of this event will start at 3:30pm, when USA take on Canada with a ticket to the Finals at stake. USA swept the Opening Round, outscoring their opponents 56-1. The only team that scored agains the US was Canada, in their 9-1 matchup. The winner of this game will secure a spot in the Finals 2025, while the loser will play against the winner of the Mexico vs Australia game at 6:30pm.
Australia 5 - 6 Mexico - Boxscore
Bottom 7th - Mexico mount a seventh inning rally to comeback in the game and take the win. Two Australian errors opened the door for Ava Tapia to drive in the game-tying and the game-winning runs with a double to the left center field gap. Mexico win it 6-5.
Bottom 6th - Mexico score one on an RBI single by Ana Paula Oquita. The game is now 5-2 for Australia.
Bottom 5th - Mexico get on the board. Lilianna Acosta led off with a double, and then scored on a two-out single by Clarissa Mejia. Australia is now leading 5-1.
Top 5th - Indy Munro homers again. With a runner on, and one out, the Australian first baseman belted a two run shot to the left field bleachers to make it 5-0. Munro has collected four RBIs in the game.
Top 4th - Aggressive base running paid dividends to Australia. Milla Durnell hit an infield hit, and then went from first to third on a bloop single behind first base. She then scored on a passed ball to give Australia a 3-0 advantage.
Top 3rd - Indy Munro drives in another run for Australia. With runners in second and third, she lifted a fly ball to center field to score Angelique Iredale from third. The green and gold squad is leading 2-0.
Top 2nd - Indy Munro crushed the first pitch she saw in the game and sent it well over the center field fence for a solo homer. Australia strike first and take a 1-0 lead.
Bottom 1st - After a nice double play, Mexico loaded the bases but couldn't cash in, as Danna Viera grounded to second base. The game is scoreless after one.
Preview - Australia and Mexico will play face off for the second day in a row, this time for the Play-Offs of the competition. The loser of this game will finish fourth and will be eliminated from the Finals 2025; while the winner will move to the Repechage game this evening, against the loser of the game between USA and Canada. Yesterday, both teams collided in the last day of the Opening Round and Mexico prevailed, 2-0, behind a great pitching performance by Lilianna Acosta. The game will begin at 1:30pm.
Ireland 0 - 4 Philippines - Boxscore
Bottom 3rd - Eliana Deyoung doubled to right field, and then scored on an error by Rachel Keys. Philippines lead is now 4-0.
Bottom 2nd - Callie Christian drove in two runs with a double to left center field. She plated Jiyah Caban and Mylia Perez. Philippines is ahead, 3-0.
Bottom 1st - Mylia Perez singled and then scored on a throwing error by second baseman Roisin Moriarty after a sac bunt. Philippines jump ahead 1-0.
Preview - The first game of the day will see sixth-place Ireland and fifth-place Philippines going head to head to define the las two positions in Group C, with important points for the ranking at stake. During the Opening Round, they faced each other on Day 2, with a Philippines victory by 5-2. Althea Palzario went the distance for the Philippines racking up 10 strikeouts in the game. First pitch was scheduled for 9:30am, but it was moved back to 10:30am.