The sixth Women’s Baseball World Cup will be played in Miyazaki, Japan this week. The hosts are the heavy favorite, having won the last three editions. Also playing are the United States, Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and the lone European participant Netherlands.
Teams are split into two groups in the first round. A second round robin will follow before the finals on Sunday. Thursday will be an off day. The Dutch team faces Canada, USA and Chinese Taipei in the preliminary phase. Games will be played at NPB spring training stadiums Ivy Stadium and Sun Stadium and therefore will offer top-notch playing fields.
Since interest in Women’s Baseball is on a rise and Japan is the leading country with a professional league on site, the 6th Women’s Baseball World Cup is expected to be the most successful edition so far. The playing field is supposed to increase to 12 teams by 2016, when the Women’s BWC will be held in Korea.