Japan is the old and new Women’s Softball World Champion. They defeated Team USA 4-1 in the Gold Medal Game in Haarlem, Netherlands on Sunday. Yukiko Ueno pitched another complete game to pace Team Nippon to another world title. She went to the pitcher’s circle with a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first, as Japan got to Jessica Moore early in the game.
Both teams already had met in the semi-finals on Saturday with Japan winning 6-1. They finished the tournament with a perfect 10-0 record. The United States rebounded from their first loss by defeating Australia 8-1 on Sunday in the Bronze Medal Game to reach the finals. Canada came in fourth, Chinese Taipei fifth. The Netherlands were the best European team in sixth place.
The consolation round was cancelled due to the bad weather in the region in the past week. Italy finished with a tie for ninth place. The Czech Republic took 11th, Russia 13th and Great Britain 16th.
Final Standings:
|
1
|
 JAPAN |
9
|
 CUBA |
|
2
|
 UNITED STATES |
 ITALY |
|
|
3
|
 AUSTRALIA |
11
|
 CZECH REPUBLIC |
|
4
|
 CANADA |
12
|
 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
|
5
|
 CHINESE TAIPEI |
13
|
 RUSSIA |
|
6
|
 NETHERLANDS |
14
|
 BOTSWANA |
|
7
|
 CHINA |
15
|
 PUERTO RICO |
|
8
|
 NEW ZEALAND |
16
|
 GREAT BRITAIN |