by WBSC Softball Division
OKLAHOMA CITY — The schedules are set for both the Championship and Placement divisions at the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) as the final day of preliminary rounds concluded in Oklahoma City, Okla. Team USA and Japan both earned the No. 1 seed in their respective pools to earn No. 1 seeds in the Championship rounds while Canada, China, Czech Republic, Mexico, New Zealand and Puerto Rico all also earned a spot in the playoffs. All eight teams will enter into a double page playoff with the Bronze Medal Game slated for 4 p.m. CST and the Gold Medal Game occurring at 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, August 15. In addition to the Championship rounds being set, seven teams have entered into the placement bracket with the Championship Game, which will result in a ninth place finish, taking place at 1 p.m. CST on Saturday, August 15. All games will be played on historic OGE Energy Field at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
Final Pool Play breakdown:
| Pool A | Won | Lost | Runs Scored | Runs Against | |
| 1 | JAPAN | 6 | 0 | 64 | 0 |
| 2 | CANADA | 5 | 1 | 39 | 6 |
| 3 | CHINA | 4 | 2 | 26 | 31 |
| 4 | NEW ZEALAND | 3 | 3 | 16 | 18 |
| 5 | GREAT BRITAIN | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| 6 | ARGENTINA | 1 | 5 | 12 | 37 |
| 7 | COLOMBIA | 0 | 6 | 1 | 62 |
| Pool B | Won | Lost | Runs Scored | Runs Against | |
| 1 | UNITED STATES | 7 | 0 | 82 | 3 |
| 2 | MEXICO | 5 | 2 | 15 | 34 |
| 3 | CZECH REPUBLIC | 4 | 3 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | PUERTO RICO | 4 | 3 | 28 | 13 |
| 5 | AUSTRALIA | 3 | 4 | 25 | 21 |
| 6 | CHINESE TAIPEI | 3 | 4 | 18 | 26 |
| 7 | ITALY | 2 | 5 | 14 | 40 |
| 8 | BRAZIL | 0 | 7 | 6 | 50 |
Below is the schedule for Thursday, August 13:
Championship Bracket:
Thursday, August 13 – OGE Energy Field
A3 China vs. B4 Puerto Rico – 12 p.m. CST
B3 Czech Republic vs. A4 New Zealand – 2:30 p.m. CST
A1 Japan vs. B2 Mexico – 5 p..m CST
B1 USA vs. A2 Canada – 7 p.m. CST
Placement Bracket:
Thursday, August 13 – Integris Field
A6 Argentina vs. B7 Italy – 1:30 p.m. CST
B6 Chinese Taipei vs. A7 Colombia – 4 p.m. CST
A5 Great Britain vs. B8 Brazil – 6:30 p.m. CST
Australia earned an bye from action on Thursday after earning the B5 seed in the placement bracket. They will await the winner of the placement round game No. 4 for a 4 p.m. matchup on Friday.
Click here to view the results, box scores and the schedule for the 2015 WBSC JWWC.
Highlights from Day Four
Czech Republic 1, Australia 0
Veronika Peckova had a day, throwing a no-hitter in Czech Republic’s 1-0 victory over Australia. Pecknova was nearly perfect through seven innings, striking out 13 batters with the sole runner of the game reaching on a walk.
Sabina Vitkova helped Czech Republic seal the win in the top of the seventh inning. With the game threatening to go into extra innings, Julie Coufalova singled with one out to get a runner on base for the Czech Republic and was lifted for a pinch runner, Natalie Kalouskova. Kalouskova came around to score on a fielder’s choice off a Vitkova grounder.
Japan 19, China 0
Japan remained perfect at the WBSC JWWC with a 19-0 (four inning) win over China in their final game of the preliminary rounds. With the win, Japan earned the No. 1 seed in Pool A.
Japan’s pitching staff has continued to shine at the WBSC JWWC, giving up zero runs through six games played. Japan jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first and following with an additional two runs in the second inning. Combined with seven runs in the next two innings, Japan’s offense combined for 16 hits in the win.
China managed just one hit off Japan’s pitching staff as Haruka Fukui earned the win with two strikeouts and no hits allowed through two innings of work. China’s Qi Aijun suffered the loss, issuing five runs and six hits through two innings in the circle.
Mexico 2, Australia 1
Mexico earned the No. 2 seed in Pool B as they defeated Australia 2-1 in the two teams final game of the preliminary rounds. With the loss, Australia earned the No. 5 Pool B seed in the placement rounds at the WBSC JWWC.
Australia scored one run in the fifth on an RBI single by Alicia Forte, but was unable to take the lead back from Mexico who scored two runs earlier in the inning.
Gabrielle Plain took the loss for Australia, issuing four walks and two runs while striking out nine batters. Mexico’s Cielo Meza picked up the win, going the full seven innings with eight strikeouts, one walk and one run allowed.
Great tickets are still available for the 2015 JWWC. Fans have the option to purchase either single session tickets or the Gold Pass for the week-long event. Single day session tickets allow fans the opportunity to pick which days they plan on attending during the JWWC with the opportunity to watch any game they choose for that day. The Gold Pass includes all-session tickets for the JWWC, as well as an official event t-shirt, a program and the opportunity to have a personalized name slide on the video board and OGE Energy Field at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, with additional photo opportunities. Click here to view seating chart. Gold Passes and single session tickets can be purchased at the box office of OGE Energy Field.
All games will be streamed live at no cost to fans through the official event website. There will be expanded coverage, beginning Thursday, August 13, featuring play-by-play and color commentary, in-game interviews, instant replays and unique camera shots. Visit 2015jwwc.com to watch games.
For updates, check or the tournament website 2015JWWC.com and keep up all week on the event’s official Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also visit www.wbsc.co for more information.