The 2018 Women’s Softball World Championship started on Thursday in Chiba, Japan. Host Japan opened the tournament, which also will kick off the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Qualifiers, with a 9-0 shutout against Italy. Yukiko Ueno and Yamato Fujita struck out a combined 11 batters in six perfect frames. They scored in four of the six innings played and ended the contest with a four-run spot in the sixth. Italy’s Greta Ceccetti took the loss, surrendering four hits, four runs (2 ER) and two walks in 2 2/3 innings. 16 teams overall are playing the Women’s Softball World Championship. European Softball is represented also by the Netherlands and Great Britain.
All information about the Women’s Softball World Championship can be found at wswc.wbsc.org.