United States wins the Gold at WBSC Junior Women's World Championship in 8-1 win over Japan
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OKLAHOMA CITY — The 11th World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women's (19-Under) World Championship (JWWC) came to a conclusion as the United States was crowned World Champions following an 8-1 win over Japan in the Gold Medal Game. The 15-nation event began on August 9 at the historic ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. with over 67 games played, culminating with today's Gold Medal finale.Â
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The 19-Under Junior World Championship, won by the host country, reclaimed the gold for the U.S., who finished with a silver medal at the 2013 WBSC JWWC to Japan. Team USA provided the offense all week, leading the WBSC JWWC with 119 runs scored in 10 games while posting a tournament-leading .425 batting average.Â
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Japan will take home the silver medal after having won the last world title in 2013 in a 4-0 win over the U.S. in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Puerto Rico earned their highest finish at a WBSC Junior World Championship, claiming the bronze medal.
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Top three finishers at the XI WBSC JWWC
GOLD - United States (10-0)
SILVER - Japan (8-2)
BRONZE - Puerto Rico (7-4)
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Click here to view the results, box scores and the schedule for the 2015 WBSC JWWC.
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Gold Medal Game
The United States reclaimed the title of Junior World Champion after defeating Japan 8-1 in Saturday's Gold Medal finale at the WBSC JWWC.
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The U.S. utilized the long ball as three U.S. batters, Jenna Lilley, Alyssa Palomino and Sydney Romero, each hit a home run in the win. Romero had two extra-base hits for United States, singling in the second and third innings, doubling in the fifth inning and hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning.
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Kelly Barnhill kept contact to a minimum to earn the complete game, striking out 11 Japan batters while allowing just one run, four hits and one walk in the contest.
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Haruka Fukui was the game's losing pitcher, allowing eight runs and one walk in seven innings while issuing three strikeouts.Â
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Bronze Medal Game
Japan 5, Puerto Rico 1
Kyouko Ishikawa went 4-for-4 at the plate, helping Japan to a 5-1 victory over Puerto Rico to earn them a rematch against the United States in the Gold Medal Game. With the loss, Puerto Rico finished the WBSC JWWC with a bronze medal, their highest placing at a WBSC JWWC in program history.
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Japan took the lead in the first inning after scoring on an RBI single from Yui Sakamoto and never looked back. They would tack on another two runs in the second, one run in the fourth and one in the fifth inning. Haruka Fukui was a force to be reckoned with in the circle, going the distance with three strikeouts and one run allowed in seven complete innings.Â
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The lone run of the game for Puerto Rico crossed the plate in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Sabrina Stutman.  Meghan King suffered the loss for Puerto Rico, issuing six strikeouts while allowing five runs to cross the plate.Â
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Placement Championship
Australia 5, Chinese Taipei 4
Australia and Chinese Taipei exchanged the lead five times in the Placement Division Championship, but Australia came out on top for a 5-4 win thanks to a three-run home run by Kalina Stepto.
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Chinese Taipei threatened to tie up the game in the top of the seventh, scoring twice to bring the game within one run, but Australia's Stephanie Trzcinski entered to close out the game, recording the save.
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Australia's starter Gabrielle Plain pitched lights out, issuing just two hits with no earned runs while striking out four during her four and two-third innings of work. Chantelle Ladner earned the win, allowing three runs over one and two-third innings with one strikeout. Ya Ting Tu took the loss for Chinese Taipei, allowing five runs in five and one-third innings.Â
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Fans can re-watch some of the action at the WBSC JWWC by visiting the tournament website at 2015JWWC.com. The WBSC JWWC will return to the U.S. again in 2017 as Clearwater, Fla. will host the 12th edition of the international 19-under event.
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About ASA/USA SoftballÂ
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.
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About the World Baseball Softball Confederation
Headquartered in the Olympic Capital city of Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013. The WBSC represents a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes worldwide. The WBSC governs all international competitions involving any of the National Teams of its 141 National Federation members.  The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships, The Premier 12, the World Baseball Classic, and the U12, U15, U18, U21 and Women's Baseball World Cups. For further information, please go to www.WBSC.co or follow the WBSC on Twitter at @WBSC.
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Codi Warren
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Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball
Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817
