Surrey, BC - 2016 Women's Softball World Championship Preview
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Women's Softball World Championship promo video |
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AUSTRALIA
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Australia hosted the first Women's Softball World Championship in 1965, beating the U.S. 1-0 in the final for the country's only world title. Australia is the only country besides the U.S. to medal at all four Olympics in which softball was played, capturing bronze in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and silver in 2004. Led by the slugging third baseman and captain Stacey Porter, the Aussies will be looking to improve on their third place finish at the 2014 worlds in Haarlem, Netherlands. Australia is grouped in Pool C with Mexico, Switzerland, and Serbia. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:15pm vs Mexico
16 July at 5:30pm vs Switzerland
17 July at 10:00 vs Serbia
WWC Appearances: 14 WWC Participation: 1965; 1970; 1974; 1978; 1982; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014 Highest Finish: 1st (1965) Previous Finish: 3rd (2014) Current World Rank: 3 |
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AUSTRIA
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Austria is making its second appearance at a world championship, having finished 27th at St. John's, Newfoundland, while going winless in six games. Austria finished sixth at the European championships in 2013 and 2015. Austria is grouped in Pool B with USA, Brazil, and Israel. Â Â
Round Robin schedule:
15 July at 8:30am vs Brazil
16 July at 12:30pm vs United States
17 July at 8:00pm vs Israel
WWC Appearances: 1 WWC Participation: 1994 Highest Finish: 27th (1994) Previous Finish: 27th (1994) Current World Rank: Unranked |
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BRAZIL
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Brazil is making their world championships debut, a year after a fourth-place finish at the Pan Am Games in Toronto. The Brazilian squad is made up mostly of players of Japanese ancestry as Brazil has the largest Japanese immigrant community in the world. The team blends the vibrant Brazilian spirit with the Japanese hallmarks of discipline and hard work. Brazil is grouped in Pool B with United States, Austria, and Israel. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:30am vs Austria
16 July at 8:00pm vs Israel
17 July at 8:00pm vs United States
WWC Appearances: 0 WWC Participation: n/a Highest Finish: n/a Previous Finish: n/a Current World Rank: Unranked |
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CANADA
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The home team will be looking to ride the momentum from last summer's Pan Am Games gold in Toronto. Canada, which had lost twice to the U.S. earlier in the tournament, upset the Americans 4-2 in the final, with all the runs coming in an extra inning. Canada has finished third, fifth and fourth at the last three world championships and its lineup will be bolstered by the addition of veteran pitcher Lauren Bay Regula, who last played for the national team at the 2008 Olympics. Canada is grouped in Pool D with Great Britain, Uganda, and Ireland. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:15pm vs Great Britain
16 July at 7:30pm vs Ireland
17 July at 7:30pm vs Uganda
WWC Appearances: 13 WWC Participation: 1970; 1974; 1978; 1982; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014
Current World Rank:Â 4Highest Finish:Â 2nd (1978) Previous Finish:Â 4th (2014)Â |
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CHINA
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Silver medalists when softball made its Olympic debut in 1996, the Chinese earned silver at the worlds two years earlier, then had four consecutive fourth-place finishes from 1998 to 2010. China was seventh at the last two worlds. China is grouped in Pool G with Cuba, Guatemala, and Greece. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 3:30pm vs Guatemala
16 July at 10:00 vs Greece
17 July at 5:00pm vs Cuba
WWC Appearances: 9 WWC Participation: 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014 Highest Finish: 2nd (1986 & 1994) Previous Finish: 7th (2014) Current World Rank: 6Â |
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CHINESE TAIPEI
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Chinese Taipei has been a strong competitor on the world scene the 1970s, finishing top six at the first three Olympics and earning bronze medal in 2002 in Saskatoon. The country was fifth at the 2014 worlds.
In June, a four-team women's professional league began play in Chinese Taipei with officials hoping the new league will help the country contend for a medal at the 2020 Olympics.
Chinese Taipei is grouped in Pool E with Puerto Rico, India, and Ecuador.Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:15pm vs Ecuador
16 July at 8:00pm vs Puerto Rico
17 July at 7:30pm vs India
WWC Appearances: 13 WWC Participation: 1970; 1974; 1978; 1982; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014
Current World Rank: 5Highest Finish:Â 2nd (1982) Previous Finish: 5th (2014)Â |
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CUBA
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The 2011 Pan Am Games bronze medalists finished ninth at the 2014 world championships. The Cubans were in a position to make the playoff round with a 3-2 record after five games, but lost their final two round-robin games to eventual champion of Japan and Canada. Cuba is grouped in Pool G with China, Guatemala, and Greece. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 11:00am vs Greece
16 July at 7:30pm vs Guatemala
17 July at 5:00pm vs China
WWC Appearances:Â 4 WWC Participation: 1990; 1994; 2010; 2014
Highest Finish:Â 9th (2010 & 2014)
Previous Finish: 9th (2014)
Current World Rank: 12Â |
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CZECH REPUBLIC
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Czech Republic, one of the top four countries in Europe for the last couple of decades, is coming off an 11th place finish at the 2014 worlds when they finished with a 3-4 record for the third consecutive championship. Nineteen year-old pitcher, Veronika Pecknova, is playing her second women's world championship and will be looking to carry her team further than 2014 where she threw four complete games (3-1). Czech Republic is grouped in Pool F with Netherlands, Philippines, and Pakistan. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 11:00am vs Philippines
16 July at 10:00am vs Netherlands
17 July at 12:30pm vs Pakistan
WWC Appearances: 6Â WWC Participation: 1994; 1998; 2002; 2010; 2012; 2014
Highest Finish: 9th (2012) Previous Finish: 11th (2014)Â Current World Rank: 10
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ECUADOR
 Another of the eleven countries making their world championship debut, Ecuador is seeing the results of their long-term youth development programs. Ecuador had struggled to come up with funding after money originally earmarked for the team was diverted to disaster relief after an earthquake hit in April but private donors have helped overcome this challenge.
Ecuador is grouped in Pool E with Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, and India.
Round Robin schedule:
15 July at 8:15 vs Chinese Taipei
16 July at 12:30pm vs India
17 July at 5:00pm vs Puerto Rico
WWC Appearances:Â 0 WWC Participation:Â n/a Highest Finish:Â n/a Previous Finish:Â n/a Current World Rank: Unranked |
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FRANCE
 France is back at a world championship for the first time since the country competed in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1994. Unfortunately, the preliminary roster for worlds did not include 17-year-old Melissa Mayeux, a baseball/softball phenom in France and the first woman to be placed on Major League Baseball's international registration list.
France is grouped in Pool A with Japan and Venezuela.
Round Robin schedule:
15 July at 8:30am vs Venezuela
17 July at 5:30pm vs Japan
WWC Appearances: 1
WWC Participation: 1994
Highest Finish: 21st (1994)
Previous Finish: 21st (1994)
Current World Rank: UnrankedÂ
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GREAT BRITAIN
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Great Britain will be looking to build on its 16th-place finish at the 2014 worlds. The Great Britain roster includes infielder Chelsea D'Avila, a Georgetown, Ont., native who plays NCAA ball at Coastal Carolina. "It means the world to me to represent my heritage playing the sport I love." Amy Moore of Valencia, Calif., is a five-year veteran of the British team representing the country her father was born in. "Coming from a European country, we're very underrated," she says. "I just want people to know who we are at the end of the tournament." Great Britain is grouped in Pool D with Canada, Uganda, and Ireland. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:15 vs Canada
16 July at 5:30pm vs Uganda
17 July at 5:30pm vs Ireland
WWC Appearances: 5WWC Participation: 1994; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014
Highest Finish: 10th (2006) Previous Finish: 16th (2014) Current World Rank: 14 |
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GREECE
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Surrey 2016 will mark Greece's second appearance at a world championship. "It will be a great honor to participate," said Kostis Liarommatis, Greek Softball Federation President. "A whole new generation of players has been raised since the last time Greece participated. Attending the World Championship is part of softball development in our country." Greece is grouped in Pool G with China, Cuba, and Guatemala. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 11:00am vs Cuba
16 July at 10:00am vs China
17 July at 12:30pm vs Guatemala
WWC Appearances: 1WWC Participation: 2006
Highest Finish: 9th (2006) Previous Finish: 9th (2006) Current World Rank: Unranked |
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GUATEMALA
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Guatemala returns to the world stage after a 34 year women's world championship absence. In recent years, they finished sixth at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games after reaching the semifinals at the 2010 Games. Guatemala is grouped in Pool G with China, Cuba, and Greece. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 3:30pm vs China
16 July at 7:30pm vs Cuba
17 July at 12:30 vs Greece
WWC Appearances:Â 2 Highest Finish:Â 10th (1982) Previous Finish:Â 10th (1982) Current World Rank: Unranked |
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INDIA
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A women's national team first competed internationally at the 1991 Asian championships, but this is the first time Team India has participated at a world championship.
India is grouped in Pool E with Chinese Taipei, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:30am vs Puerto Rico
16 July at 12:30pm vs Ecuador
17 July at 7:30pm via Chinese Taipei
WWC Appearances: 0
WWC Participation: n/a
Highest Finish: n/a
Previous Finish: n/a
Current World Rank: Unranked |
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IRELAND
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The Irish National Team is making their world championship debut at Surrey 2016, one year after playing in their first European championship. Ireland lost its opening two games, but beat Israel 10-3 in its final game to finish 18th. Like many teams, the Irish squad is 100 per cent self-funded. "We see this as an opportunity for Ireland to showcase our abilities at the highest level of the game and provide inspiration to a next generation of players...and grow the game within Ireland," said Softball Ireland president Colum Lavery. Ireland is grouped in Pool D with Canada, Great Britain, and Uganda. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 11:00am vs Uganda
16 July at 7:30pm vs Canada
17 July at 5:30pm vs Great Britain
WWC Appearances: 0 WWC Participation: n/a
Highest Finish: n/a Previous Finish: n/a Current World Rank: Unranked |
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ISRAEL
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Like Ireland, Israel is also making their world championship debut, although the squad has competed at six European championships. They are also self-funded. The players say competing at worlds could give softball a huge boost in the country. Israel is grouped in Pool B with USA, Brazil, and Austria. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 3:30pm vs United States
16 July at 8:00pm vs Brazil
17 July at 8:00pm vs Austria
WWC Appearances: 0 WWC Participation: n/a
Highest Finish: n/a Previous Finish: n/a Current World Rank: Unranked |
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ITALY
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Italy has a thriving professional women's league, which has helped it vie with the Netherlands for top team in Europe. The Italian National Team edged the Dutch 2-1 in the European championship final last year, making it 10 titles for Italy, one more than the country's fiercest rival.
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Italy will be looking to improve on their world championships-best of a sixth-place finish, accomplished in 1998 and 2006.Italy is grouped in Pool H with New Zealand, Kenya, and Peru. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:30am vs Peru
16 July at 5:00pm vs Kenya
17 July at 12:30pm vs New Zealand
WWC Appearances: 10 WWC Participation: 1970; 1978; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2012; 2014
Highest Finish: 6th (1998 & 2006) Previous Finish: 9th (2014) Current World Rank: 9 |
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JAPAN
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Japan is the two-time reigning world champions and won gold in Beijing in 2008 when softball was last contested at the Olympics. Japan was the silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics and earned bronze in 2004.
Japan is looked at as a favorite to win after defeating the USA in both the WBSC-sanctioned International Softball Series (Japan) and the World Cup of Softball (USA) held earlier this month. Softball is hugely popular in Japan, which boasts a strong eight-team women's pro league that attracts star players from the U.S., Australia and Canada. Japan is grouped in Pool A with Venezuela and France. Round Robin schedule: 16 July at 5:00pm vs Venezuela
17 July at 5:30pm vs France
WWC Appearances: 12 Highest Finish: 1st (1970; 2012 & 2014) Previous Finish: 1st (2014) Current World Rank: 1 |
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KENYA
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Kenya is playing in their first world championship. The Softball Federation of Kenya will be using the event to promote the sport to then introduce into additional high schools and universities. Softball is currently in every private university in the country, where they hold an annual national championship.
Kenya is grouped in Pool H with New Zealand, Italy, and Peru.
Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 8:15pm vs New Zealand
16 July at 5:00pm vs Italy
17 July at 12:30 pm vs Peru
WWC Appearances: 0 Highest Finish: n/a Previous Finish: n/a Current World Rank: Unranked |
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MEXICO
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Mexico is competing at their fifth world championship after finishing 16th in 2012. The national team, which features several players with U.S. college experience, has also competed at the World Cup of Softball in the USA the past three years.
Mexico is grouped in Pool C with Australia, Switzerland, and Serbia.
Round Robin schedule:
15 July at 8:15pm vs Australia
16 July at 12:30pm vs Serbia
17 July at 10:00am vs Switzerland
WWC Appearances: 4 : 1070; 1974; 1990; 2012
Highest Finish: 5th (1970) Previous Finish: 16th (2012) Current World Rank: 14th |
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NETHERLANDS
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One of Europe's powerhouse squads, the Dutch National Team has won nine European championships and have been on the podium nine other times. They matched their best world championships finish with a sixth in 2014 on home soil. The Netherlands will arrive to Surrey fresh off their victory at the U-22 European Championship last week. Netherlands is grouped in Pool F with Czech Republic, Philippines, and Pakistan. Round Robin schedule: 15 July at 3:30pm vs Pakistan
16 July at 10:00am vs Czech Republic
17 July at 10:00am vs Philippines
WWC Appearances: 12 WWC Participation: 1974; 1978; 1982; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010;2012; 2014
Highest Finish: 6th (2012 & 2014) Previous Finish: 6th (2014) Current World Rank: 7 |
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NEW ZEALAND
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Women's softball in New Zealand dates back to the late 1940s. The Kiwis won their only world championship title in 1982 and then followed that up with a bronze medal in 1986 and silver in 1990. They have failed to crack the top five since and were eighth in 2014.
New Zealand brings a strong squad to Surrey, with 13 players having world championship experience. Six players are currently on scholarship at NCAA schools in the U.S., including outfielder and captain Elle Cooper.
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New Zealand is grouped in Pool H with Italy, Kenya, and Peru.
Round Robin schedule:
15 July at 8:15pm vs Kenya
16 July at 12:30pm vs Peru
17 July at 12:30pm vs Italy
WWC Appearances: 14 WWC Participation: 1965; 1970; 1974; 1978; 1982; 1986; 1990; 1994; 1998; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012; 2014
Highest Finish: 1st (1982) Previous Finish: 8th (2014) Current World Rank: 8 |
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