2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup

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2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup
2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup.jpg
Tournament details
Host countryFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
Dates October 21 – 29, 2023
Teams12 (from 5 continents)
Final positions
Champions
Gold medal world centered.svg
Flag of the United States.svg  United States (1st title)
Runner-up
Silver medal world centered.svg
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Third place
Bronze medal world centered.svg
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Fourth placeFlag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei
2025
Team USA, the World Cup winner USA U-15 women's national softball team in 2023.jpg
Team USA, the World Cup winner
Aspen Boulware, the MVP Aspen Boulware in 2023.jpg
Aspen Boulware, the MVP
Puerto Rican softball fans Hinchada puertorriquena de softbol.jpg
Puerto Rican softball fans
Team Japan, the host country Japan U-15 women's national softball team forming a circle in 2023.jpg
Team Japan, the host country

The 2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup was the first edition of the U-15 Women's Softball World Cup held in Tokyo, Japan, from October 21 to 29, and featured 12 national teams from five continents. [a] It was the first world junior softball championship played in Japan, after three Women's Softball World Cups were organized in 1970 in Osaka, 1998 in Fujinomiya and 2018 in Chiba. [1] [2]

Contents

The United States prevailed 3–0 in the unprecedented showdown with Puerto Rico in the final of the inaugural U-15 Women's Softball World Cup at Ota Stadium in Tokyo. The United States now holds all of the women's softball World Cup titles, namely the WBSC U-15, U-18 and Senior crowns. Earlier in the day, Japan beat Chinese Taipei to claim the bronze medal. [3] [4]

Aspen Boulware of the United States, was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup, where she was also included as part of the World Team's outstanding outfield. [5]

Venue selection

The presentation of the new tournament occurred on February 26, 2021, when the WBSC announced its Schedule for the Softball World Cups for the next nine years in the 2021-2029 competition period. [6]

On June 9, 2022, the World Baseball Softball Confederation awarded hosting rights for the inaugural U-15 Women's Softball World Cup to the Japan Softball Association (JSA) following its executive board meeting. The first edition of the new World Cup would be played in Tokyo in October 2023 with the best players in the world from 12 countries. The JSA candidacy won the race against Lima, Peru. [7]

The naming of Tokyo as the host of the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup, a youth-focused event, two years after the successful softball competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, adds to the legacy of the Tokyo Games, which saw Japan claim the gold medal beating the United States in the final. [8]

On July 1, 2022, the organizers announced that the tournament will be played at the Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Complex, a legacy of the 1964 Summer Olympics. The Komazawa Olympic Park facilities were used as venues for ice hockey, grass, wrestling, volleyball, soccer and other events. Baseball and cycling facilities were added after the Games when the park was transformed into a public sports center for the citizens of Tokyo.

The 3,000-seat artificial turf baseball stadium was renovated in August 2019 and includes fully equipped locker rooms for teams and officials and a perfect playing field to offer an incredible experience for participating young athletes.

The JSA also announced that two additional venues will be used during the tournament: the Setagaya City Okura Sports Center Baseball Field will host some Preliminary Round games, while Ota Stadium will host the Super Round games and the finals, with 3,223 capacities.

Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo, Japan
Opening Round & Qualification RoundOpening RoundSuper Round & Finals
Flag of Japan.svg Setagaya, Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg Setagaya, Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg Ota, Tokyo
Komazawa Olympic Park Okura Sports Center Baseball Field Ota Stadium
Komazawa 1.jpg
Capacity: 3,000Capacity: –Capacity: 3,223
Local team: –Local team: –Local team: –

Referees

Referees Director: Flag of Australia (converted).svg William Leigh Evans
Referees Director Assistant Flag of the Philippines.svg Paulo Tabirara
Referees:

Competition format

The 12 participating nations will open the tournament divided into two groups of six teams. The top three in each group will advance to the Super Round, and the top two from this stage will advance to the Championship Final. All six teams will enter the Super Round maintaining their respective Opening Round head-to-head records.

The group stage will feature 25 matches to be played in Komazawa and Setagaya from October 21 to 24. The top three teams in each group will advance to the Super Round, while the other five teams will play in the Placement Round. In this phase there will be 15 matches in Komazawa and Ota Stadium from October 26 to 28. The bronze medal match and the world championship final will be played at Ota Stadium on October 29.

Preliminary round

Group A

Teams W L Pct.
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 501.000
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 41.800
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 32.600
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 23.400
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 14.200
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 05.000

Group B

Teams W L Pct.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 501.000
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 41.800
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 23.400
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 23.400
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 23.400
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 05.000

Super round

TeamScoreTeam
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 1–2Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 0–7Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1–5Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0–1Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2–1Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 2–9Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 12–3Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 3–2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 0–10Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Third place game

Team1234567 R H E
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 0000000032
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 000101X250
Boxscore

Final

Team1234567 R H E
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 0000000012
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 200001X360
Boxscore

Final standings

RankTeam
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
4Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei
5Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
6Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
7Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
8Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
9Flag of Peru.svg  Peru
10Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
11Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
12Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda

Source: [9]

Notes

  1. Since Uganda bowed out, 11 countries from four continents actually participated.

References

  1. "I Copa do Mundo de Softbol Feminino Sub15 – 2023 (Tabela e Resultados) – CBBS" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  2. "México conquista histórico pase al Mundial de softbol Sub-15 al arrasar en el Campeonato Panamericano". Latin US (in Mexican Spanish). 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  3. "Sófbol - Copa del Mundo Femenina Sub-15 2023 - Calendario & Resultados". www.los-deportes.info. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  4. IPC (2023-10-29). "Mundial de Softbol Sub-15 en Tokio: Japón gana la medalla de bronce ante China Taipei". International Press - Noticias de Japón en español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  5. "MVP Boulware leads WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup All-World Team". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  6. "International News: USA Softball Reveals U-15 Women's National Team Roster for WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup in October - Extra Inning Softball". 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  7. "Se publica el nuevo calendario de ofertas de eventos de la WBSC". World Baseball Softball Confederation (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  8. "access". u15-女子ソフトボールワールドカップ-2023 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  9. "2023 U-15 Women's Softball World Cup - Final standings" (PDF). WBSC. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.