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International: Day 4 of WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals… Japan Beats China, Sets Up World Championship Final Against Team USA (October 1, 2025)

By WBSC

October 1, 2025

International: Day 4 of WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals… Japan Beats China, Sets Up World Championship Final Against Team USA (October 1, 2025)

 

*** Reports courtesy of the Women’s Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)

Pitcher Shion Yamamoto gave up just six hits and a walk on Tuesday. She now has a 0.44 ERA heading into the championship game.

USA and Japan will meet on Wednesday at 2 pm Central Daylight Time (Oklahoma City) in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup final at Devon Park.

It will be the 12th time the two nations face off for the world title in this category, with USA holding six victories and Japan five in their previous 11 finals.

Earlier in the day, China and Mexico will battle for the bronze medal at 11:00 am.

You can watch all games live on GameTime.sport.

Shion Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to lead Japan to a 5-0 win over China, securing a spot in Wednesday’s World Championship Final against USA.

In the last game of the Super Round, USA defeated Mexico, 10-2, and remain undefeated in the competition. Hudson had a stellar night, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.

Wednesday’s final will mark the 12th time Japan and USA face each other for the title in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup. In their previous 11 finals, USA have claimed six victories, while Japan have won five.

From 1991 to 2019, these two softball powerhouses contested 10 consecutive finals. In Lima 2021, however, USA faced Chinese Taipei, winning their eighth world championship 1-0, as Japan did not participate due to the pandemic.

Team USA is aiming to secure a record-setting fifth consecutive world championship in this category. They currently boast a 47-game winning streak, having gone undefeated to claim the last four world titles.

Both teams have already secured medals in this tournament.

USA remains the only nation to reach the podium in every edition of the U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup, with 14 medals to their name – eight gold, five silver, and one bronze – and are now poised for a 15th.

Japan will also be celebrating its 14th podium finish; the only edition they missed was 2021 (pandemic).

Meanwhile, China and Mexico will face off for the bronze medal. China has medaled three times in the tournament, including one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Mexico is seeking its first-ever medal in a women’s softball world cup.

In the Placement Round, Puerto Rico defeated Chinese Taipei, 7-6, and Canada beat Czechia, 12-1 in five innings.

Canada finished 5th in the World Cup, followed by Czechia in 6th, Puerto Rico in 7th and Chinese Taipei in 8th.

*****

Here’s a recap and highlights of each of Tuesday’s games:

USA 10, Mexico 1 (Super Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

USA defeated Mexico, 10-2 in six innings, to wrap up the Super Round of the tournament.

The four-time defending champions ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run by McLaine Hudson, who sent the ball 233 feet over the left field fence. Hudson had a stellar night, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.

Juliana Hutchens continued her strong form, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, as the host team combined for 12 hits.

From the circle, Emma Smith earned the win after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out four. Madelyn Doty started the game with three scoreless innings.

For Mexico, right fielder Danna Viera drove in both runs with a 2-for-3 performance. Starter Citaly Valencia was charged with the loss after working 5.1 innings.

*****

Japan 5, China 0 (Super Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

Japan blanked China, 5-0, behind six scoreless innings and six strikeouts from Shion Yamamoto to advance to Wednesday’s World Championship Final against USA.

Rino Shimazu went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Mayuha Ishikawa and Mayumi Fujiwara added two hits apiece.

Yuyan Duan took the loss for China, allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings.

*****

Puerto Rico 7, Chinese Taipei (Placement Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

In a roller-coaster contest, Puerto Rico outlasted Chinese Taipei, 7-6, to secure their second win of the tournament.

Nia Melendez delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.

Leila Bolden powered the offense, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Alejandra Sanchez added two RBIs.

In the circle, Brooke Simmons turned in a strong outing, working 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six and walking four.

*****

Canada 12, Czechia 1 (Placement Round)

Click HERE to see the box score

Cece Brown went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Avery Tucker scored four in Canada’s 12-1 win over Czechia in five innings.

First baseman Abigail Findlay drove in three while hitting 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Canada combined for 14 hits in the game.

Rylee Ruppel grabbed the win in 3.1 innings of work, giving up one run and a hit, walking two against two strikeouts. 

Pinch hitter Denisa Sustrova went 1-for-1 with one RBI. Lucie Vecerova was charged with the loss in Czechia. 

*****

2025 U-18 Women’s National Team (Players & Coaches)
NamePositionRegionStateCommitted To
Anabela AbdullahINFRegion 3FLTexas
Aspen BoulwareOFRegion 3SC
Madelyn DotyPRegion 5TXTexas
Emma FordOFRegion 5TXClemson
Brielle GardinerPRegion 9UT
Lilly “Goose” GoodwinPRegion 10AZNorthwestern
Ki’ele Ho-ChingINFRegion 10CAOklahoma
McLaine HudsonINFRegion 6KYKentucky
Juliana “Goose” HutchensINFRegion 5OK
Aubrey McLaughlinINFRegion 10CAUCLA
Brooklyn ParatoreCRegion 10CAWashington
Addyson SheppardINFRegion 5TXStanford
Ella Kate SmithPRegion 5TXOklahoma
Caroline StantonPRegion 3GAFlorida
Mikayla WattsCRegion 4LALouisiana
Payton WestraOFRegion 10AZOklahoma

COACHES

NamePositionState
Kyla HolasHead CoachTexas
Alisa GolerAssistant CoachIllinois
Kelly KretschmanAssistant CoachFlorida

 

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