The following write-up is courtesy of the World Baseball Softball Federation (WBSC.org)and USA Softball…

With the conclusion of the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2024 Group C tournament in Dallas, the eight teams advancing to the Finals have been confirmed:

• World No. 1 USA,
• 2 Japan,
• 3 Puerto Rico,
• 4 Chinese Taipei,
• 5 Canada,
• 8 Mexico,
• 10 Czechia and
• 11 China.

USA and Canada secured tickets to the Finals 2025 after defending champions USA defeated Canada 7-0 in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2024 Group C final in Dallas, USA on Monday.

Here are some of the highlights of the game:

The Canadians bounced back in the Repechage game defeating Mexico, 9-2, in the last game of the tournament to claim the second ticket on offer while Mexico earned a wild card to the Finals 2025.

Mexico finished in third place in Group C and earned a wild card for the Finals 2025 along with Puerto Rico, as they were the highest finishers from the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2020 (played in 2021) across the three third-place teams in the Group Stage of the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup 2024/2025.

All three past World Champions will be present in Dallas in 2025, with USA holding eight titles, Japan five and China one. USA are the four-time defending world champions.

*****

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE EVENT

USA’s third baseman Ella McDowell was the Most Outstanding Player of the event. She played in all six games for USA, going 11-for-15 for the tournament for a stunning .733 batting average.

McDowell also collected two homers and two doubles with eight RBIs. She led the tournament in batting average, home runs (tied) and slugging; and finished second in hits, doubles, RBIs and runs scored.

🏅 Congrats to Ella McDowell, the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group C Most Outstanding Player!#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/Cv0a14t1zA

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 3, 2024

*****

1^st PLACE… CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: USA RUN RULES CANADA TO WIN GROUP C UNDEFEATED

USA defeated Canada, 7-0, in the final of the Group C competition and clinched their ticket to the Finals 2025. Addisen Fisher tossed six scoreless innings allowing three hits, while striking out eight.

In the bottom of the third, USA took the lead with an RBI by Ella McDowell. However, the damage would have been worse if not for Canadian right fielder Avery Tucker, who threw out two runners at home with two perfect plays.

OUT AT THE PLATE‼️
🇨🇦Avery Tucker with a great throw to get the runner at home!

🔛 Play by Playhttps://t.co/ZJC4Vr75uf
📺 LIVE Streaminghttps://t.co/1hIixsFn8R#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/MtD0Ke5BkS

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 2, 2024

In the fifth, USA took advantage of three errors to score five and break the game open. One inning later, they plated their seventh run to end the game.

Townsen Thomas went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, while Elsa Morrison and Isabella Ruggiero collected two RBIs.

With this win, USA clinched first place in Group C and their ticket to the Finals. Next year, the Red, White & Blue will try to win their fifth consecutive World Cup in this category.

With their victory over Canada, USA finishes the tournament undefeated!

🏆🥎 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup - Group C#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/LMwIxldx08

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 2, 2024

Today’s win marks Team USA’s third-straight shutout – and fifth overall – enroute to clinching its spot in the WBSC World Cup Finals, with opening round wins over Ireland, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines.

*****

The U-18 WNT squad dominated throughout the tournament, winning each matchup by way of the run-rule.

Leading the U.S. offense in its undefeated campaign through the Group C event was McDowell with a .733 batting average, followed by Thomas (.684) and McLaine Hudson (.526). The U.S. pitching staff of Fisher, Lexie Hames, Cameryn Harrison and Saylor Timmerman shined in the six wins – totaling 41 strikeouts and eight allowed hits while only giving up one run.

The Eagles led the tournament in eight offensive categories and three pitching categories – including batting average (McDowell – .733), hits (Thomas – 13), home runs (McDowell, Wells – 2), RBI (Allen, Wells – 9), Runs Scored (Hudson, Wells – 9), On-base-percentage (McDowell – .750), Slugging Percentage (McDowell – 1.267), Hits Allowed (Timmerman – 0), Runs Allowed (0) and Earned Runs (0).

Additionally, with this win, Team USA clinched the first place in Group C and their ticket to the Finals.

Next year the Eagles will try to win their fifth consecutive World Cup in this category.

At its impressive showing over the long Labor Day weekend, the USA pitching squad only allowed eight hits and one run in the tournament. And, amazingly, three of their 6 games were no hitters.

**** To view complete stat leaders, visit wbsc.org.

The U-18 WBSC World Cup Finals will take place in 2025 in Dallas, Texas, and will feature the top two teams from each Group event (Group A, Group B, Group C) in addition to two wild card selections. For more information, visit wbsc.org.

*****

2^nd PLACE… CANADA TOPS MEXICO TO EARN TICKET TO 2025 FINALS

Avery Tucker went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, leading Canada to a five-inning, 9-2 victory over Mexico in the Repechage game to clinch their ticket to the Finals next year.

The left-handed hitter finished the tournament with a .476 batting average.

From the circle, Danika Nell struck out six in three innings, while giving up four hits and two runs, both in the top of the first inning. She was the winner of the game. Rylee Ruppel retired the last six outs for Canada, two of them via strikeouts. She allowed two hits.

Valeria Vazquez and Ixeyana Vera collected an RBI each in the top of the first to give Mexico the lead, but Canada recovered in the bottom of the second with a six-run rally to take control of the game.

With this result, Canada finished in second place and Mexico third.

Canada defeat Mexico in the Repechage game to take 2nd!

🏆🥎 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup - Group C#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/z2zMzoJlUD

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 3, 2024

*****

WILDCARD… MEXICO’S DRAMATIC WIN AFTER TRAILING 5-0 IN 5^th INNING

Mexico recovered from a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the fifth to claim a dramatic 6-5 win to advance to the Repechage game. A two-run double by Ava Tapia in the bottom of the seventh gave Mexico the walk-off win over Australia.

Australia’s Indi Munro had an outstanding game. She belted two home runs and drove in four runs being the driving force of Australia’s offence.

Jayda Lorigan pitched a good game for Australia, allowing two earned runs in 5.2 innings. However, the seven errors made by her defense, including two key plays in the bottom of the seventh, made the difference in the game.

With the game 5-2, Clarissa Mejia and Natalie Rodarte walked, and then Danna Viera hit a fly ball to left field that wasn’t caught allowing one run to score and leaving runners on second and third. A new error, this time on the infield, kept the rally alive and finally Tapia smashed a two-run line-drive into the left center field gap to walk off the game.

With this result, Australia finished fourth in the Group C, missing out on a spot in next year’s Finals. Mexico moved to the Repechage game, waiting to play the loser of the game between Canada and USA.

Mexico advance to the Repechage game after a thrilling victory over Australia!

🏆🥎 WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup - Group C#SoftballWorldCupWU18 pic.twitter.com/8xZE9afmlN

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) September 2, 2024

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball*****

*****

2024 U-18 Women’s National Team

COACHES