The women’s World Baseball Championships entered the playoff round with Japan continuing as the only undefeated team in the tournament with a 3-0 win over the U.S. in Viera, Florida.
Joining the defending champions – now 5-0 – as winners in the Super Round were Canada (5-0 over Venezuela) and Chinese Taipei (4-1 over the Dominican Republic).
In the remaining Super Round games, Japan will play Chinese Taipei and Venezuela, and Canada will play the U.S. and Chinese Taipei. The Americans have Canada and the Dominican Republic and need to win both for a chance to play for a medal.
The top two out of the Super Round will play in the Championship game and the third and fourth-placers in the Bronze Medal games, both on 31 August.
In the group stage, Japan won Group B at 5-0, followed by Canada (4-1) and the Dominican Republic (2-3). Chinese Taipei beat the U.S. to win Group A at 4-1; the Americans were second (also 4-1) and Venezuela finished third (3-2).
The event is being held in the U.S. for the first time; the American team is the only other to win the World Cup, taking the title in the first two editions in 2004 and 2006.
Japan won the World Cup in 2008-10-12-14-16, beating the United States twice, Canada twice and Australia once. The Japanese stomped Canada, 10-0, to win in 2016 with Venezuela third and Chinese Taipei fourth.
Look for results here.
