The two favorites in the World Softball Championships in Japan – the United States and Japan – are undefeated and steaming toward the playoffs.
Both finished 7-0 in the round-robin portion of the competition, winning their groups:
- Group A:
1. United States (7-0), 2. Puerto Rico (6-1), 3. Mexico (5-2), 4. Netherlands (3-4); 5. Chinese Taipei (3-4), 6. New Zealand (2-5); 7. Philippines (2-5), 8. South Africa (0-7).
- Group B:
1. Japan (7-0); 2. Australia (5-2), 3. Canada (5-2), 4. Italy (4-3), 5. China (4-3), 6. Great Britain (2-5), 7. Venezuela (1-6), 8. Botswana (0-7).
The playoffs come next, with the top four teams in each group advancing. The U.S. and Japan, as group winners, will have double-elimination status, while the other six teams are in direct-elimination games. The first games on Friday include:
Italy vs. Mexico
Canada vs. Netherlands
United States vs. Australia
Japan vs. Puerto Rico
Look for results here. The semifinals will be played on Saturday and the medal matches on Sunday.
