Japan blanks Cuba to maintain perfect mark
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- Sports
- 06 / 28 / 2010
CARACAS (AP) Olympic champion Japan defeated Cuba 1-0 on Saturday after a rain delay to remain unbeaten after four games at the world softball championship.
Japan has allowed only one run at the tournament and is a favorite to challenge the United States, which has won this title six straight times. The championship ends July 2.
The United States also improved to 4-0 in the tournament, humiliating Botswana 20-0 in a game that was stopped after three innings by the run-ahead rule — also known as the mercy rule.
The Americans will have a tougher time on Sunday against Australia, which is expected to challenge Japan and the U.S. among the contenders.
Lauren Lappin was 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Jennie Finch picked up the victory.
Sayuri Yamane went the distance and got the victory, giving up only three hits. Japan also managed only three hits. Japan scored its only run in the bottom of the second when Naoko Matsumoto doubled to score Misato Kiwano.
Yusmari Pacheco took the loss for Cuba.
Japan coach Haruka Saito knows her team will have to survive without pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who was the star in the Beijing Olympics. She is taking a break from the game.
"If we do enough hard work in every game we'll have a chance to win the championship game," Saito said.
Saito said her team was prepared to deal with the long rain delays, which are common this time of year in Venezuela. And she said there was no sign of overconfidence, despite the strong start.
"We're not thinking about our record," Saito said. "We're thinking about every game. The players need to be confident. Each game is our only game. We can only think about that one."
Japan has allowed only one run at the tournament and is a favorite to challenge the United States, which has won six straight titles. The championship ends July 2.
Canada also improved to 4-0, beating Britain 7-0 and defeating Argentina 12-0 in a game that was postponed by rain on Friday.
The Netherlands improved to 3-1, beating Argentina 4-3 and Cuba 3-1.
In other results Saturday on a day filled with rain delays, Australia blanked the Czech Republic 6-0 and China trounced New Zealand 11-0.
Japan has allowed only one run at the tournament and is a favorite to challenge the United States, which has won this title six straight times. The championship ends July 2.
The United States also improved to 4-0 in the tournament, humiliating Botswana 20-0 in a game that was stopped after three innings by the run-ahead rule — also known as the mercy rule.
The Americans will have a tougher time on Sunday against Australia, which is expected to challenge Japan and the U.S. among the contenders.
Lauren Lappin was 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Jennie Finch picked up the victory.
Sayuri Yamane went the distance and got the victory, giving up only three hits. Japan also managed only three hits. Japan scored its only run in the bottom of the second when Naoko Matsumoto doubled to score Misato Kiwano.
Yusmari Pacheco took the loss for Cuba.
Japan coach Haruka Saito knows her team will have to survive without pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who was the star in the Beijing Olympics. She is taking a break from the game.
"If we do enough hard work in every game we'll have a chance to win the championship game," Saito said.
Saito said her team was prepared to deal with the long rain delays, which are common this time of year in Venezuela. And she said there was no sign of overconfidence, despite the strong start.
"We're not thinking about our record," Saito said. "We're thinking about every game. The players need to be confident. Each game is our only game. We can only think about that one."
Japan has allowed only one run at the tournament and is a favorite to challenge the United States, which has won six straight titles. The championship ends July 2.
Canada also improved to 4-0, beating Britain 7-0 and defeating Argentina 12-0 in a game that was postponed by rain on Friday.
The Netherlands improved to 3-1, beating Argentina 4-3 and Cuba 3-1.
In other results Saturday on a day filled with rain delays, Australia blanked the Czech Republic 6-0 and China trounced New Zealand 11-0.
Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/
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