The first step toward Los Angeles
The Japanese national women’s softball team, comprising 23 players who compete in the Nitori JD League, is led by Manager Reika Utsugi.With the Paris Olympics just around the corner, and the Team Japan being the topic of broad media coverage, the women’s softball team has started its campaign toward a third consecutive gold medal at the LA Olympics in 2028.
The road to LA 2028 starts here
The hottest international tournament in women’s softball in this Olympic year is the 17th WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2024 – Finals.The new Team Japan is making its final preparations for the tournament to be held in Castions di Strada, Italy, from July 15 to 21.
On June 30, at the “Noto Peninsula Earthquake Reconstruction Support Charity Match” held at Utsugi Stadium in Takasaki City, the team showed great play in base-running, batting, and fielding against the JD League All-Star team.
Team Japan will take on the world with the people of Ishikawa and Noto in their hearts
In the following Japan All-Star Series 2024, a friendly match against the Team USA, they faced their first game at the Vantelin Dome Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture) to demonstrate their mettle in front of fans from all over Japan.
Amazed by the physical prowess of Team USA
The Japan All-Star Series is to be held for three consecutive years in the wake of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.What amazes me every year is the physical prowess of the Team USA.
Of the 16 members who came to Japan, 11 are over 175cm tall.The powerful batting unleashed from their blessed physiques was also showcased during the home run derby held before the gameThey received big cheers from the fans who had gathered at the stadium early.
Amazed by the physical prowess of Team USA every year
The southpaw pitcher Kelly Maxwell, who started in this game, also throws powerfully from her nearly 180cm frame.Two years ago, pitcher Megan Faraimo, who now plays for the Toyota Red Terriers, and pitcher Maxwell, who had also come to Japan, showed perfect form, mixing up sharp sinkers and rising balls and not allowing even a single hit to Team Japan’s batters.
Kelly Maxwell pitched well in the first game
Strong pitching by Team Japan’s ace as well
The Japanese starting pitcher, Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, Miu Goto (Toyota) was not to be outdone.
In the 1st inning, she opened the game by hitting Skylar Wallace with a pitch, but then got all three outs on strikeouts.
Strong pitching by Miu Goto (Toyota) as the first game’s starter
In the 2nd inning, Goto was in a jam with one out and runners on second and third base after a single and a double. But this time she showed composed pitching and pitched to contact against the following batters to keep the game scoreless.
In the 3rd inning as well, Japan’s ace struck out consecutive batters and kept the powerhouse American batters without a run. She delivered a commanding performance with six strikeouts over three innings before passing the baton to Japan’s diverse and formidable bullpen.
Miu Goto (Toyota) delivered a composed performance on the mound even under pressure
Enthusiastic about the hometown players who appear in relief pitching
From the 4th inning, Team Japan sent Chise Yamashita (Toyota Industries Corporation Shining Vega) to the mound amid roaring cheers from the stands.
The response from the crowd was to be expected because Yamashita’s team, Toyota Industries Corporation, is a local team based in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture, not far from Vantelin Dome Nagoya.
Teammate Shiho Suto calls out to Chise Yamashita, who was selected from local company Toyota Industries Corporation
Wearing a JAPAN replica jersey she said she had borrowed from her brother, teammate Saki Kajihara and others came to cheer from the stands, lending their support to Yamashita as she delivered a strong pitching performance.
With no outs and a runner on first after a hit-by-pitch, Kinzie Hansen attempted a sacrifice bunt. However, first base player Eri Shimoyama (Toyota) charged in aggressively and made a stellar play to get the runner at second.With the backing of her fielders, Yamashita was able to hold the opposing team scoreless in this inning.
It was pitcher Sakura Miwa (Shionogi Rainbow Stokes Hyogo) who got the crowd going again in the next 5th inning.An alumna of local Seijoh High School in Aichi Prefecture and a former Toyota player until last season, Miwa attracted many fans who came out to see her in the JAPAN uniform in person.
Local star Sakura Miwa (Shionogi) received the among biggest cheers from the supporters
With the roaring cheers of the crowd behind her, Miwa erased the runner that Yamashita had allowed with a double play. But Team USA also showed its tenacity as Taryn Kern, making her tournament debut, smacked a sharp single in response.Despite this, Shimoyama made another great play by catching the ball on the fly! Shimoyama, who bats cleanup for the new Team Japan, made a series of outstanding defensive plays to support the pitchers.
The audience cheered loudly at the dramatic last inning
After Miwa’s excellent relief pitching holding the opposition scoreless through the 6th inning, the mound for the 7th and final inning was entrusted to Ayane Shikano (Takagi Kitakyushu Water Wave).Shikano, who had pitched brilliantly in the “Noto Peninsula Earthquake Reconstruction Support Charity Match” against the JD League All-Star team, retired the first batter but allowed lead-off hitter Wallace in her fourth at-bat to hit a double off to the right-field fence. This put her in a jam with two outs and a runner on third.
At this critical juncture, Manager Utsugi utilized the re-entry rule and sent pitcher Goto back to the mound.Fans who rarely get the chance to watch softball were heard saying, “Huh, Goto can go back on the mound again?” and “What luck! We get to see Goto pitch once more!”
After starting and re-entering, Miu Goto (Toyota) closed out the game
After re-entering the game, Goto struck out the third batter Jocelyn Alo, allowing Team Japan to escape a serious jam.
Up to this point in the 6th inning, Team USA’s starting pitcher Maxwell had a no-hitter going, including a perfect game through the 4th.Before the final turn at bat, the stands began passionately chanting, “Nippon! Nippon!”.
Then, with one out, Ayane Nakagawa (SG Holdings Galaxy Stars), who was batting third, walloped a liner to right, breaking Maxwell’s long no-hit streak.
Ayane Nakagawa (SG Holdings) marked the team’s first hit to pave the way for a walk-off win
Next, the fourth hitter Shimoyama hit an infield single deep into the hole between shortstop and third, rapidly expanding the scoring opportunity. From the stands, fans shouted, “Is this really happening?” and “This is getting intense!” as the game unfolded like a drama, super-charging the excitement.
Eri Shimoyama (Toyota) contributed to the victory with both her glove and bat
At this point Kanna Kudo (Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen), the JD League’s leading batter last season, was sent to the plate as a pinch hitter.Kudo, a powerfully built infielder who can rival the best in the world, is one of the key players essential for capturing the World Cup.Despite her assets, during the first half of the season, Kudo struggled to produce results due to tough marking by opposing teams, and even had to relinquish her unwavering position of third batter of Bic Camera Takasaki.
Kanna Kudo (Bic Camera Takasaki) struggled in the league stage
That being said, Manager Utsugi placed her trust in Kudo’s bat, drawn to her exceptional ability to make contact with any kind of pitch and her rare power to hit for extra bases.Kudo stepped up to the plate with the backing of the players on the bench and the fans in the stands.
In this matchup, when the opposing battery made an error, Team Japan swiftly took advantage and advanced to the next base. With one out and runners on second and third, this was the perfect opportunity for a walk-off victory.
Team USA gathered on the mound.Was the bench calling for an intentional walk to load the bases or for a showdown? With the infielders shifted in and the crowd realizing from catcher Hansen squatting to signal they were going to challenge the batter, the excitement in the stands reached a peak.
Even faced with the risk of a walk-off win, Team USA decides on a showdown
Maxwell, the pitcher, scattered the ball to the corners, using her full arsenal of sinkers and rising balls, challenging the batter to the max. But Kudo fought back, tenaciously fouling off three pitches to push the count to full!
Kudo blasted the ninth pitch back to the pitcher, which bounced off Maxwell’s glove. Baylee Klingler playing second base also couldn’t make the follow-up play in time.
Kanna Kudo (Bic Camera Takasaki) blasts a walk-off RBI
Kudo, who hit the walk-off RBI single to second, ran to first with a beaming with a huge smile, where she was greeted with hugs from her jubilant teammates.
Ayane Nakagawa (SGH) stepping on home plate to win the game while Hitomi Kawabata (Denso) celebrates
Let’s see the Japan national team up close! Last two chances
There are still opportunities to see Team Japan, the winner of the first game of the Japan All-Star Series 2024, up close.
Team Japan players giving victory speeches to their fans
The Japan All-Star Series 2024 will continue on to the final games in Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures.You can cheer on the new Team Japan, including pitcher Ueno.There are also plans for TV broadcasts and internet streaming for fans who can’t make it to the stadium.
[Game 2] July 6 (Sat) 14:00 start @ Mt. Fuji Stadium (Shizuoka Prefecture)
[Game 3] July 8 (Mon) 19:00 start @ Yokohama Stadium (Kanagawa Prefecture)
How about watching the games imagining the final of LA 2028, including the players who did not appear in the first round?
