Japan's Shion Yamamoto: Following in Yukiko Ueno’s footsteps to the top of the world

Shion Yamamoto is a Japanese right-handed pitcher competing in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025 in Oklahoma City. At just 15 years, 6 months and 16 days old, she is the youngest player in the tournament.

On Sunday, she recorded her first win of the competition, throwing a four-inning complete-game shutout. She allowed just one hit and two walks, while striking out one. She reached 67 mph on the radar gun and consistently touched 66 mph throughout the game.

After the game, Yamamoto spoke with the WBSC - clearly shy and nervous by being interviewed for the first time in her life.

“Mexico is a higher-ranked team than Czechia, so I knew I couldn’t miss my targets today. Whatever pitch I was throwing, I was just trying to hit my spots. And of course, I’m really excited about this competition and about facing these batters,” she said.

As the youngest player in the tournament, Yamamoto knows she cannot overpower her opponents, so she focuses on outsmarting them. “They are bigger and stronger than me, so I need to beat them with my brain, by being clever,” explained the bronze medallist in the WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup 2023. “I have to stay one or two steps ahead of the hitters, fool them with my pitches and my strategy.”

On the field, however, age doesn’t matter to her. “I don’t care if I’m the youngest player in the tournament. I just want to pitch well,” she said. “I want to throw hard, develop my secondary pitches and, in the end, become a much more experienced and better pitcher than I am today.”

There is no more iconic Japanese pitcher than Yukiko Ueno, who began her legendary career as a Junior World Champion, winning this very tournament in 1999. In the final, she and Mariko Masubuchi combined for 21 strikeouts in an 11-inning 1-0 victory over USA. From there, Ueno went on to become a two-time Olympic gold medallist and two-time Women’s Softball World Champion, cementing her place among the greatest ever to play the game. Yamamoto dreams of following in her footsteps.

The 15-year-old has already had the chance to meet her idol. “She talked to me about my release point, and she was really nice. Of course, she’s at the top of the softball world, but I hope to be even better than her in the future,” Yamamoto said with a laugh.

“When I watched the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on TV, I thought, ‘Oh, I want to be there, I want to be at the top of the world.’ I really want to be the best pitcher in the future,” she added.

And what is her biggest dream right now? “Of course, my biggest dream is to play in the Olympics one day — and to become the best pitcher in the world. Why not?”

One last question: what’s easier, pitching or speaking? “Definitely pitching,”she answered with a big smile, relieved that the interview was finally over.