WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B Day 3: Puerto Rico leads Cuba; Netherlands hold on to beat Spain in a thriller
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Day three of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group B</span></strong></a> at the Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de València promises to be another super day of premier international women's softball action with four more games of round-robin pool play counting down towards the Playoffs on Saturday.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/schedule-and-results">Day Three Schedule</a><br></span></strong>Spain v Netherlands 2-3 <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/schedule-and-results/box-score/119298"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Box Score/Play by Play</span></strong></a> <a href="https://gametime.sport/events/offers/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">On Demand</span></strong></a> <br>Cuba v Puerto Rico 0-2 <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/schedule-and-results/box-score/119288"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Live Scoring/Play by Play</span></strong></a> <a href="https://gametime.sport/events/offers/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Live Streaming</span></strong></a> <br>South Africa v Netherlands 15:00<br>Spain v China 18:00</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<a data-flickr-embed="true" data-context="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wbsc/53058901643/in/album-72177720309904889/" title="GROUP B - DAY 3"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53058901643_c8f2a876a7_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="GROUP B - DAY 3"></a><script async="" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>Due to late finish of first game, Cuba v Puerto Rico started at 12:50 </li><li>Rain delay in first game between the Netherlands and Spain from 10:07-10:25</li><li>Day Two Review - <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b-day-2-live-blog"><strong><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Cuba and China stay undefeated; top standings</span></strong></a></li><li>Day One Review - <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b-day-1-live-blog"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wins for Cuba, China and Spain on opening day</span></strong></a></li><li>Great media coverage of the tournament including in major Spanish sport's paper Marca on <a href="https://www.marca.com/otros-deportes/2023/07/18/64b6eeaf46163f74818b45bd.html#"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tuesday</span></strong></a> and <a href="https://www.marca.com/otros-deportes/2023/07/19/64b83977268e3e19048b45e6.html"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wednesday</span></strong></a> </li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/home"><strong>Group B</strong></a> in Valencia, Spain sees the hosts, ranked 12th in the world, welcome No. 4 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Netherlands, No. 11 China, No. 28 Cuba and No. 38 South Africa from 18-22 July. <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b-preview"><strong>See Preview</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b-preview"><strong>Valencia ready to welcome the world</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/xvii-wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-12-players-to-watch"><strong>12 players to watch</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/xvii-wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-by-the-numbers"><strong>By the Numbers</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wbsc/albums/72177720309661775"><strong>Photos</strong></a></li><li>Watch Live on <a href="https://gametime.sport/"><strong>GameTime.Sport</strong></a></li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://gametime.sport/events/offers/" title="Group B"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53041861457_5f801ffa11_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Group B"></a><script async="" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3>Cuba v Puerto Rico</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Pre-tournament favourites Puerto Rico, ranked fourth in the world, lost to China in their opening game while beating South Africa yesterday.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Cuba have been in top form beating the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Star pitcher Aleshia Ocasio starting in the circle for Puerto Rico showing how important this game is for both sides, which is a rematch of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/aleshia-ocasio-shines-from-the-circle-to-give-puerto-rico-womens-softball-central-american-and-caribbean-games-gold-medal-in-tight-final-against-cuba"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">final of the Central and Caribbean Games</span></strong></a>, won by Puerto Rico 2-0.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681977371614650368"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681977371614650368"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3>Spain v Netherlands</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Hosts Spain take on European champions the Netherlands in the first game of the day which promises to be a cracker. Spain have been playing great softball having beaten South Africa 14-0 in their opening game before losing to Cuba in a thriller yesterday 2-1.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Both the Netherlands, who have lost two tight games to Cuba 4-3 and China 5-4, and Spain play twice today in an important day for both sides. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Netherlands, ranked 10th in the world, beat world No. 12 Spain 7-2 during last year's European Championships but with the crowd behind the home time, expect this one to be closer.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681935896642240512"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681935896642240512"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Rain starts to fall lightly ahead of and at the start of the first game between Spain and the Netherlands, which should make playing conditions more comfortable, not considering the humidity.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>As soon as we write that, the rain gets heavier and play is paused at 10:07 due to a heavy downpour with only 11 pitches thrown in the game and the score still 0-0 with two outs in the top of the first inning. It should only be a passing heavy shower but the grounds crew rushes out to cover the home plate and pitcher's circle.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681939872989233152"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681939872989233152"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The forecast is for cloudy skies until about 13:00 but we should have play up and running again very shortly. The fans are staying in their seats with this light rain now providing some sort of relief from the hot conditions.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The tarps are starting to come off the pitchers circle and home plate so we should be restarting shortly. And the umpires now returning to investigate the state of the playing surface, with an Astro turf in play we should be back underway shortly. The teams are also back on the field, warming up again.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>We are back underway at 10:25 with the Netherlands' Marjolein Merkx pitching to Yaicey Sojo. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>But it's at the Netherlands first turn at bat when the scoreboard gets moving and in style with Dinet Oosting giving the European champions the best start with a home run over centre field, the third of the tournament and the biggest so far, hitting the roof over the seats near the Cuba flag, which is just left of centre.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681946795750879232"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681946795750879232"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Very tight game with the Netherlands looking to extend their 1-0 lead and it was in the obttom of the sixth when a ground ball to centre field from Laura Wissink, who started the game as catcher but after being hit in the chin by a stray ball was playing offence only, provided the catalyst for the Netherlands to extend their lead to 3-0 with Oosting and Jessie van Aalst scoring on her two-run single.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>All down to Spain's last turn at bat to see if they can turn things around and with two outs and the home crowd roaring them on, Yulan Denia, playing for the first time in the tournament, and Maria Caicoya manage to get home after a throw from third base Damishah Charles to first bounced and was unable to be caught Maxime van Dalen allowing Yaicey Sojo to reach first.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681973958709485576"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/1681973958709485576"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Score now 3-2 and the crowd's support for the home team got even louder as Sorangel Ledezma hit another ground ball to Charles and again her throw to first bounced but this time van Dalen could make the grab and put an end to Spain's impressive comeback and a terrific game, allowing the European champions to celebrate their first win of the tournament.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3>Pregame</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The weather looks to include some cloud today however temperatures still expecting to reach 32° at 15:00 with the air temperature feeling like 37° like previous days.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:html -->
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.aemet.es/en/eltiempo/prediccion/municipios/horas/valencia-id46250" target="_blank" title="Valencia Weather Day 3"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53058781420_44313b80cd_c.jpg" width="800" height="358" alt="Valencia Weather Day 3"></a><script async="" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<!-- /wp:html -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>More great media coverage of this exciting Pool B tournament, including with Marca who followed up <a href="https://www.marca.com/otros-deportes/2023/07/18/64b6eeaf46163f74818b45bd.html#"><strong>article on Tuesday</strong></a> with another on <a href="https://www.marca.com/otros-deportes/2023/07/19/64b83977268e3e19048b45e6.html"><strong>Wednesday</strong></a> .</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/CMKXDigital/status/1681757115801632768"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/CMKXDigital/status/1681757115801632768"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/ExtraInningSB/status/1681866338610864128"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/ExtraInningSB/status/1681866338610864128"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/CNCTVGranma/status/1681702918016073745"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/CNCTVGranma/status/1681702918016073745"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>While the countdown to Group C is also underway, including the announcement that <a href="https://www.maoriplus.com/details/TV_SHOW/collection/6331502782112/wsbc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-c"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Maori TV</span></strong></a> will broadcast all the New Zealand games live.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:ve30/twitter-iframe {"url":"https://twitter.com/INQUIRERSports/status/1681813670202834945"} -->
<blockquote class="wp-block-ve30-twitter-iframe twitter-tweet" allowtransparency="0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" width="auto"><a href="https://twitter.com/INQUIRERSports/status/1681813670202834945"></a></blockquote>
<!-- /wp:ve30/twitter-iframe -->
<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-where-to-watch-and-keep-up-with-the-group-stage-action"><strong>Where to watch</strong></a></li><li>First time that <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/one-month-to-go-explore-valencia-home-of-the-xvii-wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b"><strong>Spain</strong></a>, like Ireland and Italy, hosts a WBSC tournament.</li><li>New <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-new-softball-mizuno-m170-to-make-historic-debut-at-group-stage"><strong>sustainable Mizuno ball</strong></a> - the M170 - in play.</li><li>Six teams participating in three groups. Top two teams from Group B “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year. Learn more about the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/news/new-two-stage-format-adds-teams-host-cities-excitement-to-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup"><strong>tournament format here</strong></a>.</li><li>USA and Australia advance to Finals 2024 after finishing first and second in Group A in Ireland. Great Britain finished third. Check out the<a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/news/wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a-day-5-live-blog"><strong> Group A review</strong></a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-c/home"><strong>Group C</strong></a> in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy sees world No. 2 and Olympic champions Japan, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Italy, No. 26 Philippines and No. 29 New Zealand in action from 22-26 July.</li><li>First time the new <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/news/new-two-stage-format-adds-teams-host-cities-excitement-to-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup"><strong>two-stage format</strong></a> is being used in a WBSC tournament.</li><li>WBSC Women's Softball World Cup <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/organisation/wbsc-events/womens-softball-world-cup/historic-results"><strong>Full History</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/news/xvii-wbsc-womens-softball-world-cup-finals-to-be-played-in-july-2024-in-italy"><strong>XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals</strong></a> to be played in July 2024 in Italy</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->