WBSC Women's Softball World Cup: Group B final day, Spain beat South Africa to finish 5th; Group C starts in Italy

Welcome to the final day of the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group B taking place at the Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de València, Spain where two tickets to the Finals 2024 will be awarded. Meanwhile, Group C starts today in Buttrio and Castions di Strada, Italy with three exciting games featuring Olympic champions Japan, bronze medallists Canada and fifth placed Italy.

The first ticket to Finals 2024 will be awarded in the final of Group B between Puerto Rico and China with the second ticket offered in the repechage game between the loser of the final and the winner of the 3^rd v 4^th playoff between the Netherlands v Cuba.

Group B Final Day Schedule
5^th v 6^th Placement Game: South Africa v Spain 0-5 Box Score/Play by Play On Demand
12:30 3^rd v 4^th Netherlands v Cuba
15:00 Final* Puerto Rico v China
18:00 Repechage* Loser of Final v Winner of 3^rd v 4^th

*Ticket to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2024 awarded to the winner

• First game of the day in Valencia saw Spain beat South Africa to finish 5^th and 6^th respectively in Group B.
• Day Four Review - China, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Netherlands confirmed in top four playoff positions
• Day Three Review - China, Cuba, Netherlands book Playoff spots, two teams in contention for remaining place
• Day Two Review - Cuba and China stay undefeated; top standings
• Day One Review - Wins for Cuba, China and Spain on opening day
• Group C starts on Saturday - Japan, Canada and Italy expected to lead the way
• Group B 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. See Preview
• Valencia ready to welcome the world
• 12 players to watch
• By the Numbers
• Photos
• Watch Live on GameTime.Sport

Group B 6th v 5th Placement Game: South Africa v Spain

Hosts Spain take on South Africa in the 5th v 6th Placement game with Spain having won this clash 14-0 on the first day of the tournament on Tuesday.

And it is Spain who open the scoring with lead off hitter Maria Caicoya, having scored twice against South Africa on the first day of the tournament, scoring her fourth run of the tournament after Yaicey Sojo's single to left field.

Bottom of the second and Anna Sobrino and Carla Segura score before Carmen Caicoya's single to left field scores her sister Maria and Yulan Denia to put Spain 5-0.

Group C - Day 1

Group C also gets underway today in Buttrio and Castions di Strada, Italy where the coaches had their say on the eve of the tournament.

Group C Day Schedule
14:00 New Zealand v Japan
17:00 Philippines v Canada
20:00 Venezuela v Italy

• Pool C Preview
• Japan, Canada and Italy expected to lead the way
• "We are going to make the world of softball proud"

• Where to watch
• First time that Ireland, Spain and Italy host a WBSC tournament.
• New sustainable Mizuno ball - the M170 - in play.
• Six teams participating in three groups. Top two teams from Group B “punch a ticket” to the Finals next year. Learn more about the tournament format here.
• USA and Australia advance to Finals 2024 after finishing first and second in Group A in Ireland. Great Britain finished third. Check out the Group A review.
• Group C 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.
• First time the new two-stage format is being used in a WBSC tournament.
• WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Full History
• XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals to be played in July 2024 in Italy

Pregame

More great coverage of the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup including in major Spanish sport's paper Marca on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.