II JR. GIRLS’ WORLD CUP OPENS
WITH FIVE GAMES

The International Softball Federation’s (ISF) II Jr. Girls’ World Cup opened today at the world headquarters complex of the sport’s world governing body in Plant City, Florida (USA). The event runs through and including Sunday (July 13).

A softball skills festival was held early today, with a different event being done on each of the diamonds on the Randy L. Larson Softball Fourplex. The individual speed pitch winner was Megan Ochylski of the Central California Cruisers (San Luis Obispo) with a speed of 61 miles per hour. Base running was conducted to see who could run the fastest from home plate to first base, and from home plate all the way around all bases and back to home. The home-to- first event had two players tie with a speed of three seconds: Natalya Manyan of Jamaica and Lindsay Moore of Stacey’s Stars (Jacksonville, Florida). Moore won the home-to-home event, running in 11.7 seconds. Kristin Shumann of the (Kingsville) Texas Rage won the home run hitting contest with four. The other event was Speed and Accuracy Throw, where the participants attempted to hit a specified target at home plate from three designated outfield positions. The winner was Remse Montemayor of the Road Runners (McAllen, Texas). The overall international team winner was Jamaica, and the overall domestic team winner was Shogun Softball (Niceville, Florida).

Game play was preceded by Opening Ceremonies, which featured a procession of all 30 teams into the stadium and a Color Guard provided by the Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council. Taryn Livingston, a 2003 graduate of Durant High School in Plant City, performed the U.S. National Anthem. ISF President Don Porter gave his remarks, followed by Plant City Vice Mayor Mary Yvette Thomas, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

After a delay due to heavy lightning, five games then got underway. After all persons and props from Opening Ceremonies were off the field in Plant City Stadium, Stacey’s Stars (Jacksonville, Florida) took on the Dupage Side Kicks (Lockport, Illinois). The Stars won 9-0, in a “mercy run rule”-shortened five- inning game. (Under international playing rules, a game ends if a team is trailing by 20 runs after three innings, 15 after four, or seven after five.) The Stars scored at least one run in each inning.

Meanwhile the adjacent Randy L. Larson Softball Fourplex was buzzing with activity.

The first Pool B game saw the Ukraine taking on one of the local clubs, Team FLA (Tampa, Florida). In another “mercy run rule”-shortened game, Team FLA won 17-0 in four innings. Lindsey Littlejohn no-hit the Ukrainians and Team FLA had 12 hits.

In Pool C play, the California Cruisers (San Luis Obispo, California) took to the field to take on the Twilight Twisters (Winter Haven, Florida). The Cruisers blanked the Twisters 2-0, getting both runs in the bottom of the fifth. Megan Ochylski went 3-for-4 with one RBI.

Also, the Sarasota Quicksilver (Sarasota, Florida) and East Cobb Angels (Marietta, Georgia) were in action, with Sarasota squeezing out a 1-0 victory. They scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the first.

Rounding out the Day One schedule was Pool E’s showdown of the Lady Knights (Orlando, Florida) and the team from Jamaica. The Lady Knights made quick change of the Jamaicans, winning 12-1 in five innings. The big inning was the fourth when the winners had an eight-run outburst.

Play continues tomorrow morning with five games all starting at 9 a.m. The rest of the day will see (five) games (each) at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Only a small fee for parking will be charged.

Follow the event through the schedule, results, and more using the Event Website link below. Talk about it in the "General Discussion" category of the ISF Forum.

Daily Round-ups
Results
View Event Photos
ISF Forum