Dec. 9, 2011

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Follow along as softball student-athletes Dallas Escobedo and Amber Freeman compete in the 2011 USA Softball Junior Women's World Championship (19-Under). 

Game Eleven, Gold Medal Game | USA 4, Japan 1 | Box Score
A grand slam by designated player Cheyenne Tarango (Tennessee) gave the U.S. its second-consecutive title and fourth Junior Women's World Championship in the Team USA history. With the board blanked in the fourth, Tarango hit her first home run of her USA Softball career, a bases clearing shot over the left field fence. Mainstay behind the plate, Amber Freeman went 1-for-2 at bat after starting her eighth game at catcher.

Game Ten | USA 12, Chinese Taipei 3 (6) | Box Score
USA is Gold Medal bound as its early 12-3 (6) win Saturday set them up for a rematch in the championship against Japan just a few hours after Dallas Escobedo retired nine in 4.0 innings pitched. Amber Freeman went 2-for-3 with three RBI, notching a two-RBI double in the sixth as the U.S. tallied two runs in the opening frame, and five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.  

Game Nine | Japan 9, USA 0 (5) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
Recording only one hit and having five errors cost the U.S. its first loss of the tournament, at the hands of Japan 9-0 in five innings. The Americans must now beat Chinese Taipei on Saturday (3 a.m.) to have a rematch against Japan for the Gold Medal Game at 6 a.m. Cheyenne Cordes of Cal recorded USA's only hit of the day.  

Game Eight | USA 7, Australia 4 | Box Score | USA Softball Release
Amber Freeman connected 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored alongside Dallas Escobedo striking out eight to help USA top Australia 7-4 Thursday. Battling back from a two-run Aussie lead, USA muscled in five runs in the second inning, capitalizing on an Australia error for two runs, unearned. Up next for USA is Japan, with the winner advancing to the Gold Medal Game on Saturday.

Game Seven | USA 12, Puerto Rico 3 (5) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
USA remains undefeated (7-0) heading into the playoff rounds after defeating Puerto Rico 12-3 in five innings on Wednesday. Eight runs scored off eight hits in the second helped the US cause en route to the Red White and Blue's fifth run rule of the tournament.

Game Six | USA 15, Czech Republic 0 (3) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
Sun Devils Dallas Escobedo and Amber Freeman combined to shut down Czech Republic on Tuesday as Freeman went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and Escobedo retired nine batters over three innings. Escobedo collects the 15-0 (3) victory and improves the US to 6-0 in tournament play. Freeman brought around the run rule-clenching runner with a double to left.

Game Five | USA 17, Botswana 0 (3) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
In its most exhilarating start of the championship, the U.S. brought in 11 runs in the opening inning against Botswana. Going on to score four in the second and a pair of runs in the third inning more than assisted Nyree White to a three-inning perfect game in the circle for the USA. 

Game Four | USA 8, South Africa 0 (5) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
The fourth inning proved all the U.S. needed to overpower tournament-host South Africa, as the Americans scored four runs on five hits in the inning. In the fifth, the USA was back at it again, tallying four runs off four hits - letting the defense hold for a half inning before a declared run rule.

Game Three | USA 7, New Zealand 0 | Box Score | USA Softball Release
Rolling into its second-consecutive shutout, USA topped New Zealand 7-0 in six innings on Saturday. Dallas Escobedo came in for relief, tossing two innings and striking out a team-high five. Amber Freeman went 1-for-2 at the plate with one run scored.  

Game Two | USA 5, China 0 | Box Score | USA Softball Release
14 strike-outs and seven innings later, Ally Carda (UCLA) no hits China to help No. 1 USA improve to 2-0 on Friday. Amber Freeman was 1-for-1 as designated player, adding to USA's 14 hits on the day. 

Game One | USA 11, Canada 4 (5) | Box Score | USA Softball Release
Five innings was all it took for USA to run rule Canada 11-4 (5) in the World Championship opener on Thursday. Dallas Escobedo garnered the win after pitching three innings and allowing only two batters to reach while fanning three. Amber Freeman started at catcher and helped the American offense with one RBI.

Webcast
The live webcast can be accessed through the official tournament website at http://jwwc2011.co.za/ or by clicking here. 

Team USA's opener against Canada on Thursday (10:30 a.m.), China (Friday), New Zealand (Saturday), Botswana (Monday) and the Czech Republic will be streamed live from Turfhall Softball Stadium. **All adjusted to local Tempe, Ariz. time 

Live Stats
Live stats for all USA Softball games will be provided through GameTracker on the USASoftball.com website or by clicking here. 

The tournament website will be updated at the end of each half inning with the current score for all 66 games of the tournament. Team and tournament statistics will be updated at the conclusion of each day. 

Schedule of events (Adjusted to local Tempe, Ariz. time):
Dec. 8, USA 11 vs. Canada 4 (5)
Dec. 9, USA 5 vs. China 0
Dec. 10, USA 7 vs. New Zealand 0
Dec. 11, USA 8 vs. South Africa 0 (5)
Dec. 12, USA 17 vs. Botswana 0 (3)
Dec. 13, USA 15 vs. Czech Republic 0 (3)
Dec. 14, USA 12 vs. Puerto Rico 3 (5)
Dec. 15, USA 7 vs. Australia 4
Dec. 16, Japan 9 vs. USA 0 (5) 
Dec. 17, USA 12 vs. Chinese Taipei 3 (6)
Dec. 17, USA 4 vs. Japan 1 **USA wins 2011 ISF Junior Women's World Championship

For more information on the Junior Women's National Team, roster and player biographies, team schedules and more follow: http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=970