<html><head></head><body lang="en-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: initial;"> <div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br style="display:initial"></div> <div style="width: 100%; font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br style="display:initial"></div> <div style="font-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, 'Slate Pro', sans-serif, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.</div> <table width="100%" style="background-color:white;border-spacing:0px;"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: initial; text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(181, 196, 223); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 3pt 0in 0in; font-family: Tahoma, 'BB Alpha Sans', 'Slate Pro'; font-size: 10pt;"> <div><b>From: </b>Codi Warren <cwarren@softball.org></div><div><b>Sent: </b>Friday, August 14, 2015 11:41 PM</div><div><b>To: </b>Codi Warren</div><div><b>Subject: </b>Only six remain at WBSC Junior Women's World Championship; United States locks up spot in Gold Medal Game</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(186, 188, 209); border-top-width: 1pt; font-size: initial; text-align: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div><br><div id="_originalContent" style=""><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">August 14, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">Only six remain at WBSC Junior Women's World Championship; United States locks up spot in Gold Medal Game</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:#333333">OKLAHOMA CITY </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">— After almost a week of action at the historic ASA Hall of Fame Complex, only six teams remain in play at the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) in Oklahoma City, Okla. The United State is the only undefeated team left, as they secured their spot in the Gold Medal Game following a 14-2 (five inning) win over Japan. Japan will now face Puerto Rico, who advanced to the Bronze Medal Game following an 8-0 win over Canada. Australia and Chinese Taipei also advanced to Championship Saturday, where the two will face off in the finals of the Placement Division. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Below is the schedule for Saturday, August 15:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">OGE Energy Field<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Australia vs. Chinese Taipei - 1 p.m. CST - Placement Bracket Final<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Japan vs. Puerto Rico - 4 p.m. CST - Bronze Medal Game<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">USA vs. TBD - 7 p.m. CST - Gold Medal Game<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Events/2015/August/09/XI-WBSC-Junior-Womens-World-Championship/Tournament/Schedule">Click here to view the results, box scores and the schedule for the 2015 WBSC JWWC.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Highlights from Day Six</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Puerto Rico 8, Canada 0<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Puerto Rico earned a spot at Championship Saturday at the WBSC JWWC, pounding 12 hits to collect an 8-0 win over Canada. Meghan King collected her second shutout win in two days, allowing just one hit with no runs and eight strikeouts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Puerto Rico combined for 12 hits throughout the contest, including four extra base hits, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to seal the win. Madison Hope took the loss for Canada, issuing four runs and two strikeouts through two and one-third innings of work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Australia 5, Italy 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Allanah Alvarado drove in three runs, sparking Australia to a 5-1 victory to advance to the WBSC JWWC Placement Bracket finals. Australia was led by Amelia Cudicio, who issued just one hit and one run while striking out nine batters through six innings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Erika Piancastelli collected the sole hit for Italy, though it was a big one as she hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Serena Boniardi took the loss for Italy, issuing four walks and five runs while striking out two runs through four and one-third innings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">United States 14, Japan 2 (five innings)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The United States earned a spot in the Gold Medal Game with a 14-2 (five inning) win over Japan. The U.S. scored seven runs in the fifth, fueled by a grand slam by Alyssa Palomino, who racked up six RBI on two hits for the U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Kelly Barnhill earned the win for the U.S., issuing nine strikeouts, while allowing only one earned run over four innings. Japan's Mina Yane got a hit in each of her two at bats, singling in the first inning and hitting a solo home run in the fifth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Miki Nakamura took the loss for Japan, striking out two while allowing five runs in one and one-third innings pitched. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei 10, Brazil 3 (six innings)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Chinese Taipei earned a spot in the Placement Bracket finals with a 10-3 win over Brazil at the WBSC JWWC. The teams traded runs for most of the contest, leading to three lead changes in the game with Chinese Taipei taking the lead in the second inning to hold on for the win. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Chia Fang Wu had a busy day at the plate, collecting three extra-base hits. She singled in the third and fourth innings and doubled in the second and sixth innings. Chinese Taipei's Ya Ting Tu was stellar from the circle, issuing just three hits with three strikeouts through four and two-third innings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Caroline Kamidai ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision, charged with the loss. She lasted just one and two-third innings, allowing three runs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">All games will be streamed live at no cost to fans through the official event website. There will be expanded coverage, beginning Thursday, August 13, featuring play-by-play and color commentary, in-game interviews, instant replays and unique camera shots. Visit<span style="color:#333333"> </span><a href="http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Events/2015/August/09/XI-WBSC-Junior-Womens-World-Championship">2015jwwc.com</a><span style="color:#333333"> </span>to watch games. </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">For updates, check or the tournament website <a href="http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Events/2015/August/09/XI-WBSC-Junior-Womens-World-Championship">2015JWWC.com</a><span style="color:#333333"> </span>and keep up all week on the event’s official<span style="color:#333333"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/2015JWWC?ref=hl">Facebook</a><span style="color:#333333"> </span>and<span style="color:#333333"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/2015_JWWC">Twitter</a><span style="color:#333333">. </span>Fans can also visit<span style="color:#333333"> </span><a href="http://www.wbsc.co">www.wbsc.co</a><span style="color:#333333"> </span>for more information<span style="color:#333333">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">About ASA/USA Softball</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"> <br>Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit </span><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.asausasoftball.com/">http://www.asausasoftball.com/</a><span style="color:black">.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">About the World Baseball Softball Confederation</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">Headquartered in the Olympic Capital city of Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013. The WBSC represents a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes worldwide. The WBSC governs all international competitions involving any of the National Teams of its 141 National Federation members. The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships, The Premier 12, the World Baseball Classic, and the U12, U15, U18, U21 and Women's Baseball World Cups. For further information, please go to </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-0PshZTbIP6ZjcVLAK0YOW5Bs3lVDH0V1cR54vN-WjvLtVTDhaTjzD8UFEG90nPbUEGULmb0INSrs0LsAY9gifp-vJ6d0D-MekJiotmm8FeNlaGmpp9JlRU1QgJkRr6yUEtUZfetgIWdwd3d21e6AHmEE2AJIDv0&c=sQkp7pnqbiIDHi4SDfT21cdH2y87q1mtf01ZXy0MPGuVtNOc7PCcZw==&ch=gF0wMK6T5HOUFnh2aWtMgVzvGiNgbAhqfnSP1vZXEQh9K3wYoDy9xg==" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">www.WBSC.co</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"> or follow the WBSC on Twitter at </span><a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">@WBSC</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black">.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Codi Warren<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><img border="0" width="134" height="62" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D0D6C6.085D3820" alt="ASA_USASplit logo_small"></span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Office</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> 405.425.3431 | <b>Cell </b>405. 420. 2817</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><br><!--end of _originalContent --></div></body></html>