Dominican Republic Starts with Victory in the Softball World Cup against Japan
The Dominican softball team debuted with an outstanding victory in the World Championship held in Canada, defeating Japan, the current Olympic champion, with a score of three runs to two.
Francisco Nova was the hero of the match, connecting an unstoppable crucial hit between third base and shortstop in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the bases loaded, thus securing the victory for the Dominican team.
This triumph represents the second time in history that the Dominican Republic has managed to defeat the Asian power in softball, which is ranked fourth in the WBSC world ranking, while the Dominican Republic is in 11th place.
The first Dominican victory over Japan occurred a decade ago, during the 2015 World Cup, also in Canada.
The Dominican offense showed its power, while the combined work of pitchers Yan Carlos González (El Pinto) and Michael Batista kept the team in the fight for victory.
González pitched six innings, allowing only two hits (both home runs), striking out ten batters and giving three walks. Batista closed the seventh inning, achieving a strikeout and securing the victory.
- Elías Valerio hit a home run.
- Jendry Torres Bueno scored a triple and a single.
- Pablo Modesto Figuereo contributed a double and a walk.
- Joel de Mota batted 2-for-3, including a double.
By Japan, Koki Sato and Kazura Toriyama were the only ones to connect hits, both home runs.
Japanese starting pitcher Hiroki Ikeda allowed four hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts. Shota Onodera was the losing pitcher.
The next Dominican Republic match will be this Wednesday against Australia.
