JAPAN – Japan did not let down its home crowd on Friday night, throttling Canada, 11-3, in the gold medal final of the 2008 IBAF Women’s World Cup.

The third installment of the Women’s World Cup kicked off one day after the close of the baseball competition at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The tournament was held across six days, featuring five days of preliminary play and today’s final round. The gold medal was a first for the Japanese women’s team, to go along with the silvers it won in 2004 and 2006.

Up 2-0, Canada was upset-minded through 3 1/2 innings, but the Japanese bats awoke in the bottom of the fourth. With four runs that inning and seven the next, the game was in hand. Japanese pitcher Kasumi Naguchi (3-0) pitched the final five frames in relief of starter Risa Nakashima, only allowing two runs — one earned — on seven hits, while striking out two. Kate Psota (1-2) took the loss in relief, giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Canada threatened early, loading the bases in the top of the first, but Megan Cornelssen popped out to Yukiko Kon in foul territory to end the threat. After a quiet bottom half of the inning from Japan, Canada managed to push a runner across in the second. Nicole Luchansky and Karine Gagne hit back-to-back singles to score Marie Josee Trembly who led off the inning with a walk. Japan again had no answer in the bottom half, and through two, the score was 1-0, Canada.

The Canadians loaded the bases a second time in the third, and Japan almost got out of it unharmed again, but a botched double play on the throw from second to first allowed Amanda Asay to score from third. Japan wasn’t as lucky in its half of third, loading the bases but leaving all three runners stranded.

With Canada up two in the fourth, Japan finally got its offense on track. Three straight singles to lead off the inning by Miki Atsugase, Miku Kayano and Kyoko Makino plated Atsugase, and a double by Junko Arai scored Kayano and Makino. A single by Tomomi Takashima pushed Arai to third and Tomomi Nishi followed with a sac fly to score Arai.

Canada got one back in the fifth behind an RBI single from Trembly, scoring Genevieve Beauchamp, but Japan kept rolling in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, Nodoka Harada hit a bloop single just over second base to score Atsugase and keep the bases full. Arai then walked, pushing home Kayano. Next up was Takashima who slapped a single past a diving Gagne to score Harada and Makino. Slugger Yukiko Kon reached when a pop fly to right was dropped by Trembly, and the error allowed Arai to score. With two on, Akiko Shimura lined a single right up the middle, plating Takashima and Kon.

Both teams put zeroes on the board in the sixth, and, in its final attempt for a comeback in the seventh, Canada recorded two singles but never mounted a serious threat.

Atsugase led the Japanese attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Arai was also stellar, finishing 2-for-2 at the plate, with three RBIs and two runs scored. Beauchamp and Gagne each logged two hits to pace Canada’s offensive attack.

In other Friday action, the U.S. held off Australia to capture the bronze medal, 2-1. The medal was Team USA’s third in World Cup competition, but it was the first time it hasn’t taken home a gold. The Aussies had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but pinch-hitter Kim McMillan popped out on a squeeze play attempt at home, and U.S. catcher Veronica Alvarez threw to third to double up the Australian baserunner for the game’s final out.

In the fifth-place game, Chinese Taipei (3-2) easily handled Korea (2-3), 16-1, and in the showdown to determine 7/8 positioning, India (1-4) knocked off Hong Kong (0-5), 8-6. India was making its Women’s World Cup debut, and the celebration that followed its first victory in a major women’s international competition stood as one of the tournament’s more memorable moments.

Notes: Closing ceremonies were held on the field following the gold medal final … Japan, Canada and USA were presented with medals and top performers were recognized. Highlighted award-winners: Kasumi Noguchi (JPN), Tournament MVP; Martina Sementelli (USA), Top Pitcher; Tomomi Nishi, Top Defensive Player … Following the ceremonies, the eight competing teams gathered around a display of baseballs spelling out “2016″ in support of the sport’s efforts in getting back onto the Olympic Programme in 2016.

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Tags: Canada, Japan