by Bob Fromer
Haarlem, Netherlands – The GB Women's Fastpitch Team once again played well in their final round-robin game at the ISF World Championships, but failed to take their chances against playoff-bound Chinese Taipei and eventually paid the price.
GB were trailing by only 3-0 and starter Carling Hare had largely kept the game under control when Chinese Taipei came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning. But after the first batter lined out to Sarah Craig at third base, the next five batters all blasted hits, three of them doubles, and suddenly the game was over on the mercy rule as the score climbed to 7-0.
The particular thorn in GB's side was the Taipei #5 hitter, Mei Hsueh Lu, who had two doubles and a single, all sharply hit, and drove in three runs.
GB chances
GB had scoring chances in four of the first five innings, but didn't cash any of them and left seven runners on base. The GB Women were clearly missing their first base player and best hitter, Alicja Wolny, batting .583 so far in the tournament but unable to play today because of injury and illness. Many of the GB chances came around where her spot in the line-up would have been, with GB lead-off hitter Amy Moore reaching base three times with singles and #3 hitter Chiya Louie collecting a hit and a walk.
In the top of the first inning, Amy Moore led off with a line drive single down the third base line and Chiya Louie singled to left moments later. But in between, Laura Thompson had hit into a double play that killed the rally.
In the third inning, Sarah Jones singled to right field and Amy Moore beat out a single to deep short with one out. Laura Thompson and Chiya Louie then hit the ball hard, but directly to Chinese Taipei outfielders.
In the fourth inning, Kori Waugh led off with a single, but never advanced beyond first base.
And in the top of the fifth inning, Karlene Headley-Cooper and Amy Moore reached on back-to-back singles up the middle with one out. Laura Thompson was unlucky to be called out when the umpires, after conferring, ruled that she had been hit by her own bunted ball outside the batter's box, but Chiya Louie walked to load the bases.
This was GB's last chance, and it ended when Taipei pitcher Lin Hui Chung struck out Kori Waugh swinging.
Like other games that GB has played during a frustrating week, the game seemed manageable for a while and even winnable – but then it was gone.
Pitching and defense
Carling Hare began the game throwing well, and kept Chinese Taipei off the board during the first two innings. But two walks and two hits, including a two-run single by Mei Hsueh Lu, broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third inning and put Taipei 2-0 ahead.
It might have been worse but for two great plays by GB shortstop Chiya Louie to bookend the inning. On the first play, Chiya charged a bouncing ball, corralled a difficult hop and made an off-balance throw to Nicole Ratel at first base. To end the inning, Chiya ranged a long way into foul territory down the left field line and took a running catch with her back to the diamond.
GB again played errorless defense in the game, as they had on Wednesday night against the Netherlands, and the team is certainly looking sharper as the tournament enters its final stages. But it still hasn't been enough to get a win.
Quick ending
Chinese Taipei extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a little single popped over third base by Hsiang Yun Wang to drive in the run, a carbon copy of the hit with which she beat the Netherlands in the 11th inning last Saturday.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth, came the five straight hits that ended the game.
Playoffs
Weather permitting – and the forecast for Friday is wall-to-wall heavy rain – GB will play Russia on Friday morning in the first game of the Consolation Playoffs.
To play any further games and to finish higher up in the final standings, GB will need to win.
Meanwhile, most people's attention will now turn to the Championship Double Page Playoff that will begin on Friday, and in particular to the 3v4 game between the host team Netherlands and China. To have any hope of playing on in the tournament, finishing in fifth place or higher and retaining their funding, the Netherlands have to win this game. But it was China who knocked them out of the last World Championships in White Horse.
The other 3v4 game will pit New Zealand against Chinese Taipei.
Earlier on Friday, the USA will play Canada and Japan will play Australia, but the losers, unlike the losers of the 3v4 games, will still be in the tournament and can still get to the final.
However, most observers are still assuming that Sunday's final, scheduled for 3.00 pm Dutch time, will once again feature Japan and the United States.
Both the Gold and Bronze medal games on Sunday will be televised – but mainly to viewers in the US and Japan.
Final Pool Standings
Pool A
Japan (7-0)
Canada (6-1)
China (4-3)
New Zealand (3-4)
Cuba (3-4)
Czech Republic (3-4)
Russia (2-5)
Puerto Rico (0-7)
Pool B
USA (7-0)
Australia (6-1)
Chinese Taipei (4-3)
Netherlands (4-3)
Italy (3-4)
Dominican Republic (3-4)
Botswana (1-6)
GB (0-7)
Round-Robin Results
Full round-robin results are shown below.
Pool A
Day 1
Japan 4, China 0
Canada 3, Puerto Rico 2
Czech Republic 6, Cuba 3
New Zealand 5, Russia
Day 2
China 1, Puerto Rico 0
Japan 5, Russia 0
Cuba 1, New Zealand 0
Canada 8, Czech Republic 1
Day 3
Cuba 5, Russia 3
Japan 9, Puerto Rico 2
Czech Republic 2, China 0
Canada 8, New Zealand 1 (5 innings)
Day 4
Russia 3, Czech Republic 0
Japan 9, New Zealand 0 (5 innings)
Day 5
Canada 2, China 0 (postponed from Monday)
Cuba 3, Puerto Rico 1 (postponed from Monday)
New Zealand 7, Czech Republic 3
China 2, Cuba 0
Russia 2, Puerto Rico 1
Japan 4, Canada 0
Day 6
China 7, New Zealand 0
Czech Republic 1, Puerto Rico 3
Canada 11, Russia 0 (5 innings)
Japan 9, Cuba 0
Day 7
Canada 7, Cuba 0
China 8, Russia 1 (6 innings)
Japan 7, Czech Republic 0 (6 innings)
New Zealand 3, Puerto Rico 1
Pool B
Day 1
Australia 2, Chinese Taipei 1
Italy 3, Dominican Republic 2
Botswana 5, GB 3
USA 10, Netherlands 0 (5 innings)
Day 2
USA 7, Botswana 0 (5 innings)
Chinese Taipei 5, Netherlands 4 (11 innings)
Dominican Republic 14, GB 6 (5 innings)
Australia 10, Italy 0 (4 innings)
Day 3
Dominican Republic 11, Botswana 1 (4 innings)
Australia 9, GB 0 (5 innings)
Netherlands 8, Italy 0 (5 innings)
USA 5, Chinese Taipei 1
Day 4
Italy 6, Botswana 0
USA 11, GB 0 (4 innings)
Australia 4, Netherlands 0
Day 5
Dominican Republic 7, Chinese Taipei 0 (6 innings) (postponed from Monday)
Italy 9, GB 0
Chinese Taipei 9, Botswana 0 (5 innings)
USA 4, Australia 2
Netherlands 14, Dominican Republic 1
Day 6
Chinese Taipei 1, Italy 0
Australia 17, Botswana 0 (4 innings)
USA 10, Dominican Republic 0 (4 innings)
Netherlands 9, GB 3
Day 7
Australia 7, Dominican Republic 0 (6 innings)
USA 7, Italy 0 (5 innings)
Chinese Taipei 7, GB 0 (5 innings)
Netherlands 12, Botswana 0 (4 innings)
Photos by Lynda Medwell