Formerly known as the World Cup of Softball, the USA Softball International Cup kicks off on Monday for a week chock full of international softball. This year’s Cup tournament will be held in Irvine, California.
Who’s playing: Participating teams include a pair of Team USA squads, known as USA Red and USA Blue. Professional squad Scrap Yard Fastpitch – the former NPF champion-turned-independent franchise – will also take part in the tournament.
Joining USA Red and Scrap Yard in Pool A for the tournament are Chinese Taipei; China; Puerto Rico; and Peru. Pool B consists of Japan; Canada; Mexico; Venezuela; Czech Republic; and Colombia, along with USA Blue.
Where to Watch: Five games from the tournament will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, including the championship game on July 15. Preliminary matchups reaching the big screen include USA Blue vs. Canada (7/12, 7 pm ET, ESPN); USA Red vs. Puerto Rico (7/13, 6 pm ET, ESPN2); USA Blue vs. Japan (7/14, 12 pm ET, ESPN2); and USA Red vs. Chinese Taipei (7/14, 4 pm ET, ESPN).
Games not broadcast by ESPN will be live streamed on USA Softball’s website. Direct links to each game’s livestream can be found here.
Matchups to Watch:
Puerto Rico vs. Scrap Yard (Monday, 7/9 @ 4:30 ET) — The Puerto Ricans might be the best-kept secret on the international scene. Boasting collegiate stars like Meghan King (Florida State) and Taran Alvelo (Washington) on their roster, the 6th-ranked team in the world boasts a world of talent, but are still looking to establish themselves as permanent fixtures on the world stage. A solid showing against an all-star Scrap Yard roster – one in uncharted waters as a pro team in international competition – would be a big jumpstart to Puerto Rico’s championship hopes.
Japan vs. Canada (Wednesday, July 11 @ 2:30 pm ET) –— The Japanese team has always been one of the two best in the world, jockeying for the top spot with the United States for years. The Japanese will face off against the Canucks in a midweek matchup between two teams with an Olympic resume and good odds to return to the Tokyo Games. The Canadians have a roster stocked with collegiate stars and international veterans, while the Japanese boast a veteran roster of their own and are still led by the legendary Yukiko Ueno in the circle.
Japan vs. USA Blue (Saturday, 7/14 @ 12 pm ET) –— A rematch of the teams from the Japan All-Star Series, a three-game set held at the end of June, the USA squad will seek revenge after being swept in Japan. Ueno twice shutout the USA team, while Eri Yamada provided a two-run home run in the series finale. The addition of Paige Lowary in the circle to the USA squad should add some firepower on the pitching front, but will it be enough to take down the Japanese?
Players to Watch:
Bubba Nickles, USA Blue — One of the game’s best budding stars, Nickles enjoyed a red-hot postseason and Women’s College World Series for the UCLA Bruins. A versatile and defensively-sound player, Nickles swings a mean stick that can park a ball over the fence just as easily as bounce it down the line for extra bases. With early matchups against the Czech Republic, Venezuela, and Colombia, if Nickles is able to get that same hot streak going once again, it should be most welcome news for Patty Gasso’s red, white, and blue squad.
Elicia D’Orazio, Puerto Rico — Speed makes a huge difference in the game of softball, even on the international stage, and that is one area where D’Orazio particularly excels. The former Marshall Thundering Herd speedster now wears the blue and red of the Puerto Ricans and is taking her wheels to the international scene. Already a veteran of the squad, if D’Orazio reaches first base, you can certainly know that havoc for the opposing team is soon to follow.
Yukiko Ueno, Japan — Ueno threw four shutout innings in the first game of the Japan All-Star Series against the USA Blue team in June, later adding a shutout win over the US to clinch the series sweep. Now 35, Ueno is still at the top of her game and has already shown that she remains a force to be reckoned with.
Kasey Cooper, USA Red — The former Auburn third baseman has been playing with the Scrap Yard nationals team to get ready for international competition, and has already shown solid production this summer. The sole primary third baseman on the Red roster – Sahvanna Jaquish has split time between catcher and third base since college – Cooper should get her fair share of at-bats and remains a very powerful bat in the midst of the Red squad batting order.
Jen Gilbert, Canada — A hard-hitting outfielder, Gilbert has long been a mainstay on the Canadian roster and prematurely ended her pro career in the US to concentrate her focus on a future Olympic berth. Placed in a hearty Pool B, Gilbert has a chance of stepping into the box against Yukiko Ueno, Carley Hoover, Jessica Moore, and Paige Lowary – to name a few – in pool play alone. A veteran and likely already a lock for the 2020 Olympic roster, a strong showing against some of the game’s best hurlers would elevate her to elite status on a list of the world’s offensive playmakers.
