July 2, 2007

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands - As a lazy fly ball landed in the glove of Brittany Lastrapes, the third base dugout emptied onto the field in celebration as the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team defeated Japan, 3-1 last Saturday afternoon to become the new world champions. The win capped off a perfect 11 days as the Americans went 10-0 to capture the championship of the ISF Junior Women's World Championship at the Tex Town Complex. Spartan shortstop Bianca Mejia contributed an RBI single in the victory.

The win didn't come easy as the USA had to fight from behind early. Japan scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to mark just the second time in 10 games the USA has trailed. But the Americans took the lead back in the second inning thanks to a two-run, five-hit effort.

Tiffany Huff got the rally going with a single to center field. Ashley Brignac singled up the middle to put two on with two out, and Mejia came through with a big RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Later in the inning, Lastrapes singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Brignac and give the USA the lead at 2-1/

The USA tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning when Monica Harrison reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Alissa Haber to make it 3-1. The Japanese team had several chances, putting runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but couldn't capitalize. In the seventh, Japan got the leadoff runner on and moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Donna Kerr got a strikeout and then got Yuki Hayashi to fly out to Lastrapes in left field to set off a wild celebration.

"I thought we fought back after falling behind early to put some runs on the board to go ahead," said head coach Jay Miller. "We gave ourselves a chance every inning and I knew it was just a matter of time before we broke through. But Japan did the same thing. We really stepped up defensively and got great pitching from all three girls that threw for us today. They got us out of jams. It was just a great team effort and a great job from the pitching staff to shut down an outstanding Japan team."

At the plate, the USA had five players - Lastrapes, Haber, Ashley Hansen, Harrison and Mejia - record two hits apiece, while Huff and Brignac each had one.

The championship game marked the USA's sixth consecutive time in the gold medal contest, winning in 1987 in Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995 in Normal. Ill., and now 2007 in Enschede, Netherlands. For the tournament, the Red, White and Blue outscored its opponents 88-4.

Mejia finished tournament play with a .500 average at the plate (8-for-16), including one double, one triple and six RBI.

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