The first pitch at the International Softball Federation’s XII Men’s World Championship is – as of today – just 50 days away. The 16 teams that will play in the marquee tournament are well aware of that, and showing as much by getting in some final warm-up games.

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands — After many days in a row of rain, it was fitting that very light precipitation tried to fall in the middle of today’s final game at the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) VIII Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under, fast pitch) here. As it passed though, so too did the end of Japan’s quest for a three-peat after they fell, 3-1, to Team USA.

BEIJING, CHINA – Team USA repeated as champions tonight at the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship here, defeating Japan, 3-0.

BEIJING, CHINA – Australia, Japan, and USA have each earned a berth in the 2008 Olympic Softball competition. They, along with the host China, will be joined by another team after a special fifth place game on Tuesday morning, as the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship heads into its final day here.

The tournament that opened with 15 countries participating is now down to its final six, with four more games set for Monday, before the medal games take place when the event wraps up Tuesday.

BEIJING, CHINA – Day 7 at the International Softball Federation’s XI Women’s World Championship here concluded the round robin portion of the tournament, which is also serving as a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition. The 15-country tournament that started on Sunday is now down to eight teams and concludes on Tuesday.

The tournament, which is also softball’s Olympic Test Event and a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition, is being played at the new softball stadium built for the Games that will take place just under two years from now.

BEIJING, CHINA – Only eight of the 15 teams are going to be left standing come Saturday night, and the list of which those might be is starting to become just a little bit clearer following Day 5 at the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship here.

BEIJING, CHINA – Wednesday night’s final game of Day 4 was perhaps its best as Venezuela beat Chinese Taipei, 3-2, in an extra inning here at the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship.

BEIJING, CHINA – The third day of round robin play here today saw four teams come away with perfect 3-0 won-lost records in the ten-day tournament that ends on September 5. The International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship is also a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition as well as the sport’s Olympic Test Event.