After having the opening day off at the V Women’s Baseball World Cup defending champion Japan started the tournament at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada with a 21-0 blowout over the Netherlands. Japan scored nine runs apiece in the first and the fifth to end the contest early after five frames. It was the second loss for the Dutch team in the tournament.

The United States opened the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada on Friday morning with a 10-0 shutout over the Netherlands. The American squad won in five innings, led by pitchers Kristin Caldwell and Kayla Bufardeci, who hold their counterparts to just one hit in the game. The US offense scored in each of the five innings to provide plenty run support.

The International Baseball Federation announced the schedule for the I IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship in Chihuahua, Mexico. 16 teams will participate in the tournament from August 16 to 26, 2012. It is the inaugural IBAF event in this age category.

The eighth edition of the MLB European Academy starts today in Tirrenia, Italy at the CONI Olympic Training Center. The 2012 Academy will feature 47 of Europe’s best young baseball players who were selected at a series of MLB Scouting Bureau try-outs held earlier in the spring.

France has won the U21 European Championship. The tournament, which was held from July 25 to 29 in Brno/Trebic, Czech Republic saw the French team dominating the Ukraine 12-1 in seven innings to capture the title. Host Czech Republic finished in third place after a 13-0 shutout over Russia.

A team from Pakistan will participate in the “Città di Arezzo” tournament for players aged 21 or younger, part of the so called Tuscany Series, one of the main event of youth baseball during the Italian Summer.

Cuba has won the 26th edition of the “Haarlemse Honkbalweek”. They won the title at the international tournament with a 4-2 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game on Sunday. Team USA (Collegiate) finished in third place after a 4-3 win over IBAF Baseball World Champion Netherlands in the Bronze Medal Game at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands.

The Netherlands have won the U15 European Championship in Jablonec and Liberec, Czech Republic. The Dutch team beat Germany 10-5 in the Gold Medal Game on Saturday. Russia finished in third place after prevailing in the Bronze Medal Match against the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic has won the U12 European Championship in Hluboka/Zliv, Czech Republic. They defeated Russia 19-1 in the championship game to defend their title. Lithuania finished in third place after beating Israel in the bronze medal game.

New dedicated playing facilities for baseball and softball – the first of their kind in the UK – are expected to be ready for the 2013 season at Farnham Park near Slough and at two locations in Milton Keynes, funded by Sport England and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.