It may not be a very good season for the Orix Buffaloes, currently in last place in the NPB Pacific League. Still, they got the attention of the media when the first ever player developed in Italy to perform in the Japanese Big Leagues earned them a win. Alessandro Maestri (27) went 6.1 innings allowing only 1 run on 4 hits as the Buffaloes defeated (5-1) the Chiba Lotte Marines on Sunday 8/12.

Australia’s Women’s Baseball National Team barely avoided an upset against the Netherlands, winning 13-11 in a thrilling slugfest at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada on Monday afternoon. The team from Down Under came back from a 2-6 deficit, but nearly blew a 13-6 lead in the seventh en route to the victory. They are now 2-2 in the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup and keep their chances intact to reach the semi-finals. The Netherlands dropped to 0-4, but showed an impressive offensive performance.

Chinese Taipei has its second win at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. They crushed the Netherlands 17-3 in five innings on a sunny Sunday morning at Telus Field. They scored 16 of their 17 runs in the first three frames, highlighted by a pair of six-run rallies in the second and third. The three Dutch runs were their first in the tournament, as they lost their third game.

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.