U-15 Women’s National Team clinches 2023 Utsugi Cup championship title behind undefeated record sealed with 1-0 victory over Japan

TAKASAKI CITY, Japan – The U-15 Women’s National Team (WNT) proved dominant at the 2023 Utsugi Cup, posting an undefeated 3-0 record through the two-day event to clinch the championship title. Closing out the tournament with its third-straight shutout, the Red, White and Blue faced Japan in the championship game following matchups against Italy (3-0) and China (10-0) in group play yesterday.

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In the first edition of the U-15 Utsugi Cup, the Eagles pulled out a narrow 1-0 championship win over Japan behind a perfect game from Macie Bryant and a stolen base from Madelyn Armendariz to score the only run of the game. A true battle of the best, the U.S. posted a combined 3 hits, scoring its only run in the top of the sixth while Bryant remained solid in the circle, retiring all 18 batters she faced in order – 12 via strikeout. Aspen Boulware led the Eagles at the plate, tallying a perfect 2-for-2 performance behind two singles – one of which lit the spark for the U.S. offense in the top of the sixth.

The Japan defense managed to keep the U.S. quiet through five at-bats to force the championship game into extra innings. With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Armendariz took position on second base looking to score while a walk from Stevie South and a bunt single from Boulware put Armendariz in scoring position. With pressure on the Japan defense, the U.S. plated its only run in the top of the sixth credited to aggressive base running from Armendariz after a dropped third strike gave her the opening to speed home. Bryant remained steady in the circle, retiring three-straight batters in the bottom of the sixth to seal the championship win for the Red, White and Blue.

The U.S. remained strong in its quest to the championship title, accumulating a .364 batting average and a combined 20 hits while outscoring its opponents 14-0 over the two-day event. Leading the U.S. at the plate was Boulware with a .833 batting average, followed by South (.571) and Abdullah (.429). The U.S. pitching staff of Bryant, Lily Pullen and Taegan Lermann proved to be superior throughout the tournament with three shutouts and a combined 27 strikeouts, while only allowing a low of four hits through three games. 

Earning the MVP for the U.S. with two wins, 20 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA was Macie Bryant, who received a special gift from tournament honoree Taeko Utsugi – former Japan Women’s Softball National Team manager – for her outstanding performances in the circle. 

As the first edition of the U-15 Utsugi Cup, Team USA makes its mark in history as the first-ever champions.  

The U-15 WNT will return to action in October at the WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup in Tokyo, Japan – qualifying earlier this year at the 2023 U-15 Pan American Championship that saw the U.S. win gold.