US beats Japan to remain world softball champion

CARACAS, Venezuela — The United States defeated Japan 7-0 on Friday to claim its seventh straight world softball title and gain some revenge for its Olympic loss two years ago. U.S. team went undefeated in the tournament. Japan took the silver medal and Canada won bronze. The title will go some way toward making up for the team's frustration at being denied the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. Japan denied the United States a fourth Olympic gold from four appearances when it beat the Americans 3-1 at Beijing. "It's very sweet that it was Japan, and it was a knockout," U.S. manager Jay Miller said. Alisa Haber lined an RBI single in the fourth to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead and Jennie Finch singled home Haber to make it 2-0. Lauren Lappin tripled in two more, then score on a wild pitch to give the U.S. a 5-0 lead. Andrea Duran hit a two-run homer to cap the scoring in the fifth. Starting pitcher Catherine Osterman wrapped an American flag around her shoulders following the game amid a roaring applause from the crowd. Osterman pitched for the U.S. until the fourth inning, when she was replaced by Monica Abbott. "I'm so proud of my teammates," said America's Jess Mendoza. Earlier Friday, Japan defeated Canada 12-3 to advance to the finals. Rei Nishiyama drove in two runs in the first innings with a single. In the third, Natoko Mabuchi singled in a run and Emi Matsuoka had an RBI doubled to put Japan on top 4-0. Eri Yamada's RBI single made it 5-0 in the fourth and Japan scored eight more in the seventh. – AP