During the Major League Baseball (MLB) European Academy in Tirrenia (Italy) we had a chance to meet former MLB hitting star Wally Joyner. Now 50, Joyner is a hitting instructor for MLB international. He was happy to share with us his baseball knowledge, his insights and his opinions.

After a dramatic ending Canada downed Team USA 15-9 on Monday evening at Telus Field in Edmonton. They survived as the lone undefeated team in the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup. The host of the tournament blew an 8-1 lead in the seventh inning, as the US scored seven in the bottom half to force extra innings. However profiting of wild pitching as well Canada answered with seven runs in the top half of the eighth, deciding the outcome.

Chinese Taipei made a big step towards the medal round of the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup on Monday afternoon at John Fry Park. They downed Venezuela by a score of 4-2, picking up their third win in the fourth game in the tournament. The South American dropped to 1-2 in a matchup of contenders for the possible fourth berth in the semi-finals.

Japan rebounded from Sunday’s loss to Team USA with a 10-0 shutout to open day four at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. On Monday morning at Telus Field the defending world baseball champion scored four runs in the first and in four of the five innings en route to a ten-run rule shortened victory. For Cuba it was the fourth loss in the fourth game.

In a potential medal round prelude Team USA bested defending Women’s Baseball World Champion Japan 5-2 on Sunday evening at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada. Tamara Holmes led the American offense with three extra base hits, breaking the tie in the fourth. Japan had three professional players in their starting lineup, but couldn’t do much against the pitching of Donna Williams and Jennifer Hunter.

In the first game at Bob White Field at John Fry Park in Edmonton, Canada, Venezuela beat Cuba 11-5 on Sunday afternoon. It was their first victory at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup, while Cuba dropped to 0-3 in the tournament. Venezuela scored in six of the seven innings to win the Latin duel.

Canada remains undefeated at the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. On Sunday afternoon at Telus Field, the Maple Leafs scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge out Australia 5-4. It was their third win in the third game at the tournament, remaining undefeated before their clash with Team USA on Monday evening. Australia dropped to 1-2.

Canada welcomed Venezuela at the V Women’s Baseball World Cup with an impressive ten-run rule shortened 14-2 victory. They scored four runs in the first and blew the score wide open in the fourth and the fifth to end it early. It is the second win for the host at Telus Field in Edmonton, remaining on course for a medal. Venezuela arrived only a few hours before game time and only was able to be a threat in the first.

Team USA captured their second win in the V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada on Saturday. They edged out Australia in a thrilling affair, winning by a score of 11-8. The US squad came back from an early 2-7 deficit, plating five crucial runs in the last two frames of the game. Australia dropped to 1-1 in the tournament.

The V IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup continued on Saturday morning with a 6-3 victory by Chinese Taipei over Cuba at Telus Field in Edmonton, Canada. Two runs apiece in the second, fourth and sixth lifted the Asians to their first victory in the tournament. They had lost to Canada on opening day. Cuba lost for the second time in as many days.