Thomas hit .684 over six games to help the USA to a 6-0 record
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Incoming Florida freshman outfielder Townsen Thomas had a stellar showing for the USA, leading the team to a first-place finish at the U-18 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Softball World Cup Group C to secure a place in next year’s U-18 World Cup Finals.
Thomas’ 13 hits led all players in the six-team event in Dallas, as the USA posted a perfect 6-0 record. The Humble, Texas, native took center stage in her home state and helped the USA put on a dominant performance, picking up multiple hits in five of six games while hitting .684 (13-for-19) over the six games with eight runs, seven runs batted in and three stolen bases.
In Monday’s final, the USA was clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth as Thomas came to the plate with a runner on third and created havoc for the Canada defense. Thomas first reached on a throwing error, then advanced to third as the defense tried to recover, finally coming around to score herself on the same play after another throwing error. That put the USA up, 3-0, and broke open what became a five-run inning that ultimately put the game well out of reach.
The USA punched its ticket to the U-18 World Cup finals in 2025 along with Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, China and Puerto Rico. Canada and Mexico square off Monday evening for Group C’s second automatic bid, while the final wild card spot will go to either Monday’s losing team or New Zealand.
Thomas and her fellow incoming freshman class – Gabi Comia, Layla Lamar, Katelynn Oxley and Taylor Shumaker – will look to help the 2025 edition of the Gators continue UF’s tradition as one of the nation’s elite programs. The Gators’ run to the Women’s College World Series in 2024 marked Florida’s 12th under head coach Tim Walton.
USA’s U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group C Results
All games held at The Village Dallas
Date/Opp.
Result
Townsend Stats
August 29 vs. Ireland
W, 15-0
2/3, 3 RBI
August 30 vs. Australia
W, 10-0
2/3, 2 R, SB
August 30 vs. Canada
W, 9-1
3/3, 2 R, RBI
August 31 vs. Mexico
W, 15-0
2/3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Sept. 1 vs. Philippines
W, 7-0
1/3, 2 SB, RBI, R
Sept. 2 vs. Canada (Final)
W, 8-0
3/4, 2R
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