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Viefhaus Helps USA Capture Gold at Junior Worlds
7/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ENSCHEDE, Netherlands -- Freshman Maggie Viefhaus (Eureka, Mo./Eureka HS) of the University of Michigan softball team contributed to a gold-medal performance by the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team at the 2007 Junior World Championships. The USA squad defeated two-time defending champion Japan 3-1 in the championship game Saturday afternoon (June 30) at the Tex Town Complex.
Viefhaus
The Red, White and Blue registered a perfect 10-0 record over the 11-day competition, outscoring its opposition 88-4 with seven shutouts. It was the USA team's sixth straight appearance in the Junior World Championship finale and marked its third gold-medal performance, adding to titles in 1987 and 1995.
The USA squad cruised through the early sessions of the tournament with a flawless 7-0 mark during pool play and advanced to the medal rounds with the top seed. After defeating Venezuela 6-2 in its first medal-round contest, the USA advanced to the championship game with a 3-0 decision over Japan, earning its first win over the Japanese squad at the Junior World Championships since 1995. Japan won its consolation game to set up a rematch in the gold-medal contest.
The USA was forced to rally back from an early deficit in the final game as the Japanese struck first with an unearned run in the top of the opening frame. It would be Japan's lone tally, however, and the U.S. squad stole away the lead in the subsequent inning and added a third insurance run in the fifth. The American defense proved a major contributing factor to its win as Japan put runners in scoring position in five frames but left 10 stranded.
Viefhaus, who started eight of 10 games at third base, earned all-tournament team honors as one of the USA team's most productive players at the event. She registered a .429 batting average with nine hits, eight runs scored and six RBI. Viefhaus also claimed all-tournament team accolades at the 2006 Junior Pan-American Games.
Viefhaus is the second Wolverine representative to compete at the Junior World Championships, joining former Michigan standout Jenny Allard, who captured a gold medal at the 1987 event.
For complete and detailed information, please visit the USA Softball site.
For archived video footage from the championship final, please visit the official host site.
Contact: Leah Howard (734)763-4423
