2024 USAS SoCal x Tokyo Exchange Event
October 5-6, 2024
Tokyo, Japan
USA Softball, in conjunction with USA Softball of Southern California (SoCal) and Japan Softball, has announced an exchange series that will look to strengthen the connection between the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the LA28 Games. The exchange series will feature thrilling competition between the USA Softball of Southern California U-18 Women’s All-Star Team and Metro Tokyo Softball — with the first set of matchups set to take place in Tokyo, while a second round of games will be played in Los Angeles in 2025.
Both countries will form a roster of select athletes from local associations to create a U-18 Women’s All-Star Team. Through the High Performance Program (HPP), USA Softball of Southern California has selected a roster by identifying top athletes from the surrounding areas at the 2024 Region 10 HPP Identifier in Irvine, Calif., while Japan will form an All-Star Team from the Tokyo metropolitan area. In return, the Metro Tokyo All-Star Team will travel to Southern California in 2025 for the second half of the competition.
Streaming will not be available for this event. Fans can follow along via live stats by following the USAS SoCal U-18 Women‘s All-Star Team on GameChanger.
| Date | Time (JST/CT/PST) | Opponent | Live Stats/Box Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 5 | 4:30 p.m. JST / 2:30 a.m. CT / 12:30 a.m. PST | *Canceled | — |
| Sunday, October 6 | 10 a.m. JST / 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PST | SoCal 3, Metro Tokyo 4 | Box Score |
| 1:30 p.m. JST / 11:30 p.m. CT / 9:30 p.m. PST | SoCal 2, Metro Tokyo 8 | Box Score |
2024 SoCal U-18 Women’s All-Star Team
Coaches
| Name | Position | Hometown | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Robinson | Head Coach | Escondido, CA | Cal State-San Marcos (Head Coach) |
| Ali Aguilar | Assistant Coach | Orangevale, CA | USA Softball WNT |
| Rachel Garcia | Assistant Coach | Palmdale, CA | USA Softball WNT |
Women’s SoCal All Star Team and Metro Tokyo Cultural Exchange
Tokyo, Japan (October 5, 2024) — Despite the cancellation of Game One in Japan due to inclement weather, the SoCal All-Star team made the most of the day. They engaged in an exciting practice session with the Metro Tokyo team, fostering camaraderie and skill-sharing. The day continued with a vibrant cultural exchange, where both teams explored traditions and experiences while forging lasting friendships and turning a setback into a memorable opportunity for growth and connection.
U-18 Women’s SoCal All Star Team Faces Tough Loss in Double Header Against Metro Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan (October 6, 2024) — The USAS So Cal U-18 Women’s All-Star Team came up short in Game Two on Sunday, losing 4-3 to Metro Tokyo despite out hitting them five to four. Soleil Luna recorded a single in the second inning to put her team on the scoreboard, while Aliandra Plimpton contributed with a crucial RBI in the third. Despite the loss, So Cal had some impressive showings, including offensive powerhouse Sacha Zalamea, who led So Cal with two hits. Other key contributors for So Cal were Soleil Luna (1-for-3) driving in two runs, and Cate Medvitz, who showed great discipline at the plate, leading the team with two walks out of So Cal’s seven free passes overall. The U-18 USAS So Cal squad will look to bounce back in Game Three of the series on Sunday afternoon.
In a tough matchup on Sunday, the USAS So Cal U-18 Women’s All-Star Team fell 8-2 to a powerhouse Metro Tokyo lineup despite a promising start. USAS So Cal took an early lead in the first inning, with a sacrifice fly from Soleil Luna and an RBI single by Rillo-Figueroa, giving the US team a 2-0 advantage. Offensively, Rillo-Figueroa and Luna each drove in a run for So Cal, while Sacha Zalamea (2-for-3) led the team in hits. However, it was not enough to stifle Metro Tokyo, who showcased their depth by racking up an impressive 10 hits. The 8-2 loss marked another tough outing for So Cal against Metro Tokyo’s strong balanced attack.