(Click logo for official website)
From Al’s Fastball: Click here for Stats
Stats for Team USA games to date (4 games)
2006 Men”s Pan American Championship

(Click logo for official website)
From Al’s Fastball

Canada Defeats Puerto Rico at Pan Am Championships
Canada Defeats Puerto Rico at Pan Am Championships (HERMOSILLO – Mexico) – Team Canada improved their record to 2 wins and 1 loss at the Pan Am Softball Championships with a 4-1 victory over Puerto Rico who were coming off a 6-4 extra inning win over the home squad from Mexico the previous night. All of Team Canada’s runs came in the 3rd inning. Catcher Sean O’Brien (Kitchener, ON) started the inning with a walk. After singles by Kevin Schellenberg (Squamish, BC) and Ryan Wolfe (London, ON) loaded the bases, Jeff Ellsworth (Alberton, PE) drove an offering from Puerto Rican starter Juan Martinez up the middle for a single scoring pinch runner Scott Newitt (Delta, BC). Schellenberg and Wolfe would score on Rob Gray’s double to right field and Ellsworth completed the scoring by coming home on a fielder’s choice by 1st baseman Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, BC). Canadian starter Nick Underhill (Campbell River, BC) kept the Puerto Rican bats in check giving up only 2 hits over 5 innings of work while striking out 7 and walking none. Frank Cox (Owen Sound, ON) made his first appearance of the tournament, pitching the last two innings striking out 4 Puerto Rican batters in the process. (more…)

(Click logo for official website)
Thanks to Pat Healey for this report:

HERMOSILLO, MEXICO – Jeff Ellsworth of Alberton contributes in a huge way as Team Canada improved their record to 2-1 with a 4-1 defeat of Puerto Rico here Monday morning at the 2006 Pan American Fast Pitch championships.

The win allows Canada to rebound from a 4-3 loss to rival U.S.A. Sunday night in the late game. Canada was to face Venezuela looking to go to 3-1 later Monday at 9 p.m. ADT.

The Canadian side got their scoring in the third inning. With bases loaded, Ellsworth (2-4) drove a Juan Martinez offering up the middle for a single scoring pinch runner Scott Newitt, in place of catcher Sean O’Brien.

Rob Gray’s double to right field brought around Kevin Schellenberg and Ryan Wolfe to plate and left Ellsworth at third. He wasn’t there long when Derek Mayson hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring the Alberton rec director with the fourth and final run for Canada.

“It’s been great,” Ellsworth, who is now 3-for-8, said following the game. “It’s nice to contribute in anyway I can to get the win at the end of the day.”

He didn’t take the field for the game against the U.S. as coach Mark Smith gave the other players a chance to play.

“It’s a different atmosphere,” he added. “The counties are so intense and into every pitch you always have to be on your toes.”

Canadian starter Nick Underhill gave up just two hits in five innings work, fanning seven. Frank Cox came on in relief, striking pout four in two innings work.

(Pat Healey)