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From Al’s Fastball
USA loses 8-0 to Venezuela at Pan American Softball Championships

Hermosillo, Mexico—The USA Softball Men’s National Team opened with an 8-0 loss to Venezuela on opening day of the Men’s PanAmerican Softball Championships.

Venezuela’sJohn Garcia was spectacular in the circle allowing only one hit while strikingout five U.S.batters. Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.was the only U.S.player able to produce a hit in the game.

Venezuela took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the firstinning when third baseman Ivan Paez drove a pitch over the fence to scoreArturo Acacio who had walked to lead off the inning.

U.S. starterMichael White (Sioux City, Iowa) settled down and held the Venezuelanbats silent until the fifth inning. Elis Vgueto reached on a walk and moved tosecond on a singe by Acacio. Paez, who drove in the first two runs of the game,reached on a fielder’s choice that advanced Vgueto to third. With tworunners on Jenin Rodriguez came up big with a three run home run to give histeam a comfortable 5-0 advantage.

In the sixth Paul Algar (Lexinton, Ill.,)came on in relief of White but a walk and a passed ball but John Zambravo inscoring position. A single by Edwin Jinanes plated Zambravo for a 6-0 lead.

Miller collected a lead off single in the bottom of thesixth inning but Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) grounded into a double playand Omar Moraga (Tucson, Ariz.) popped up to shortstop to end the inning.

The U.S.went to the bullpen again in the seventh inning and looked to Tony Peeples (San Miguel, Calif.) tohold down Venezuela’sscrappy offense.

Paez opened the inning with his second hit of the day andwent to second on an error. Rodriguez walked and advanced to second on an RBIsingle by Julio Jinares that scored Paez. Zambravo was then hit by a pitch thatloaded the bases for Jose Manuillo who grounded out to second but still managedto score Rodriguez.

In the seventh Garcia retired the U.S. in order to pick up the win.

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From Al’s Fastball

Canada Drops to 2-2 at Pan Am Championships
Canada Drops to 2-2 at Pan Am Championships (HERMOSILLO – Mexico) – Team Canada’s record dropped to 2-2 at the Pan American Softball Championships with a 2-1 loss to the undefeated Venezuela on Monday October 2nd in Hermosillo, Mexico. (more…)

(Looks like USAsoftball website has started to post updates, with this story on yesterday’s win over Canada)

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HERMOSILLO, Mexico – The USA Softball Men’s National Team opened play at the 2006 Pan American Softball Championships with a 4-3 win over Canada on Sunday. The two teams were not originally scheduled to play but after teams dropped out of the tournament the pools were rearranged and had the USA, the defending champion, playing Canada, the runner-up in the last championship.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.,) reached on a bunt single and moved to second on an error by Canada first baseman Derek Mayson. A wild pitch allowed Miljavac to move to third and a passed ball allowed him to score.

Canada tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Tim Macumber hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field that scored Fehman who had led off the inning with a single. Kevin Schellenberg, who reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, also tried to score on the sacrifice fly but was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.

A three run home run by Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, NY) in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Red, White and Blue a 3-0 lead going into the seventh inning.

Canada battled back in the top of the seventh inning with three runs off USA starter Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.) but fell short when Miljavac made a game saving catch on a ball hit to right field and Paul Algar came in relief to strikeout Jeff Ellsworth who was pinch hitting.