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From Als Fastball:

Venezuela defeats Canada in extra innings to win gold

BY PAT HEALEY

HERMOSILLO, MEXICO – Jeff Ellsworth of Alberton has added another chapter to the PEI softball hisotry book.

After a heartbreaking 3-2 extra innings loss to Venezuela Sunday night in the championship final of the Pan American softball championship, the rec director became the first Island softball player to bring back an International softball silver medal.

“It was an experience of a life time,” Ellsworth said following the game. “I didn’t know what to expect coming into the event but got to play in all 12 games of the tournament.”

“Really proud of what we done, being my first international event a silver medal is great in my books.”

The Canucks led 2-0 until Venezuela tied it up in bottom of the seventh a two run home runand won in the eighth.

Derek Mayson of North Vancouver, B.C. had a huge home run for the Canadian side.

Frank Cox of Owen Sound, Ont. suffered the loss.

In the semi final, the Canadians beat Argentina 5-1, led by strong pitching from Nick Underhill of Campbell River, B.C. going six with Cox relieving in the seventh.

Canada led from start to finish in the game.

Ellsworth went 1-for-1 with a run scored in the win over Argentina.

“Thank you to everyone who kept sending emails cheering us on, it was greatly appreciated,” he said. “It’s a trip of a lifetime coming to an event like this one no doubt about it but like I always say “there is no place like home and I can’t wait to get back to the Island.”

SATURDAY AGAINST USA

On Saturday night, Team Canada got revenge in their rematch with the U.S.A., dropping the defending champions 4-1. The win guaranteed the squad no worse then a bronze medal finish.

Canadaused a two, two run blasts off the sticks of Ian Fehrman and Ryan Wolfe in the win. Jeff Ellsworth of Alberton P.E.I. (0-2) was also tops in the game with a walk, and scoring on Fehrman’s blast.

Frank Cox earned the pitching decision.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Friday night in a must win game, Ellsworth went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI as Canada routed Guatamalla 10-0 to earn the fourth and final playoff position.

Fehrman was also tops at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, walk and two runs scored while Tim Macumber saw his bat get going, launching a three-run home run in the first that got the offense going and plated base runners Ellsworth and Scott Newitt.

Winning pitcher was Rick Smith.

ONE OF THREE TOP BATTERS FOR CANADA

Ellsworth was one of three Canadian hitters to crack the top 15 in the final round robin tournament hitting leaders, released by the organizers Saturday night. He finished 14thin round robin tournament hitting, having 23 plate appearances, hitting 7-21 with four runs scored, a home run, five RBI, a walk and two strikeouts for a ..333 batting average. A hit he was given earlier in the tournament was changed to a fielder’s choice, thus taking his total down to seven.

The others were Pat MacKintosh of Saskatoon, SK., was seventh going 8-21, one RBI, three runs scored fanned three times and a .381 batting average and Ian Fehrman of Townsend, Ont.. finished eighth hitting 7-20 with one home run, three RBI, six runs scored and a .350 batting average.

Rick Smith, Rob O’Brien finished one-two in pitching with NickUnderhill in at eighth place and Frank Cox placing 12th in the pitching statistics.

Pat Healey
pathealey@eastlink.ca

This entry was posted on Monday, October 9th, 2006 at 4:57 am and is filed under Canada, General, Tournaments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.