(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.