USA Softball remains unbeaten with 4-0 win over Canada - ISF women

Tue Aug 29 08:14:00 EDT 2006

Received: 8/29/06 6:41:11 AM 
From:  "Holly Krivokapich" <hollyk(at)softball.org> 

Subject:  USA Softball remains unbeaten with 4-0 win over Canada

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USA Softball remains unbeaten with 4-0 winover Canada

Beijing, China---The USA Softball Women’sNational Team improved
its overall ISF World Championship record to 99-9 with a4-0 win
over Canada at the XI ISF Women’s World Championship. The U.S.improved
to 3-0 and now is one of only four teams remaining without a
loss inthe competition.

Canada starter Robin Mackin was dominate thefirst time through
the U.S.line-up shutting down the powerful U.S. arsenal for the
first twoinnings but in the third the top of the line-up finally
broke through. With twoouts Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.singled
through the left side and advanced to second on a single by NatashaWatley
(Irvine, Calif.). With speed on the bases, JessicaMendoza (Camarillo,
Calif.),the only player to reach base in the first two innings,
ripped another singleto center field to score Lowe and give the
U.S. a 1-0 lead.

It was another two out rally in the fourthinning that provided
the Red, White and Blue with its second run of the gameand seemed
to take the wind out of Canada’s sails. LovieanneJung (Fountain
Valley, Calif.walked and Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.),
Mackin’s former coach at Fresno Statetook a 3-2 pitch down the
right field line for a standup triple to score Jung.

Despite a leadoff single and stolen baseby Watley in the fifth
inning, the U.S. was unable to capitalize. Butin the sixth inning,
the U.S.did take advantage of a lead off walk to Andrea Duran
(Selma, Calif.as Jung singled to center to move her into scoring
position and Berg broughther home with a single to center field.
With runners on first and second andthe top of the U.S. lineup
coming to bat, Canada looked to reliever Kaila Holtzin hopes
of halting the rally and that’s what she did. Holtz fanned Loweand
got Watley to pop up to shortstop to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh inning Mendoza,who was 3-for-4 at the
plate with 2 RBI, put the game out of reach with a soloshot to
center field on the first pitch to give the U.S. a comfortable
4-0 advantage.  

“Obviously it was an outstanding game. I came in knowing that
thiswas a game that we had to get by. We had to play better than
we have the past coupleof days,” said head coach Mike Candrea.
“The team played inspiredand we put some runs up on the board.
We had some key hits by both Laura (Berg)and Jessica (Mendozaand
great pitching by Cat (Osterman). I think overall this is our
bestperformance of the tournament.”

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas), who hadno-hit Canada in her last
two starts, settled down after allowing two hits inthe first
two innings to record her second win and her second consecutivedouble
digit strikeout performance of the tournament with 10 in the
game.

Berg, making her fourth appearance in aWorld Championship, extended
her international hit streak to seven games with a2-for-3 effort
against Canada. 

The USA and host Chinaare now the only undefeated teams remaining
in Pool A at the WorldChampionships with identical 3-0 records.
The U.S.will try and remain undefeated on Wednesday when they
face off with Great Britain(1-2) at 2 a.m. CT. The U.S.defeated
Great Britain 14-0in the opening game of the II World Cup of
Softball last month in Oklahoma City.

Notes:

*For the first time in the 2006 ISF WorldChampionship Caitlin
Lowe and Natasha Watley were both retired in the firstinning.

*Laura Berg currently has a seven gamehitting streak in international
competition – the streak began on July 15during the II World
Cup of Softball against Australia.

*Cat Osterman last started against Canada during the 2003 Canada
Cup where shepitched a six inning no-hitter that included 10
strikeouts - the USAwon the game 8-0.

In her only other start against Canada she tossed a complete
game no-hitter inthe finals of the 2003 Pan Am Games – a 4-0
win for the U.S. 

*Osterman had not allowed a hit to Canadain the last 15 innings
which included three events dating back to the 2003Canada Cup.
She had only allowed a total of two hits in her career against
Canadawhich spans four events and 17.2 innings.   

*Mendoza, who had a seven game hittingstreak until yesterday’s
game against DPR Korea, began the streak againtoday going 3-for-4
against Canadawith a home run and two RBI. She has now recorded
at least one hit in 16-of-19games this year.

*The U.S.is a perfect 8-0 against Canadain ISF World Championship
Competition – last meeting in a WorldChampionship ended in a
4-0 win for the U.S.at the 2002 World Championships in Saskatoon
Canada. 

*Six of the eight wins over Canada in the ISF World Championships
have comevia shutout – The U.S. has outscored Canada in World
Championshipcompetition 25-2

*The USAimproves to 99-9 in ISF World Championships with its
win over Canada today. The shutout is thefifth consecutive and
91st in World Championship play.

*Head Coach Mike Candrea celebrated his 51stbirthday on Tuesday
with a 4-0 win over Canada – he is officially 1-0in international
competition in games played on his birthday.

Holly Krivokapich

Assistant Director of Communications

ASA/USA Softball

405-425-3431

www.asasoftball.com www.usasoftball.com 

 Al's Fastball News
*Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com
   fastball at pmihrm.com
NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/
NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball

VIA http://www.webbox.com