Softball Canada - Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at Softball Worlds - ISF women

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 9/5/06 11:21:07 AM 
From:  "Rick Picard" <rpicard(at)softball.ca> 


Subject:  Softball Canada - Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at
Softball Worlds  


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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2006

 

Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at Softball Worlds

 

(Beijing, China) - Canada defeated Italy 3-0, to qualify for
the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China. 
Canada earned the final Olympic berth that was available at the
XI ISF World Championships and will join the USA, Japan and Australia
at the 2008 Olympic Games.  China also qualified as the Olympic
Games host team.  

 

With the win, the Senior Women's National Softball Team became
the first Canadian team sport to qualify for the 2008 Summer
Olympic games.  Since softball's inception in the Olympics in
1996, Canada has not failed to qualify and has had a fifth place
finish in 1996 and 2004 and an eighth place finish in 2000.

 

In Tuesday's fifth place game, Canada relied on solid pitching
and a strong offence to defeat Italy and give them the win. 
Lauren Bay (Trail, BC) and Robin Mackin (Newmarket, ON) combined
to throw a no hitter.  Together, the Canadian duo struck out
8 Italian batters.

 

Offensively, Canada strung together 8 hits and took advantage
of Italian errors to score one run in three consecutive innings
to give Canada the 3-0 lead.  Rachel Schill (Kitchener, ON) started
the attack and the scoring for Canada in the third inning reaching
first on a single.  After being moved to third by a sacrifice
bunt from Melanie Matthews(Surrey, BC) and a single from Jennifer
Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC), Schill stole home as Italy tried
to catch Salling stealing second.

 

Alison Bradley (Pinkerton, ON) continued the Canadian attack
in the fourth with a lead off triple.  Bradley would score on
an error as the third baseman bobbled the outfield throw.  Angela
Lichty, (Guelph, ON) capped off the Canadian scoring, in the
fifth, after reaching on a fielder's choice.  After being moved
to second on a Bradley ground out, Lichty stole third and then
came home on a passed ball to give Canada a 3-0 lead.

 

This is only the second time in history that a special (5th Place)
playoff game was required to determine the top qualifying teams
for the Olympic Games.  Since China finished in the top four
at the Worlds and had already earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic
Games as the host team, the extra game was required.  In 1998,
Canada also defeated Italy (1-0) in the 5th place game which
qualified Canada for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney,
Australia. 

 

For more information, please visit www.softball.ca.  For pictures
and video casts, please visit www.2006softball.org.

 

-SC-

 

For more information, please contact

 

Rick Picard

Director, Marketing and Communications

Softball Canada

rpicard at softball.ca

(613)-523-3386 ext 3105

 

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