Canada shut down in loss to United States

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 7/15/07 4:46:28 PM 
From:  Gilles LeBlanc <gleblanc at magma.ca> 

   
Subject:  Canada shut down in loss to United States  


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15th, 2007

 

Canada shut down in loss to United States

 

(Oklahoma City, OK) – When it comes to International Softball,
the United States are usually the team to beat. That was proven
once again today, as the Canadian Senior Women’s National team
stuck around for a while but eventually fell 7-0 in six innings
because of the run rule in a KFC World Cup III game that was
nationally televised on TSN. The loss gives Canada a 3-2 record
in the round-robin, and they will need a lot of help to reach
the final and earn a rematch against the powerful Americans.

 

After the first two batters of the game were retired by Canadian
starting pitcher Robin Mackin (Newmarket, ON), USA jumped to
an early lead after a two-out, two-run home run. Mackin then
walked the two next batters before giving up a single to load
the bases, but was able to escape the inning with only two runs
against. Canada was then able to get its first hit of the game
in the bottom of the first, as Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam,
BC) dropped a base hit into center field. However, Canada was
not able to advance her and Salling was stranded on first base.

 

The red and white threatened again in their half of the third
inning as Kristy Odamura (Richmond, BC) led off the inning with
a perfectly placed slap single over the third baseman and later
stole second base, but Finch settled in and struck out the side
to leave Odamura stranded.

 

The United States rallied around Finch’s strong pitching, putting
up two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning
on another two-run home run, which barely went over the right
field wall. Mackin again loaded the bases with three walks after
the homerun, but was able to escape without any further damage
yet again, with the score now 4-0.

 

Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) relieved Mackin and pitched a perfect
fifth inning, but the Americans were able to put the game away
in the sixth. After the two first hitters reached on singles,
Lawrie was able to get the next hitter to ground a ball that
hit the runner on first in the back, and then got the second
out on a fly ball to first base. However, Lawrie walked the next
batter to load the bases and hit the following batter to score
the fifth run.. The next American batter hit a sinking line drive
to right field that just got under the glove of Melanie Matthews
(Surrey, BC) in right field to bring in two more runs, pushing
the score to 7-0.

 

Matthews singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the
sixth, but Canada was unable to score, ending the game on the
run rule. 

 

Jennie Finch was spectacular in the pitcher’s circle for USA,
holding the Canadian offence to only three hits and one walk
while fanning eight batters at the plate. Mackin pitched four
innings for Canada, allowing four runs on five hits, with six
walks, one hit by pitch and two strikeouts. Lawrie pitched two
inning of relief, giving up three runs on four hits with one
walk and a hit by pitch.

 

The United States (5-0) earned an automatic berth to the Championship
game tomorrow night (9:00pm ET), while Canada (3-2) will have
to wait until the end of the day to know their fate. Japan (2-1)
plays Venezuela (1-3) at 7:00pm and China (1-2) at 9:30pm ET
today and Canada needs them to lose both games to have any hope
to reach the final. Should Japan win either one of those games,
Canada would play for the bronze medal tomorrow at 5:30pm ET.

 

-SC-

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Sport/Recreation Management Intern

MBA in Sport and Recreation Management

University of New Brunswick

 

Coordinator, Marketing and Communications

Softball Canada

gleblanc(at)softball.ca

(613) 523-3386 ext 3105

 
 

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