Japan makes things interesting at TriNations Cup with 7-2 win over Canada

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 7/7/08 11:02:19 PM 
From:  "Gilles LeBlanc" <gleblanc at softball.ca> 

Subject:  Japan_makes_things_interesting_at_Tri_Nations_Cup_with_7-2
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7th, 2008

 

Japan makes things interesting at TriNations Cup with 7-2 win
over Canada

 

(Kitchener, ON) – After falling toAustralia 2-1 in the early
game, the Japanese national team bounced back with aconvincing
7-2 win over Canada, forcing a three-way tie for first place
withall three teams tied at 1-1. After Canada took a 2-0 lead
in the top of thethird, Japan immediately responded with two
of their own in the bottom half ofthe inning, and tacked on four
runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the gameout of reach.

 

As mentioned, Canada opened the scoring inthe top of the third.
After two quick outs, Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) drovea bullet
to right field that went through the fence. The umpire initiallysignalled
a homerun, but after going out to examine the hole, determined
theball had gone through the fence for a double. With Matthews
standing on secondbase, the very next hitter, Erin McLean (Whitby,
ON) smashed a pitch to the exactsame area only a bit higher for
a two-run homerun.

 

Japan responded in the bottom of theinning, as cleanup hitter
Satoko Mabuchi delivered a two-out two-run double tothe gap in
left centerfield. They would then add the go-ahead run the followinginning
on an RBI single. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Japan
addedfour runs to put the game out of reach for Canada, highlighted
by a three-runblast by Eri Yamada.

 

Lauren Bay Regula (Trail, BC) took the lossfor Canada, allowing
three runs on six hits and two walks in four innings ofwork,
striking out four batters. Dione Meier (Saskatoon, SK) then pitched
oneand a third innings of relief and gave up four more runs on
five hits. DanielleLawrie (Langley, BC) got the two last outs
for Canada. Other than the double byMatthews and the homerun
by McLean, Alison Bradley (Pinkerton, ON) had a solidsingle that
almost took the third baseman’s glove off in the second and SheenaLawrick
(Calgary, AB) double in the top of the seventh.   

 

With all three teams tied at 1-1, Japantakes the first place
seeding after round-robin due to run differential (+4).Canada
(+1) and Australia (-5) will square off at 4:00pm EDT at Peter
HallmanBallyard in Kitchener to determine who will move on to
face Japan in the Championshipgame at 6:00pm.

 

Box Score   

 

-SC-

 

For more information, please contact

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Manager: Marketing and CommunicationsServices

Softball Canada

(613) 523-3386 ext 3105

gleblanc(at)softball.ca

 

 

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