CanadianSoftball Team Finishes Just Out of Medal Round

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 8/20/08 3:01:52 AM 
From:  "Gilles LeBlanc" <gleblanc at softball.ca> 

 
Subject:  Canadian_Softball_Team_Finishes_Just_Out_of_Medal_Round_/_
 


FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE

August20th, 2008

 

CanadianSoftball Team Finishes Just Out of Medal Round

 

(Beijing,China) – The Canadian Women’s softball team had their
sights set on a podiumfinish at the Beijing Olympic Games, but
the young team pushed a much moreexperienced Australian team
to the brink and could not put them away, despite avery strong
effort. Team Canada veterans Lauren Bay Regula (Trail, BC) andAlison
Bradley (Pinkerton, ON) were the key contributors, but Australia
came upwith some timely hits to move on with a 5-3 win.

 

Beforethe game started, the Canadian players gathered around
the on-deck circle andput their arms around each other, staying
loose and positive as the biggestgame of their lives was just
in front of them. Lauren Bay Regula certainly didher part in
motivating the Canadian squad, striking out the side in the top
ofthe first before racing back to the dugout to high fives and
smiles all around.It certainly looked like everyone was ready
for this game, and it was certainlyone to remember.

 

However,Australian lead-off hitter Sandy Lewis blasted a homerun
to deep left field inthe top of the second inning to open the
scoring, giving Australia an early 1-0lead with a lot of ball
left to be played. Canada threatened in the bottom ofthe inning,
as Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) walked, Megan Timpf (Port Dover,ON)
was hit by a pitch and Alison Bradley singled to load the bases
with oneout, but Canada was unable to push a run in to score.

 

AfterAustralia increased its lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly in
the top of the thirdinning, the Canadian bats went right back
to work, and was finally rewarded fortheir efforts. Melanie Matthews
(Surrey, BC) led off the inning with a sharpsingle to right field,
and after two quick outs, Matthews tried to makesomething happen
and succeeded in doing so. She stole second base, and as thethrow
sailed into centerfield with nobody covering second base, she
was able toadvance to third. Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam,
BC) forced a walk and stolesecond base, and Sheena Lawrick also
forced a walk to load the bases for thesecond straight inning.
Australia then pulled starting pitcher Melanie Roche infavour
of Tanya Harding, but that was not enough to slow down the Canadianrally
as Megan Timpf forced yet another walk to allow Matthews to cross
theplate. Alison Bradley then drove the second pitch she saw
back up the middle toscore two more runs, giving Canada the 3-2
lead!

 

Thatlead was short lived, as after two quick outs, Danielle Stewart
drove a balldeep to left field for a game-tying solo homerun
in the top of the fourthinning. Bay Regula and Harding continued
to battle it out in the pitcher’scircle until the top of the
sixth inning. Bay Regula struck out the two firstbatters, but
ran into some trouble after loading the bases. Kerry Wyborn stuckthe
bat out and poked a single just over the outstretched glove of
Erin McLean(Whitby, ON) at third base for a single, driving in
two runs in the process.

 

Canadacame out swinging in the bottom of the sixth and seventh
inning, but was unableto put any runners on base, ending their
chances for a medal despite a valianteffort.

 

LaurenBay Regula gave everything she had in the pitcher’s circle,
allowing fourearned runs on five hits while striking out nine
hitters. Alison Bradley ledCanada at the plate with two hits,
while Melanie Matthews and Jennifer Yee(North Delta, BC) each
singled.

 

Box score andPlay-by-play

 

Despitethe loss, Canada was able to prove that they could compete
with the best teamsin the world, and came within inches of reaching
the medal rounds for the firsttime at the Olympic Games. Still,
the fourth place finish is the best ever forCanada, which finished
fifth in 1996 and 2004, and eighth in 2000. All the hardwork
and effort put in by the players and coaching staff certainly
showed onthe field, but in the end it was the experience of the
Australian team, who hasplayed together for many years, that
made the difference. 

 

Lastnight, the United States defeated Japan 4-1 in nine innings
to earn a directberth into Thursday’s Gold Medal game (6:30am
EDT, live on TSN, RDS), whileJapan will face Australia later
today (5:00am EDT, live on TSN, RDS) todetermine who will move
on to face the United States.

 

-SC-

 

Formore information, please contact:

 

GillesLeBlanc

Manager– Marketing and Communications

SoftballCanada

(613)523-3386 x. 3105

gleblanc at softball.ca

 

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