FW: Team Canada Shuts out Japan in Both Ends of Exhibition Doubleheader

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>--- Original Message ---
>From: "Gilles LeBlanc" <gleblanc at softball.ca>
>To: "Gilles LeBlanc" <gleblanc at softball.ca>
>Date: 7/16/09 6:42:58 AM
>
Veuillez noter que le texte français ne sera pas disponible ce
matin.
>
> 
>
>  _____  
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>July 15, 2009
>
> 
>
>Team Canada Shuts out Japan in Both Ends of Exhibition Doubleheader
>
> 
>
>(Prince Albert, SK) - After enduring more than a day of cold,
wet weather,
>the skies cleared and softball fans in Prince Albert were treated
to a
>doubleheader of top level international men’s fastball as Team
Canada took
>on their Japanese counterparts.
>
> 
>
>A good sized enthusiastic crowd came out to Prime Minister’s
Park to see the
>same teams that battled in the championship game of the Three
Nations
>Challenge that was held last year in Saskatoon .
>
> 
>
>A nice wrinkle was added to the opening ceremonies when five
Japanese
>exchange students sung their National anthem prior to the game.
They would
>later take turns announcing the Japanese batters. Not to be
outdone, a
>lovely a cappella version of O Canada was performed by a young
lady named
>Cyndal Halcro.
>
> 
>
>Game 1 - Canada 7, Japan 0
>
> 
>
>Canada put up a quick three spot in the second inning and never
looked back
>in the opener. Colin Abbott (Portugal Cove, NL) led off by grounding
a
>single to right field. He was immediately followed by Ian Fehrman
(Townsend,
>ON) who did the same thing. Two batters later, Derek Mayson
(North
>Vancouver, BC) turned an 0-2 count into an eight pitch at bat.
On that
>eighth pitch he deposited a three run home run into the parking
lot on a
>hill well beyond the right field fence.
>
> 
>
>A similar situation would arise in Canada’s half of the third
inning when
>Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) turned around another 0-2 count,
lining the
>ninth pitch of the at bat off the fence in left centre for a
two-run double,
>plating Abbott and Fehrman.
>
> 
>
>The scoring was capped by an opposite field home run off the
bat of left
>fielder Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, PEI)
>
> 
>
>Fehrman, Mayson and Ellsworth would all finish the game two-for-two
while
>Keith Mackintosh (Melfort, SK) would add a single.
>
> 
>
>The game was called after Japan’s half of the fifth inning due
to the run
>rule.
>
> 
>
>Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, SK) went the distance for the victory,
allowing
>only a fourth inning double to Hiroshi Ishimura, striking out
six along the
>way. Kazutaka Murasato took the loss for Japan.
>
> 
>
>Game 2 - Canada 2, Japan 0
>
> 
>
>The second game was a much closer contest that featured solid
defence and
>pitching by both squads.
>
> 
>
>All of the scoring came in the top of the first inning. Centerfielder
Ryan
>Wolfe (Melbourne, ON) led off by grounding a single between
third base and
>shortstop. After retiring the next two Canadian hitters, Japanese
starter
>Kunihiko Iida caught a little bit too much of the plate on an
0-1 pitch to
>Colin Abbott and Abbott launched it out of the yard in right
field.
>
> 
>
>Nick Underhill (Campbell River, BC) hurled the first four innings
for Canada
>in picking up the win. He gave up two singles, walked two and
struck out one
>in the process. Dean Holoien (Melfort, SK) picked up the save
by holding off
>Team Japan over the final three innings. The only blemish on
his record was
>a sixth inning walk. He struck out four along the way.
>
> 
>
>Japan used four pitchers in the game with starter Kunihiko Iida
giving up
>both runs over 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.
>
> 
>
>Wolfe would add a double in the seventh inning. Singles by Jody
Eidt
>(Mitchell, ON) and Rob Giesbrecht (Landmark, MB) would complete
the Team
>Canada hit totals.
>
> 
>
>Singles by Hiroshi Ishimura and Hiraku Yokoyama were the only
hits for
>Japan.
>
> 
>
>Canada will open up their part of the ISF competition on Friday
evening,
>July 17 when they take on Argentina immediately following the
opening
>ceremonies at BobVan Impe Stadium. 
>
> 
>
> 
>
>For more information, please contact:
>
> 
>
>Gilles LeBlanc
>
>Manager - Marketing and Communications Services
>
>223 Colonnade Rd., Ste 212
>
>Ottawa, ON  K2E 7K3
>
>gleblanc at softball.ca
>
>Cell: (613) 797-7171
>
>Signature
>
>www.softball.ca <http://www.softball.ca/>  / www.backsoftball.com
><http://www.backsoftball.com/> 
>
> 
>
>