Canada down but not out at World Softball Championship

[Al's Fastball News]

Canada down but not out at World Softball Championship 

(Caracas, Venezuela) After finishing second place in Pool A with
a 6-1 record, Team Canada took on the difficult task of facing
the United States (7-0) in the second of four crossover games
on Wednesday. Canada, who showed plenty of offence in the round-robin
portion of the tournament, was unable to get much going against
USA pitcher Monica Abbott, and the American bats took advantage
of Canada's pitching for a convincing 16-1 win. 

As the first place team in Pool B, the United States chose to
bat first, and they jumped all over Canadian starting pitcher
Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON). The first three American hitters all
reached to load the bases, before cleanup hitter Alissa Haber
hit a double down the third base line to clear the bases. After
Haber came in to score on a single by Ashley Charters to increase
the lead to 4-0 with no outs, the red and white made a pitching
change to Ashley Lanz (Winnipeg, MB) who looked solid in two
starts in round-robin play. However, the first batter Lanz faced
hit a comebacker that hit the pitcher in the hand, taking her
out of the game. Tina Andreana (Oakville, ON) came to the pitcher's
circle next, and after giving up a walk to load the bases once
again, she forced a fly out to left field and Melanie Matthews
(Surrey, BC) was able to throw out the runner tagging from third
at home to get out of the first inning. 

After holding the Americans hitless in the second, Andreana ran
into trouble in the third, walking two of the first three hitters
and later allowing a bunt single to load the bases with two outs.
Natasha Watley then hit a ground-rule double to the gap in right-center
field to bring two runners in to score, increasing the lead to
6-0. After another walk loaded the bases once again, Jessica
Mendoza drove a single to right field to plate two more runners.


Canada chipped away at the big lead in the bottom of the third
by scoring one run. Heather Ebert (Rosthern, SK) was able to
get Canada's first hit of the game, driving a pitch up the middle
into centerfield. Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) then moved her
into scoring position with a slap out to third, and Melanie Matthews
delivered a clutch two-out single to center to bring Ebert in
to score. 

However, the Americans went right back to work in the fourth,
as Kaitlin Cochrane ripped a triple down the first base line,
and Ashley Charters walked to start the inning. Charters moved
up to second by tagging up on fly ball to the catcher behind
the plate, and the next hitter grounded a fielder's choice to
Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) at second, who made a nice play to
cut the runner down at the plate for the second out. Watley then
placed a perfect slap to shortstop for an RBI infield single,
increasing the lead to 9-1. 

The United States did not let up in the fifth, as they quickly
got two runners on base with singles before Cochran hit an RBI
single through the right side of the infield. Charters followed
that up with an RBI single of her own to left field, and Jennie
Finch blasted a three-run homerun to center. A walk and a double
put runners on second and third, and with two outs, Jessica Mendoza
drove both of them in to score with a single to center to round
out the scoring. Canada was retired in order in the bottom of
the frame, with the final score 16-1. 

With the loss, Canada will look to bounce back as they will play
the winner of the game between Australia and the Netherlands
(7:30pm EDT) at 3:30pm EDT on Thursday in a must-win situation.


Earlier in the day, Japan shut out Venezuela 2-0 to earn a spot
in the 1st vs. 2nd playoff game against the United States. With
their loss, Venezuela will play the winner of the game between
China and Chinese Taipei (5:30pm EDT) on Thursday. 

All playoff games are expected to be streamed live at the following
link: http://www.vtv.gov.ve/envivo.html. For more details, please
visit the Softball Canada website at http://www.softball.ca.


Canada 1 vs. United States 16: Box Score 

-SC- 

For more information, please contact: 

Gilles LeBlanc 
Manager - Marketing and Communications 
Softball Canada 
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105 
gleblanc at softball.ca
 Al's Fastball News
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