FW: Softball Canada Media Release / Communiqué de presse

[Al's Fastball News]

KFC World Cup of Softball V - Game #4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 24, 2010 

Canada uses late inning comeback to defeat USA Futures National
Team 

(Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Women's National Team came into
the day in desperate need of a win, and after looking flat for
most of the game, woke up in the late innings to steal a 5-4
victory from the United States Futures National Team. The win
was Team Canada's first at the KFC World Cup of Softball V, as
they currently sit in a tie with the Futures for third place
with a 1-3 record. 

The USA Futures opened the scoring in the top of the second inning,
when Valerie Arioto walked to lead off the inning and scored
on a two-run homerun by Shawna Wright. The following inning,
the USA Futures added to that lead, as Lauren Schutzler hit a
two-out double down the third base line and scored on a single
by Megan Langenfeld, giving the Futures a 3-0 lead. 

The red, white and blue kept rolling in the fourth, when Shawna
Wright led off with a single, and pinch runner Jamia Reid stole
second base and advanced to third on a bad throw to second. Molly
Johnson then hit an RBI single to right center field to extend
the lead to 4-0. 

Canada finally got things going in the bottom of the sixth inning,
when Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) hit a one-out triple down
the third baseline, and Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) reached
on a drag bunt to the pitcher. Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) then
singled up the middle to drive in Matthews for Canada's first
run. Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) followed that up with a single
of her own to left field to score Lever from second, and Jen
Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) hit a single off the pitcher to
load the bases. However, a force out at home and a lineout to
shortstop stranded all three runners on base. 

Heather Ebert (Rosthern, SK) kept things going in the bottom
of the seventh inning by forcing a leadoff walk, and Evelyne
Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) reached on an error while attempting to
sacrifice Ebert to second. Melanie Matthews then protected the
plate with two strikes and ended up forcing a walk, loading the
bases with nobody out. Caitlin Lever then did her job, driving
a deep fly ball in foul territory to left field for a sacrifice
fly to score Ebert from third. Jenn Yee then drove a double to
the left-center field gap to score both Pare and Matthews, as
Canada came all the way back for a walk off 5-4 win. 

Canadian starting pitcher Ashley Lanz (Winnipeg MB) allowed four
runs on six hits and two walks over four innings of work, while
Tina Andreana (Oakville, ON) earned the win in relief, allowing
only two hits over three innings of work. At the plate, Jen Salling
had three singles, while Jenn Yee had a double and a single with
three runs batted in. Melanie Matthews added a triple and a single,
while Caitlin Lever and Sheena Lawrick each chipped in with a
single. 

Canada will face a tough challenge on Sunday, as they will take
on the United States at 5:00pm EDT followed by Japan at 10:00pm
EDT. The game between Canada and the United States can be seen
on TSN at 11:30pm EDT (tape delay), while the game against Japan
can be seen on webcast at http://asa.video4ever.net/index.htm.
Live scoring for both games will also be available on USA Softball's
GameTracker. Check the Softball Canada at www.softball.ca to
follow the game. 

Canada 5 vs. USA Futures National Team 4: GameTracker 

-SC- 

For more information, please contact: 

Gilles LeBlanc 
Manager - Marketing and Communications 
Softball Canada 
(613) 797-7171 
gleblanc at softball.ca
  
 Al's Fastball News
*Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com
   fastball at pmihrm.com
NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/
NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball


VIA http://www.webbox.com