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<BODY><p>Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network</p><hr/><div><b>From: </b> "Softball Canada" <newsletter@softball.ca>
</div><div><b>Date: </b>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:57:50 -0400</div><div><b>To: </b>Al's Fastball News<Fastball@pmihrm.com></div><div><b>Subject: </b>Softball Canada Media Release / Communiqué de presse</div><div><br/></div>
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<P align='center'><FONT color='red'><B>Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship - Game 6</B></FONT></P>
<P>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
<BR>July 13th, 2011
<BR><BR>
<B>Canada defeats Venezuela at Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship</B>
<BR><BR>
(Surrey, BC) Team Canada improved its record to 4-2 at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship tonight, defeating Team Venezuela by a score of 9-0 in five innings due to the run-ahead rule. The Canadian Senior Women's National Team took advantage of a few walks and received key hits from the bottom of the order to hand Venezuela its seventh loss of the tournament.
<BR><BR>
In the bottom of the first inning, Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) laced a double to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to third, but Canada was unable to drive her in. In the top of the second, Ana Cascorossa of Venezuela drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a single by Geraldine Puertas, but the next hitter grounded into a double play on a beautiful turn by Danielle Lopez (Barrie, ON) and Meagan Baird (Ajax, ON) in the middle infield as Canada escaped the inning without allowing a run. Venezuela threatened again in the third after a leadoff double and a sacrifice to move the runner to third, but Canadian starting pitcher Sarah Phillips (Mississauga, ON) forced a fly out on the infield and a ground out.
<BR><BR>
Canada got on the board in a big way in the bottom of the third. Jenna Rodriguez (Edmonton, AB) was it by a pitch to start the inning, and Melanie Matthews smacked a line drive over the centerfield fence for a two-run homerun. After a pair of fly outs, Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) walked before Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) and Danielle Lopez hit back-to-back singles to load the bases, and junior team call up Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) hit a two-out, full count double to left-center field to drive in two more runs, giving Canada a 4-0 lead.
<BR><BR>
The red and white kept rolling in the fourth. Melanie Matthews forced a walk and stole second and Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) walked, before Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC) smashed a double to bring both runners in to score. Shelby Lia (Whitby, ON) pinch ran for Haberl, and after Kaleigh Rafter was intentionally walked, she was replaced on the bases by Hannah Schwarz (Scarborough, ON). Megan Timpf forced a walk to load the bases, and Danielle Lopez delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 8-0. Canada would add one more run in the inning on a solid single by Jennifer Gilbert to round out the scoring, and Venezuela was unable to score to extend the game, making the final score 9-0 in five innings.
<BR><BR>
Sarah Phillips earned her second win of the tournament in the pitcher's circle, allowing three hits and two walks in four innings of work. Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) pitched one inning of relief, allowing a hit and notching a strikeout. Offensively, Jennifer Gilbert led the way with two hits and three runs batted in, while Melanie Matthews, Kelsey Haberl and Danielle Lopez each had two hits and two RBIs.
<BR><BR>
Team Canada (4-2) will finish its preliminary round schedule on Thursday when they will take on Australia (3-4) at 6:30pm PDT and Team USA (6-1) immediately after at 8:30pm PDT at Softball City.
<BR><BR>
<a href='http://fastpitch.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=52334'>Canada 9 vs. Venezuela 0 - Box Score and Play by Play</a>
<BR><BR>
-SC-
<BR><BR>
For more information, please contact:
<BR><BR>
Gilles LeBlanc
<BR>Manager - Marketing and Communications
<BR>Softball Canada
<BR>(613) 797-7171
<BR>gleblanc@softball.ca </P>
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