Team Canada Shuts out Japan in Both Ends of Exhibition Doubleheader

 

 

After enduring more than a day of cold, wet weather, the skies cleared and softball fans in Price Albert were treated to a double header of top level international fastball as Team Canada took on their Japanese counterparts.

 

A good sized enthusiastic crowd came out to Prime Minster’ 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 5 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.

 

 

Canada 7 Japan 0

 

Canada put up a quick three spot in the 2^nd 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 8 pitch at bat. On that 8^th 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 3^rd inning when Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) turned around another 0-2 count, lining the 9^th pitch of the at bat off the fence in left centre for a 2 run double, plating Abbott & Fehrman.

 

The scoring was capped by an opposite filed home run off the bat of left fielder Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, PEI)

 

Fehrman and Mayson and Ellsworth would all finish the game 2 for 2 while Keith Mackintosh (Melfort, SK) would add a single.

 

The game was called after Japan’s half of the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.

 

Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, SK) went the distance for the victory, allowing only a 4^th inning double to Hiroshi Ishimura, striking out 6 along the way. Kazutaka Murasato took the loss for Japan

 

 

 

 

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 1^st inning. CF 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 4 innings for Canada in picking up the win. He gave up 2 singles, walked 2 and struck out 1 in the process. Dean Holoien (Melfort, SK) picked up the save by holding off Team Japan over the final 3 innings. The only blemish on his record was a 6^th inning walk. He struck out 4 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 7^th 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.