Barranquilla, Colombia – The Canadian U17 Junior Women’s National Team earned a key victory by blanking Puerto Rico 6-0 at the Pan American Championship. Canada scored a run in each of the first two innings and tacked on three in the top of the seventh, while Katie Korstrom (Abbotsford, B.C.) held Puerto Rico to only two hits with Rawnie Weststrate (North Delta, B.C.) getting Canada out of an important inning for the save.
 
Team Canada did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as leadoff batter Emma Dorval (Surrey, B.C.) doubled over the centerfielder and Erin Murphy (Surrey, B.C.) singled on a bunt past the third baseman to put runners on the corners before Dorval scored on a ground out to second base. The following inning, Deanna Grahek (Georgetown, Ont.) led off with a homerun over the left field fence to increase Canada’s lead to 2-0. Puerto Rico threatened in the bottom of the third with a batter reaching on an error followed by a single for their first hit of the game, but Korstrom got a ground ball back to her and a line out to second to leave both runners stranded.
 
In the top of the fourth, Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) lined a one-out single off the third baseman, and after a fielder’s choice retired her at second with Grahek beating the throw at first on the double play attempt, Lauren Benson (Surrey, B.C.) lined a double past the centerfielder to add a run to Canada’s lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Puerto Rico got a two-out double followed by a walk to put two runners on base when Weststrate came out in relief of Korstrom, notching a big strikeout to keep the 3-0 lead intact.
 
The red and white added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Amy Hughes (Brampton, Ont.) led off with a single to third, moved up to second on a ground out and scored on a single to center by Dorval. Murphy lined a single to left followed by a single to center by Abbey Tolmie (Clarkston, Mich.) to score another run, and a pair of walk forced Canada’s sixth run to the plate. Weststrate retired Puerto Rico in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
 
Box Score: Canada 6 vs. Puerto Rico 0
 
Starting her second game in as many days, Korstrom limited Puerto Rico to two hits and a walk and struck out six batters in five innings and two thirds of work to earn the win. Weststrate retired all four batters she faced and struck out one for the save. Dorval led Canada at the plate with three hits including a double and drove in a run, with Grahek delivering a solo homerun and drawing a bases loaded walk. Benson doubled in a run, and Tolmie registered a hit and drove in two. Murphy chipped in with a pair of hits, with Miller, Hughes and Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Newmarket, Ont.) each adding singles.
 
Canada (2-0) will have a day off on Sunday before returning to action against the Dominican Republic (0-1) at 11:30am local time (12:30pm EDT) on Monday. Live streaming is available on the Game Time streaming platform and the WBSC YouTube page.