Canada improves record to 8-1 with winover Denmark at Junior Menâ€™s Worlds

june2008

Canada improves record to 8-1 with winover Denmark at Junior Menâ€™s Worlds

June 26, 2008

White Horse, YK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008

Canada improves record to 8-1 with winover Denmark at Junior Men’s Worlds

(Whitehorse, Yukon) – The Danes kept the game closefor two innings, but Team Canada scored three runs in both the third and fourthinnings to earn a 7-0 win in five innings at the Pepsi Softball Center inWhitehorse, Yukon. Joran Graham (Micksburg, ON) was the big hero for Canada,driving in four runs, three of which came on a homerun in the fourth inning.

After giving up a leadoff hit, Canadian pitcherDustin Keshane (Norquay, SK) fought right back in the top of the first,striking out the next three hitters. In the bottom of the inning, Dennis Iron(Canoe Narrows, SK) lined a single to centerfield, moved to third on two passedballs, and scored on a single by Graham.

Keshane went right back to work on the Danes in thesecond, striking out the side once again. The red and white was able to put alot of pressure on Denmark in their half of the inning, loading the bases ontwo walks and a single by Derek Arsenie (Saskatoon, SK) after two quick outs.However, the next hitter was retired, ending the threat, or rather delaying ita little longer.

After the Danes failed to score followingback-to-back hits (a single and a double) off reliever Travis Dauvin(Saskatoon, SK) with one out in the top of the third, Canada got things goingonce again. Jessin Potskin (Prince George, BC) laced a triple over thecenterfielder’s head, and later scored on an error. Darcy Walushka (Victoria,BC) drove in another run on a single to right center field, and while the rightfielder bobbled the ball, Dauvin also scored from first base, giving Canada a4-0 lead.

Dauvin settled down in the pitcher’s circle,striking out two of three batters in the fourth. In their half of the inning,Canada put the game out of reach when Graham connected with his three-run shotto centerfield, giving Canada a 7-0 lead through four innings and putting therun-ahead rule into effect. The Danes put two runners on with two outs, butDauvin then recorded the game ending strikeout.

Keshane gave up one hit and struck out six battersin his short two inning performance, while Dauvin gave up four hits and twowalks while striking out six hitters of his own in three innings of relief. Grahamled the Canadian offence with two hits and a hit by pitch, while Dennis Iron,Derek Arsenie, Jessin Potskin, Darcy Walushka and Terrell Walker (Balcarres,SK) each contributed a hit.

Canada (8-1) will take on Japan (6-2) tomorrow, June26^th at 7:30pm PDT in a very important game. A Canadian win wouldall but clinch a top two finish in the round-robin and earn them a first versussecond showdown on Saturday to determine who will go directly to Sunday’sChampionship game.

Beginning tomorrow, June 26^th, tournamentgames on Field 1 will be aired through Ballpark Radio, including Canada againstJapan (June 26^th - 7:30pm PDT), Canada against the United States(June 27^th – 7:30pm PDT) and all four playoff games on Saturday the28^th and Sunday the 29^th. Visit www.softball.ca for a link to Ballpark Radio,and be sure to visit the Multimedia section for pictures from the event!

Standings after Day 6

Team Wins Losses Runs For Runs Against

Australia 8 0 86 12
Canada 8 1 84 16
New Zealand 6 2 73 23
Japan 6 2 70 25
Mexico 6 3 81 69
United States 4 4 52 33
Venezuela 4 5 68 77
Argentina 4 5 64 56
Czech Republic 2 6 32 77
South Africa 2 7 41 88
Denmark 1 8 13 110
Botswana 0 8 10 88

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Formore information, please contact:

GillesLeBlanc

Manager:Marketing and Communications Services

SoftballCanada

(613)523-3386 ext 3105

gleblanc@softball.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008

Canada gets back on track with 15-2 winover Mexico at Junior Men’s Worlds

(Whitehorse, Yukon) – After a heartbreaking loss toAustralia last night, Canada’s Junior Men’s National Team went right back towork early this afternoon, using their heavy bats to overpower Mexico 15-2 infive innings. Terrell Walker (Balcarres, SK), Mike Noftall (St. John’s, NL) andJessin Potskin (Prince George, BC) each had a homerun in a game in which Canadapounded out 13 hits.

Canada set the tone early, when Walker connectedwith his deep fly to lead off the top of the first inning. After second batterDylan Cunningham (Belwood, ON) singled, Noftall came up and drove his homerunover the left field fence. Potskin then smacked a single to right field andlater scored on an RBI single by Dennis Iron (Canoe Narrows, SK) that alsoplated Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, SK), giving Canada a 5-0 lead after a halfinning of play.

Canada added to that lead in the third, as theyloaded the bases on an error and back-to-back singles by McCullough and TravisDauvin (Saskatoon, SK) with no outs. Iron forced a walk to bring in a run, andthen McCullough scored from third on a passed ball before Terrell Walker laterdelivered an RBI single.

Mexico’s best inning came in the bottom half of thethird when they loaded the bases with one out and scored two runs on a single.Devon McCullough was able to pitch himself out of further problems by retiringthe next two batters.

If the game wasn’t out of reach yet, it certainlywas after Canada scored seven more runs in the top of the sixth inning. AdamDay (Enfield, NS) led off with a walk, followed by a single by Shane Boland(Goulds, ON) and Dustin Keshane (Norquay, SK) reached on an error by theshortstop, which allowed Day to score from second. Cunningham stepped up andconnected with an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly by Darcy Walushka(Victoria, BC) and capped off by a two-run blast by Potskin. Travis Dauvinlater drove in two more runs on an RBI single.

Devon McCullough threw three innings for the red andwhite, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk and racked up two strikeouts.Dustin Keshane pitched two innings of relief, allowing only one hit whilestriking out five of the seven batters he faced. Walker led Canada at the platewith a homerun and two singles, while Cunningham, Potskin and Dauvin eachcollected two hits. Noftall, Iron, McCullough and Boland rounded out thehits.

Canada (7-1) will be back in action tonight whenthey will face Denmark (1-6) at 7:30pm PDT at the Pepsi Softball Center.

Beginning on Thursday, June 26^thtournament games on Field 1 will be aired through Ballpark Radio, includingCanada against Japan (June 26^th - 7:30pm PDT), Canada against theUnited States (June 27^th – 7:30pm PDT) and all four playoff games onSaturday the 28^th and Sunday the 29^th. Visit www.softball.ca for a link to Ballpark Radio,and be sure to visit the Multimedia section for pictures from the event!