July 5^th, 2008

(Saskatoon, SK) – The Canadian Senior Men’sNational Team came out on the short end of a 6-2 decision with Team Japan lastnight in Saskatoon. Japanese teams have always had a reputation for havingspeed and playing great defence. Judging from what we have seen so far in thistournament, it looks like hitting the long ball can be added to the list.

 

Japan put up four runs in the top of thethird inning highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of third basemanTakuto Tsutsui. The final run of the inning came on an RBI double by shortstopRyuji Hazeyama scoring Yohei Ono who had drawn a walk off losing pitcher GrantPatterson (Penetanguishene, ON).

 

Todd Martin (Bracebridge, ON) relievedPatterson to start the fourth inning. After a bunt single by Yu Nishimori,designated player Shuhei Suzuki hit a hanging changeup over the center fieldfence to increase the Japanese lead to 6-0.

 

Canada got one run back in the bottom ofthe same inning when Jody Eidt (Mitchell, ON) hit a towering home run to centerfield that seemed almost as high as it was long.

 

Martin settled in quite nicely from thefifth inning onward mixing in a number of well placed changeups along with thehard stuff to strike out the side in both the fifth and seventh innings.

 

Canada finished the scoring in the homehalf of the seventh. Ian Fehrman (Townsend, ON) led off with a double to deepleft field. Jason Sanford (Durham, NS) then reached safely on a ground ballwhen first baseman Takayuki Sakai juggled the throw from second basemanNishimori. Fehrman moved to third on the play. Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence,PEI) picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly.

 

Kunihiko Iida got up the win for Japan withrelief help from Kenji Nakamura and Kazutaka Murasato.

 

Box Score – Game 1

 

Canada bounced back to beat the UnitedStates 9-5 in their second game of the night. Game story coming soon!

 

Box Score – Game 2

 

 

 For more information, please contact:

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Manager: Marketing and CommunicationsServices

Softball Canada

(613) 523-3386 ext 3105