VenezuelaShuts Out Canada in Canada Cup Opener
July 5, 2009
Surrey, BC
July5th, 2009
VenezuelaShuts Out Canada in Canada Cup Opener
(Surrey,BC) – After seven scoreless innings of softball, Venezuela was able to producea run in the top of the eighth inning, leading them to a 1-0 win over TeamCanada in the opening game for both clubs at the 16th Annual CanadaCup in Surrey, BC. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) - who won the USA SoftballCollegiate Player of the Year Award and led the University of Washington to theWomen’s College World Series last month - pitched all eight innings for Canada,allowing only three hits to the Venezuela hitters. Despite outhittingVenezuela, Canada was not able to push any runs across the plate.
TeamCanada seemed poised to take an early in the bottom of the first inning, asMelanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) led off with a double, followed by a walk toJennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, C-B). After a fielder’s choice, KaleighRafter (Guelph, ON) reached on a hit-by-pitch to load up the bases with oneout, but Canada was unable to push anyone in to score.
Thefollowing inning, Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) notched her first hit with theNational Team, but was left stranded at first. Canada threatened once again inthe bottom of the third when Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) singled, andKaleigh Rafter was hit by a pitch for the second time to set up runners onfirst and second. After both runners were advanced to second and third, Canadawas unable to come up with the big two-out hit.
Fromthere, both pitchers cruised, making quick work of the opposing hitters untilthe bottom of the seventh, when Team Canada newcomer Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby,BC) stroked a leadoff single. However, Canada was not able to push her anyfurther, forcing the game to an extra inning. In their half of the eighth,Venezuela began with a runner on second (due to the international tie-breakerrule). The runner advanced to third on a sacrifice, and later scored on asingle by Venezuelan leadoff hitter Maria Soto. Canada came up in the bottom ofthe eighth with Melanie Matthews starting on second base, and she advanced tothird on a ground out by Jennifer Salling, but once again Canada was not ableto push her to the plate.
DanielleLawrie took the eight-inning loss for Canada, despite not allowing an earnedrun. She scattered only three hits and two walks, and struck out seven hitters.Venezuela ace Mariangee Bogado also threw eight innings, giving up five hitsand one walk while striking out four.
MelanieMatthews led Canada at the plate with two hits, while Evelyne Pare and KelseyHaberl notched their first hits with the National Team. Jennifer Yee had theother Canadian hit.
TeamCanada will be back in action with a pair of games today, as they will take onthe Netherlands (1:00pm PDT) and Australia (6:30pm PDT). For live box scores ofthe games and for all tournament information, please visit www.canadacup.com.
Inother Day 1 action at the Canada Cup, USA blanked both Australia and theNetherlands by scores of 7-0.
-SC-
Formore information, please contact:
GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)523-3386 x3105
