CanadaTakes Both Ends of Doubleheader at Canada Cup
July 6, 2009
Surrey, BC
FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE
July6th, 2009
CanadaTakes Both Ends of Doubleheader at Canada Cup
(Surrey,BC) – After a tough 1-0 extra-innings loss in their opening game against Venezuelaon Saturday, the Canadian Senior Women’s National Softball Team bounced backwith a pair of wins on Sunday, defeating the Netherlands 8-1 before a huge 5-2win over Australia in the nightcap. The win over Australia was especially sweetconsidering they are the ones who eliminated Canada from medal contention atthe 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Inthe afternoon game against the Netherlands, Canada wasted no time jumping outto the early lead as Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) blasted a leadoff homerun togive the home side a 1-0 lead. After the Netherlands tied the game up in thetop of the second, Canada took a commanding 5-1 lead after scoring four runs inthe bottom of the third. Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, California) – makingher Canadian National Team debut – led off with a single followed by another byJennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC). Charlotte Dolan (Coquitlam, BC) thengrounded into a fielder’s choice, and Hayward came around to score on an erroron the play. Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) then came up with a big two-runsingle, and later scored on a single by Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York).
Canadaadded two more runs in the fourth, as Victoria Hayward once again startedCanada off on the right foot by forcing a walk, and later scored on a wildpitch. Jennifer Salling also scored on a throwing error. In the bottom of thefifth, Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon, SK) singled and advanced to second on anerror, and Caitlin Lever drove her in to score with a single to end the game onthe run-rule.
Twoformer Junior Women’s National Team players shared pitching duties in thepitcher’s circle, as Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) picked up the win after throwingthe three first innings, allowing only one unearned run on three hits and twowalks, striking out four batters. Leah McIntosh (Whitby, ON) pitched the twofinal innings, allowing two hits and struck out two batters.
Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC), ErinCumpstone and Caitlin Lever each collected a pair of hits for Canada, whileMelanie Matthews (homerun), Victoria Hayward, Jennifer Salling, Charlotte Dolanand Sheena Lawrick each added one.
Inthe game against Australia, Canada got off to another strong start as startingpitcher Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) struck out the side in the top of thefirst, and the Canadian bats were able to produce a run in the bottom of theframe. Melanie Matthews and Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) both connected withsingles before Jennifer Salling cracked a double to push Matthews in to scorefrom second. After Jennifer Yee was intentionally walked to load up the baseswith no outs, the three next hitters were retired in order to get Australia outof the jam.
Australiascored the equalizer in the top of the third inning, but Canada got that runright back in the bottom half of the inning after Jennifer Yee was hit by apitched, was sacrificed to second and moved to third on a ground out beforescoring on a single by Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC), giving Canada the 2-1 lead.The big hit of the night for Canada came in the fourth, when Jennifer Yeeblasted a three-run homerun with two outs after Caitlin Lever had singled andJenn Salling had walked, giving Canada a 5-1 lead. Australia chipped in withanother run in the sixth on a solo homerun by Stacey Porter, but that was asclose as Australia would get.
DanielleLawrie was the complete game winner for Canada, allowing two runs on six hitsand two walks, fanning eight Australian hitters on strikes.
Atthe plate, Kelsey Haberl had two hits, while Jen Yee (homerun), Jenn Salling(double), Melanie Matthews, Evelyne Pare and Caitlin Lever rounded out the hitscolumn. Lever also added two stolen bases.
Inother Canada Cup action on Day 2, the United States defeated Venezuela by ascore of 8-1.
TeamCanada (2-1) will be back in action tonight (6:30pm PDT) when they will take onthe powerful United States (3-0).
-SC-
Formore information, please contact:
GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)523-3386 x3105
