FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3^rd, 2009

 

(Maracay, Venezuela) – Canada claimed its second victory ofthe 2009 Women’s Pan American Championship in Maracay, Venezuela in decisivefashion as they defeated Guatemala 17-2 in five innings on Sunday.

              

The red and white got off to an early 2-0 lead as JennSalling (Port Coquitlam, BC) and Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) recordedback-to-back singles and Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) drove in both runnerswith a long triple to right field. In the second, Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon,SK) doubled, Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) singled and Melanie Matthews (Surrey,BC) doubled, driving in Cumpstone. Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) singled andJenn Salling belted a two-run double to add three more runs for Canada andincreasing the score to 5-0. Guatemala scored one in the bottom of the secondon back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly to run the score to 5-1.

 

Canada extended their lead to 7-2 in the third. KaleighRafter (Guelph, ON) walked, Erin Cumpstone reached base on a fielder’s choiceand Megan Timpf singled to push Cumpstone in to score. Caitlin Lever (Buffalo,New York) then singled to score Timpf and increase the lead to 7-1. Guatemalarallied in the bottom of the third on a walk and back to back singles to scoretheir second run. A third single loaded the bases and Danielle Lawrie (Langley,BC) replaced starting pitcher Leah Macintosh (Whitby, ON) in the pitcher’scircle and shut down the rally with Canada leading 7-2.

 

In the fourth, Canada exploded for six runs leading off withback-to-back singles by Evelyne Pare and Jenn Salling, a walk to Jennifer Yeeand a two-run double by Sheena Lawrick pushing the score to 9-2. Kaleigh Raftersingled to score Lawrick and Erin Cumpstone doubled to score Rafter. A singleby Caitlin Lever brought in Canada’s 13^th run.  Canadacontinued its onslaught as Lawrick singled and Kaleigh Rafter belted a two-runhomerun, her third in two games, to run the score to 15-2. An error byGuatemala, a double by Megan Timpf and back-to-back RBI singles to CaitlinLever and Melanie Matthews rounded out the scoring with Canada capturing a 17-2win.

 

Leah McIntosh was the winning pitcher for Canada with relieffrom Danielle Lawrie, who came on with two outs and the bases loaded in thethird inning.

 

Canada’s next action is on Monday with games against PuertoRico at 1:00 pm and Peru at 3:30 pm.

 

-SC-

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Manager – Marketing and Communications

Softball Canada

(613) 523-3386 x3105