FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 4^th, 2009

 

 

(Maracay, Venezuela) – The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team extended its record to 6-0 at the 2009 Women’s Pan Am Championship inMaracay, Venezuela as they defeated Aruba 17-2 in four innings and the USVirgin Islands 9-1 in six innings on Tuesday.

 

Canada jumped to an 11-0 lead after the first inning againstAruba in game one. Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, California) and EvelynePare (Ile-Perrot, QC) both singled to start the game, and Melanie Matthews(Surrey, BC) belted an RBI double to get Canada on the scoreboard. Jenn Salling(Port Coquitlam, BC) then belted a three-run homerun to increase the score to4-0. Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC) then walked, Jessica Tieszen (Surrey, BC)singled and Aruba committed two errors to push the score to 7-0 for Canada.Victoria Hayward then singled to score Canada’s eighth run. Melanie Matthewssingled in her second at bat of the inning to set the stage for Jenn Salling’ssecond three-run homerun of the inning, putting Canada up 11-0.

 

In the second inning, Canada went on the offence againpushing across another five runs. Jessica Tieszen singled, Charlotte Dolan(Coquitlam, BC) reached base on a fielder’s choice and another Aruba errorresulted in Canada going up 13-0. Evelyne Pare then belted an RBI single topush across Canada’s 14^th run. A double by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph,ON) scored both Matthews and Pare to run the score to 16-0 in Canada’s favor.

 

With two outs in the top of the third, Aruba was able toscore two runs on two team Canada errors and a triple to make the score 16-2.In the bottom of the third, Canada scored again as Charlotte Dolan and VictoriaHayward both singled and Dolan scored on an Aruba error. The game was calledafter four innings due to the run rule. The final score was Canada 17, Aruba 2.Leah McIntosh (Whitby, ON) earned the win in the pitcher’s circle allowing twohits and striking out six.

 

In the second game of the day versus the US Virgin Islands,Canada pulled off a 9-1 victory as they once again scored early and often. Inthe first inning, a walk to Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) and a single byJenn Salling set the stage for a two-run double by Jennifer Yee (North Delta,BC) to give Canada a 2-0 lead after one. In inning number two, the VirginIslands got on the board with their only run as the first batter ripped atriple and scored on a sacrifice fly by the second Virgin Islands batter. Canadathen went to work again in the third inning as Jennifer Yee walked, SheenaLawrick (Calgary, AB) was hit by a pitch, and Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON)walked to load the bases before a two-run single by Charlotte Dolan. Timpfscored Canada’s third run of the inning on an error by the Virgin Islandsextending Canada’s lead to 5-1. 

 

The red and white added two more runs in the fourth asCaitlin Lever singled and then scored on a double by Jenn Salling. Sallinglater scored on an RBI single by Jennifer Yee. Thus, the score was now 7-1Canada, who then sealed the victory in the sixth as Jennifer Yee doubled andscored on a two-run homerun by Sheena Lawrick. The final score was Canada 9,Virgin Islands 1. The winning pitcher for Canada was Marisa Litster (NorthSaanich, BC) who gave up four hits and struck out eight batters.

 

Canada now has a record of 6-0 and will finish the game thatwas delayed by rain on the opening day against Argentina. The remainder of thegame will be played at 9:30am EDT on Wednesday morning, with Canada leading 4-0in the third inning of play. Canada will then play Venezuela at 7:30pm EDTlater that night in what is expected to be their toughest game to date at theChampionship. Venezuela is also undefeated with a 7-0 record.

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Manager – Marketing and Communications

Softball Canada

(613) 523-3386 x3105