FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7^th, 2009

 

 

(Maracay, Venezuela) – The Canadian Senior Women’s NationalTeam improved its second-place record to 8-1 in Pool B at the 2009 Women’s PanAm Championship in Maracay, Venezuela by defeating Jamaica 15-0 in the finalgame of the preliminary round. A 1-0 loss to Venezuela on Wednesday was theonly blemish on Canada record, as they outscored their opponents 94-6 in thepreliminary round.

 

The red and white started slowly with one run in the firstinning to take a 1-0 lead over Jamaica. Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) doubled,moved to third and scored on back-to-back sacrifice fly balls by Caitlin Lever(Buffalo, New York) and Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) for the firstCanadian run. In the second inning, Canada exploded for 10 runs to increase thescore to 11-0. Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) walked and Megan Timpf (Port Dover,ON) singled to set the stage for a three-run homerun by Charlotte Dolan(Coquitlam, BC) putting Canada up 4-0. Victoria Hayward (Mountain View,California) and Melanie Matthews both singled before Jenn Salling tripled todrive in two more Canadian runs. A single by Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC)then scored Salling increasing the lead to 7-0. Kaleigh Rafter singled, JessicaTieszen (Surrey, BC) was hit by a pitch, Megan Timpf walked and another walk byCharlotte Dolan pushed across another run for Canada. A triple by VictoriaHayward drove in three more Canadian runs to end the inning at 11-0 for Canada.

 

The Canadians scored four more runs in the third inning asCaitlin Lever walked, Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon, SK) singled and Jennifer Yeedrove in two more runs with a single. Megan Timpf then walked and CharlotteDolan ripped a double to drive in two more runs and push the score to 15-0.Canada shut down Jamaica in the fourth and the game was called on the run rule.

 

Winning pitcher Marisa Litster (North Saanich, BC) pitched afour inning no-hitter and struck out three batters in the process.

 

The playoff round begins on Friday with Canada (8-1) playingthe first-place team in Pool A, the United States (9-0) at 3:30pm EDT, whileVenezuela (9-0) – first in Pool B – plays Cuba (8-1), who finished second inthe A division, at 6:00pm EDT. All four teams have double-life, as the winningteams from those games will square off to determine who will get a direct berthto the Championship game. The two losing teams will face a longer road.

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Gilles LeBlanc

Manager – Marketing and Communications

Softball Canada

(613) 523-3386 x3105