FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14th, 2011

Junior Women's National Team Remains Undefeated at Canadian Open Futures Tournament

(Surrey, BC) The Canadian Junior Women's National Team bounced back from a tight win on Wednesday to defeat the Ricercity Hornets by a score of 10-0 in four innings at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Futures Golf (U19) International Championship on Thursday. Carey-Leigh Thomas (Oshweken, ON) once again led Canada with four runs batted in, while Jaycee Affeldt (Maple Ridge, BC) and Natalie Becker (Waterloo, ON) combined to throw a four-inning no-hitter.

Canada got off to a good start in the bottom of the first as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) lined a pitch over the first baseman and past the right fielder for a triple. Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) then drove Hayward in with a single, and scored on a single by Erica Polidori (Brantford, ON). The red and white kept things going with a five run inning in the second, as Shannon Davidson (Whitby, ON) started with a single, followed by a double by Brigitte Aizprua (Terrebonne, QC). Victoria Hayward then pushed Davidson in to score with a single, and Aizprua scored on a double steal to give Canada a 4-0 lead. After Polidori reached on another single that drove in Hayward, Carey-Leigh Thomas blasted a homerun over the centerfield wall to increase Canada's lead to 7-0.

Team Canada put the game away by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Victoria Hayward began the inning with her third hit of the game, followed by a single by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC). Erika Polidori walked to load the bases and Carey-Leigh Thomas hit a two-run single before Kirsten Grant (Oakville, ON) drove in the 10th run to end the game on the run-ahead rule.

Jaycee Affeldt pitched three innings for Canada, allowing only a walk with eight strikeouts. Natalie Becker pitched a hitless fourth, striking out two batters.

The win improved Canada's preliminary round record to 6-0 in Pool A. Despite the record, Team Canada enters the playoff round ranked fourth, as three other teams also finished undefeated in their respective pools and allowed less runs against than Canada. As a result, Canada will take on the Richmond Islanders 93 at 10:30am PDT at Cloverdale Athletic Park on Friday.

Canada 10 vs. Rivercity Hornets 0 - Box Score and Play by Play

For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 797-7171
gleblanc@softball.ca