FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2011
Canada Bounces Back with Two Wins at US World Cup of Softball (Oklahoma City, OK) After losing against Japan in eight innings yesterday, the Canadian Senior Women's National Team was back in action for a doubleheader today, defeating Great Britain 6-4 and the Czech Republic 7-0 in five innings to improve their record to 2-1. In the first game, Jocelyn Cater (Delta, BC) pitched three solid innings to allow Canada to build a lead, and Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, AB) pitched a five inning no-hitter in the second game to lead Canada to the wins.
In the first game against Great Britain, Team Canada got singles by Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) and Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) in the top of the first, but was unable to score. However, the red and white would open the scoring in the top of the second. Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and moved up to third on a ground out. Hannah Schwarz (Scarborough, ON) then hit a drag bunt single and stole second to set the table for Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC), who singled to bring both runners in to score and give Canada a 2-0 lead.
Team Canada added two more runs the following inning on a two-out, two run double to right center field by Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON), and increased the lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth. Schwarz was at it again, hitting an infield single and stealing second before scoring on a double by Matthews. Meagan Baird (Ajax, ON) later hit a sacrifice fly to center field score Matthews from third.
Great Britain cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, three-run homerun by Stacie Townsend, and chipped away with another run on a fielder's choice in the sixth, but that was as close as they would come as Canada shut the door for a 6-4 win.
Jocelyn Cater was fantastic in the pitcher's circle, allowing only a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in three innings of work. Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) came on in relief in the fourth, allowing four runs - three earned - on three hits and two walks, striking out six hitters in four innings. Matthews led Canada at the plate with two hits and three runs batted in, while Hayward and Schwarz each added two. Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC), Paige Collings (Delta, BC), Lye, Rafter and Timpf each chipped in with a hit apiece.
Canada 6 vs. Great Britain 4 - Box Score and Play by Play Against the Czech Republic, Canada got off to a strong start again in the bottom of the first on a leadoff double by Melanie Matthews, who advanced to third on a sacrifice. However, the next two batters grounded out as Canada came up empty. The following inning, Kelsey Haberl led off with a single and Joey Lye reached on a bad throw on a sacrifice before Timpf sacrificed them over to second and third. Paige Collings then singled to left field to score Haberl, and Canada proceeded to load the bases on a bunt single by Schwarz before Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) hit a double to left field to empty the bases, giving Canada a 4-0 lead.
Canada would add to that lead in the third. Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) led off with a double to right field, and scored on a double by Haberl. After a single by Joey Lye put runners at the corners, Lye stole second and Haberl raced in to score on the double steal to extend the lead to 6-0. Canada would go on to score the seventh run on an error in the bottom of the fifth to win the game on the run-ahead rule.
Karissa Hovinga pitched a five inning no-hitter for Canada, allowing only a walk while striking out two. At the plate, Matthew, Haberl and Lye all had two hits, while Gilbert, Yee, Collings and Schwarz each had one.
Canada 7 vs. Czech Republic 0 - Box Score and Play by Play Tomorrow, Team Canada (2-1) will take on Team USA (1-0) at 1:00pm EDT in a game that can be seen on TSN2 at 2:00pm EDT. Live scoring for the game will be available through USA Softball's website (http://www.usasoftball.com/events.asp?uid=6375), which will be available shortly before the game. Team Canada game reports and a link to the live scoring will also be available on the Softball Canada website at www.softball.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca
