FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23rd, 2011
Canada Defeats USA in Thrilling Game at US World Cup of Softball on TSN2 (Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Senior Women's National Team came ready to play, scoring runs early in the game and getting great pitching from the tandem of Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) and Jocelyn Cater (Delta, BC) to defeat the United States by a score of 4-3 at the US World Cup of Softball VI. Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) drove in three of Canada's four runs, as the red and white improved its record to 3-1 to better position itself in the tournament standings.
Team Canada got off to a fast start, as they have in each of their World Cup of Softball games, with Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) hitting a ground-rule double to right center field to start the game. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) followed with a walk and both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Kaleigh Rafter delivered a two-run double to right center field to give Canada a quick 2-0 lead.
The United States cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second, as Kaitlin Cochran lined a homerun over the left center field wall to start the inning. However, Canada would get that run right back in the top of the third when Rafter hit a leadoff homerun of her own. The red and white extended the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth, as Meagan Baird (Ajax, ON) drew a leadoff walk with Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) coming in to pinch run for her. Gilbert advanced to second on a bad throw that was mishandled by the second base player on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After the runners were sacrificed to second and third, Hayward hit a ground ball to second base to push Gilbert in to score.
Team USA chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the inning, when Kaitlin Cochran hit a two-out single and scored on a double by Valerie Arioto. However, Jenna Caira struck out the next batter to end the inning. The following inning, 16 year old pitcher Jocelyn Cater came on in relief of Caira. After giving up a one-out single to Taylor Hoagland, Cater struck out the next batter before Hoagland stole second, but the next hitter hit a line drive in foul territory at third base that Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) caught on a fantastic diving play. Cater got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, walking a batter and hitting another one, but was able to get two big strikeouts to get out of the inning.
The United States would put even more pressure on in the bottom of the seventh to make things interesting. Cater gave up a single to Michelle Moultrie and walked Hoagland to start the inning, which prompted Team Canada head coach Mark Smith (Falmouth, NS) to re-enter Jenna Caira with two on and nobody out. Caira struck out the next two batters, but allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter Keilani Ricketts as USA trimmed the lead to 4-3. However, Caira forced the next hitter to ground out to the pitcher to end the game, as Canada held on for the 4-3 win.
Caira earned the win in the pitcher's circle for Canada, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings pitched. She froze many hitters with her devastating changeup, striking out seven batters in the game. Cater was also very effective in relief with a great curveball that kept hitting the corners, allowing a run on two hits and two walk in two innings, striking out four hitters. Rafter led Canada at the plate with a homerun, a double and three runs batted in, while Melanie Matthews had two doubles. Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) and Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) each added singles.
Team Canada (3-1) will take on Australia (2-2) at 7:30pm EDT on Sunday to cap off their preliminary round schedule. The United States (2-1) will take on Japan (2-0) later tonight, with both teams also playing tomorrow against different opponents. The top two teams from the preliminary round will face off in the gold medal game on Monday night (9:00pm EDT), with the third and fourth place finishers playing for bronze earlier in the afternoon (4:00pm EDT).
Live scoring and video streaming for the Canada/Australia game will be available through USA Softball's website (http://www.usasoftball.com/events.asp?uid=6375). Team Canada game reports and links to the live scoring and video stream will also be available on the Softball Canada website at www.softball.ca.
Canada 4 vs. USA 3 - Box Score and Play by Play For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca
