December2011

ISF IX Junior Women's World Championship - Game #7

December 15, 2011

Cape Town, South Africa

ISF IX Junior Women's World Championship - Game #7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14th, 2011

Canada defeats Czech Republic at ISF Junior Women`s World Softball Championship

(Cape Town, South Africa) Canada's Junior Women's National Team started off slowly today as the Czech Republic took a 1-0 lead into the third inning, but the red and white got on track by scoring a nine run inning for the second time in as many days as they beat the Czech Republic 11-1 on the run rule. Canada finished in second place in Pool A with a 6-1 record behind the United States (7-0). Canada will now have double-life in the playoff round and will play Japan (7-0) - the first place team from Pool B - at 12:30pm EST on Thursday.

The Czech Republic took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when they hit a homerun off starting pitcher Natalie Becker (Waterloo, ON), who would later earn the win in the pitcher`s circle for Canada. The Czechs held Canada to two walks over the first two innings before the red and white exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the third. Tessa Loewen (Abbotsford, BC) led off with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball before Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) slapped a ball past the first baseman that the Czech right fielder misplayed, allowing Loewen to score. Gilbert ended up on second after losing her footing going around first base, and Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) was then issued an intentional walk. Gilbert stole third base and Hayward moved up to second before Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) hit a hard line drive that handcuffed the Czech shortstop and ended up in left field to score Gilbert. Jaycee Affeldt (Maple Ridge, BC) lined a single to center to score Hayward and put Canada up by a score of 3-1. Affeldt was replaced by pinch runner Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC), and Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) drew a walk to load the bases before Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON) hit a ground ball to the shortstop who threw to home to force out Polidori. Shannon Davidson (Whitby, ON) followed by driving in Franklin and Thomas with a single to right field. Kristy Noble (Uxbridge, ON) then stepped up and lined a double to right-center field to score Wideman and Davidson. Loewen walked and Gilbert drilled another single to right field to score both Noble and Loewen. Hayward flew out to end the inning as Canada sent 12 batters to the plate.

In the top of the fourth, Madison Schreyer (Winnipeg, MB) came in relief for Becker. She walked the first batter she faced and was able to get an out before allowing a single to put runners on first and second. After Schreyer struck out the next batter for the second out, catcher Natalie Wideman caught the Czech runner too far off first base and Canada got the third out in a rundown between second and third. Canada then scored two more runs to end the game on the run rule when Polidori was safe on another Czech error, Affeldt doubled to left-center to move Polidori to third and Thomas ended the game with a double off the left field fenced that drove in both runners.

Canada registered seven hits but hit a number of hard balls as the Czechs made four errors to help Canada's cause. Gilbert and Affeldt each had two hits while Affeldt had three runs batted in. Thomas and Noble both doubled with two runs batted in each and Davidson added a two-run single. Becker picked up the win as the duo of Becker and Schreyer combined to allow one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

With the preliminary round now completed, the playoff round will begin on Thursday. In elimination games, New Zealand (5-2; 3rd in Pool A) will take on Brazil (4-3; 4th in Pool B) at 5:00am EST and Chinese Taipei (5-2; 3rd in Pool B) will take on China (3-4; 4th in Pool A) at 7:30am EST. Then, the double-life teams will play as the United States (7-0; 1st in Pool A) takes on Australia (6-1; 2nd in Pool B) at 10:30am EST followed by Canada (6-1; 2nd in Pool A) against Japan (7-0; 1st in Pool B).

For all tournament information, please visit the host website at http://jwwc2011.co.za or the Softball Canada website at http://www.softball.ca.

-SC-

For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca
 
 
OUR SPONSORS

TRENDING NOW
@alsfastball
FRIENDS OF AL'S FASTBALL
AU Sable AFP Fastpitch Fastpitch West International Softball Congress Men’s Fastpitch SA North American Fastpitch Association Ontario Amateur Softball Association

Ontario Masters Fastball sports betting site betway Shooters Fastpitch League Softball Canada Softball New Zealand WBSC