FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2012

Canada Eliminated from AAU Men's International Tournament

(Lake Buena Vista, Florida) Canada's Men's Development Team was eliminated from the AAU Men's International Fastpitch Tournament in Orlando by dropping a 5-3 decision to the Diamentes from Mexico. Canada, who had gone 5-0 to this point, looked like they were on solid ground to move on to the semi-finals, holding a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth inning. However, Canada could not hold the lead as they gave up three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to drop the 5-3 decision.

Canadian starting pitcher Brady Woods (Stonewall, MB) gave up a single in the top of the first but the runner did not get any further. Canada threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as leadoff batter Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, QC) hit a ground ball to second but an illegal pitch was called and the second baseman failed to throw the ball to first base. Mark Johnson (Glencoe, ON) moved Roy over to second with a sacrifice bunt, and with one out, Derek Mason (North Vancouver, BC) drew a walk but both runners were left stranded.

In the bottom of the second, Canada got on the board as Jeremy Tracy (Waterville, NB) led off with long homerun to left-center field to put Canada up 1-0. With two outs, Ben Wideman (Elmira, ON) hit another long drive this time just inside the left field foul pole to add to Canada's lead.

Canada made it 3-0 in the fourth as Jason Hill (St. John's, NL) led off with a walk and moved to second on a ground out to first base by Tracy. With two outs, Brandon Horn (Waterloo, ON) lined a single up the middle to score Hill.

In the fifth, Canada loaded the bases as Roy, Blair Ezekiel (Harbour Main, NL) and Mayson all drew walks. However, the Diamentes pitcher got out of the inning by striking out two batters. Brady Woods was cruising along as he had only given up two hits until the sixth when the wheels came off with one out as he gave up a single and a double to score Diamentes first run, and then a two-run homerun to tie the game at three. Don Scott (Stratford, ON) came in to get Canada out of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Scott got into trouble as he gave up a leadoff double with the runner moving up to third base on a fly ball to right field. A two-out walk put runners on the corners and a two strike single up the middle put Diamentes up 4-3. The next batter doubled to score another run but Canada threw the second runner out at the plate to end the inning.

Canada tried to get something going in the bottom of the seventh as Roy bounced a singled over the first baseman's head but three straight ground outs ended the game.

Canada managed only five hits as Scott took the loss in relief of Woods. The duo gave up nine hits while striking out 12.

-SC-

For more information, please contact:

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