FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2012
Canada blanks Mexico at ISF XIII Women's World Championship (Whitehorse, YK) The Canadian Women`s National Team earned their second shutout in as many days as they defeated Mexico by a score of 8-0 on the second day of competition at the ISF XIII Women's World Championship in Whitehorse. Canada got off to a slow start, but starting pitcher
Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, AB) was able to hold Mexico and
Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) hammered two homeruns and drove in four runs as Canada improved their record to 2-0.
Canada threatened in the top of the first inning when
Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) doubled to the right-center field gap, but was caught stealing at third base on a perfect throw by the catcher. After a quick second inning, Canada got on the board in the third when Thomas led off with a solo homerun. The red and white would then add plenty of insurance in the fourth, pushing five runs across to take control of the game with a 6-0 lead.
Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) and
Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) started the inning with a pair of singles, and
Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, NY) reached base when her sacrifice bunt was dropped by the first baseman, which allowed Lawrick to score.
Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) then hit an RBI single before Thomas launched a three-run homerun to left-center field.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mexico managed to get a leadoff double that was just out of
Melanie Matthews' (Surrey, BC) reach in left field, and the next batter singled to center but was retired when she tried to advance to second on a throw to the plate, but that throw was cut off perfectly to catch the runner at second. Hovinga then forced a ground ball and a fly out to left field to strand the runner at third.
Each team was able to get one runner on base in both the fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to push them past second base. In the top of the seventh, Lye dropped a perfect drag bunt and moved all the way to third after the throw was off the mark at first base.
Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) followed with an RBI ground out. Lawrick walked and
Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) singled past a diving second baseman before Lever singled to drive in Canada's eighth run.
Jocelyn Cater (Delta, BC) - who relieved Hovinga to start the bottom of the sixth inning - allowed two hits in the seventh but was able to shut the door to preserve the shutout victory.
Hovinga allowed only three hits in five innings of work, while Cater pitched two innings of relief with three hits allowed and three strikeouts. Lye continued to swing her hot bat with three hits, while Thomas had two homeruns and four runs batted in. Lever and Gilbert each had RBI singles, while Lawrick, Rafter and Hayward rounded out Canada's ten hits.
Box score and play by play:
Canada 8 vs. Mexico 0 Team Canada (2-0) will now face its toughest competition to date when they face Team Japan (2-0) at 7:00pm PDT on Sunday at the Pepsi Softball Centre.
In other action on day two of the ISF XIII Women's World Championship, Venezuela (1-1) shut out South Africa(0-2) 7-0 in five innings, Australia (1-1) defeated Italy (1-1) by an 11-1 score also in five innings, China (2-0) edged Puerto Rico (1-1) 1-0, Great Britain (1-1) threw a 1-0 no-hitter against Chinese Taipei (0-2), the Netherlands (1-1) disposed of Argentina (1-1) by a score of 9-0 in five innings, the United States (2-0) blanked the Czech Republic (0-2) 10-0 in four innings, and Japan shut out New Zealand (1-1) 7-0 in five.
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