MEDELLIN, COLUMBIA – Team Canada, with Brooklyn, P.E.I., resident Jeff Ellsworth as its captain, remained undefeated in the men’s Pan American softball Monday night in Medellin, Columbia.
Having three batters hit with balls in the sixth inning fired up the Canadians, Ellsworth said in a phone interview from Medellin on Tuesday morning, and they exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh.
“Stephen Mullally had a grand slam and that was good night,” Ellsworth said of the strong finish.
Canada improved its record to 5-0 (won-lost) with a 9-0 win in five innings over Ecuador on Tuesday. Canada also played Argentina later on Tuesday, and the result of that game was not available at press time. The Canadians play the Mexicans on Wednesday morning.
Nothing for granted
While Canada is one of the favourites in the tournament, the team captain said they can take nothing for granted.
“Ecuador’s not one of the top five or six in the tournament, but Guatemala wasn’t either in our first game, and we only beat them 8-6,” he reflected. “It’s a different style of play here. It’s so intense, and you just never know from one game to the next.”
Despite being a pre-tournament favourite, Argentina found itself at 2-2 after the second day of play.
The tournament is an important one. Canada needs to finish in the top five to qualify for the International Softball Federation (ISF) world tournament in New Zealand next March. Ellsworth is part of a core group of players already named to Team Canada for the world championship. The team will be finalized following the Pan Am tournament.
“We’ve got a tough second half of the week coming up,” Ellsworth noted.
Besides Ecuador and Argentina, Canada plays the Mexicans and the defending champions, Venezuela on Thursday and finish off round-robin play Thursday against the Dominican Republic.
“We want to make sure we get that 1-2 playoff game on Friday night, and the winner of that goes right to the final,” he said.
Ellsworth said he is pleased with his level of play in the tournament as he went into Tuesday’s play with six hits.
He is also alternating between left field and second base, his first time in the infield in about 15 years.
“It’s not my position of choice, but I’m adapting pretty good,” he said. He noted the coaching staff wants players to be versatile and ready to fill in when called upon.
He was taking the Tuesday afternoon game off, but was slotted to play the evening game.
