Canada Remains Undefeated with Two Wins
at General Tire World Cup of Softball IX

(Irvine, California) The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team remained undefeated at the General Tire World Cup of Softball IX with a pair of tight wins on Wednesday. To begin the day, the pitching trio of Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, AB), Brooke Seneshen (Winnipeg, MB) and Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) combined for a one-hitter and Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) had three hits and drove in two runs as Canada defeated the Philippines 3-1. In the second game, Venezuela took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning but Canada battled back to tie the game and put up six runs in the top of the eight to earn an 8-2 win.
 
In the first game against the Philippines, Team Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) and after a strikeout, scored on a double to left field by Thomas. Angelie Ursabia led off the top of the second with a single for the Philippines, was sacrificed to second and moved to third on a groundout, but was left stranded when Hovinga struck out the next batter. Canada loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame when Chelsea Jenner (Abbotsford, BC) singled with a line drive to centerfield, Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) reached on an error and Lye walked, but the next batter flew out to centerfield to allow the Philippines to get out of the inning.
 
The red and white added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Jen Yee (North Delta, BC) led off with a double to left field and immediately scored on a single to left by Thomas. The following inning, Lye dropped a drag bunt single with one out, but was caught stealing at second base. Hayward then laced a triple to right field, but was left stranded when the next batter grounded out to the pitcher.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Philippines took advantage of a few miscues by Canada defensively to cut the lead to 2-1. Seneshen came on in relief of Hovinga to begin the inning for her first national team appearance, and hit the first batter she faced. The runner advanced to second on a groundout, and after Seneshen retired the next batter on a strikeout, the following batter reached on a dropped third strike, allowing a run to score in the process. In the bottom of the inning, Canada looked poised to add to its lead as Thomas led off with a single and Megan Gurski (Dalmeny, SK) walked, followed by a sacrifice  bunt by Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) to put runners on second and third with one out. Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON) lifted a fly ball to left field that was caught and thrown to the plate to retire the runner tagging up from third to end the inning.
 
Canada added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Franklin and Lye hit back-to-back singles, and Yee later hit an infield single to second base to score Franklin. Caira pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal the win for Canada.
 
Box Score: Canada 3 vs. Philippines 1
 
Hovinga earned the win in the pitcher’s circle, allowing only one hit in four innings of work and struck out two batters. Seneshen allowed one unearned run on no hits and struck out three in two innings of relief, while Caira notched the save by pitching the seventh with one strikeout. At the plate, Thomas went three-for-three with a double, two singles and two runs batted in, while Yee and Lye each added a pair of hits. Hayward, Jenner and Franklin each chipped in with a single, as Canada registered 10 hits.
 
In the second half of the doubleheader, Venezuelan pitcher Mariangee Bogado retired the Canadian bats in order in each of the first two innings before her offence got things going. Venezuela put two runners on base in the bottom of the second on an error and a single by Jineth Pimentel, but Canada was able to get out of the inning. The red and white then got a walk to Groenewegen and a single by Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) to start the top of the third, but Bogado notched a strikeout and two groundouts to keep the game scoreless. Venezuela opened the scoring in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back homeruns with two outs by Yuruby Alicart and Ana Coscorrosa, giving them a 2-0 lead.
 
Bogado retired Canada in order in each of the next three innings, with Venezuela registering one hit in each of those innings, but was unable to add to its lead. With the game on the line, Yee led off the top of the seventh with a single, followed by a walk by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) and Gurski reached first on an error by Bogado on a sacrifice bunt, allowing Yee to score. Thomas then hit a sacrifice fly ball to the outfield to bring the tying run in to score. Jenna Caira retired the Venezuelan hitters in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
 
With a Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) starting on second base due to the international tie-breaker rule and Maria Gomez coming on in relief of Bogado, Hayward sacrificed her over to third and the next batter grounded out for two quick outs. Yee worked a full count walk before Rafter lined a double to left field to score both Timpf and Yee and give Canada its first lead of the game. Gurski then hit a double of her own for another run, and scored on a single to centerfield by Thomas. Lye reached on a drag bunt single and Polidori walked to load the bases before Sara Hopwood (Richmond, BC) lined a two-run single to left field to give Canada an 8-2 lead. Caira sit Venezuela down in order again in the bottom of the eight to earn the victory.
 
Box Score: Canada 8 vs. Venezuela 2 (8 innings)
 
Sara Groenewegen started the game for Canada and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, striking out four batters in three innings of work. Seneshen pitched three innings of scoreless relief, scattering three hits and striking out one. Caira earned the win by retiring all six batters she faced, including two on strikeouts. Offensively, Rafter had a double and drove in two runs while Gurski also hit a double and drove in one. Lye, Polidori, Thomas, Yee and Hopwood each registered a single, as Canada notched five of its seven hits in the top of the eighth. In her seven innings of work, Bogado allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits and two walks, striking out four.
 
Other score at the General Tire World Cup of Softball IX late Tuesday night and on Wednesday were:
 
- United States 5 vs. Venezuela 0
- Japan 7 vs. Mexico 0 (5 innings)
 
The United States (1-0) is scheduled to play the Philippines (1-2) later tonight.
 
With the two wins on Wednesday, Team Canada improved its first-place record to 4-0 and they will be back in action on Thursday when they take on the United States at 6:00pm PDT on ESPN in the annual PINK game for Breast Cancer Awareness. For live scoring, visit the event’s website.