Canada Wins Bronze Medal at Canadian Open
Fastpitch International Championship

(Surrey, BC) The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team faced a familiar opponent in the bronze medal game at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship, as they faced the United States for the fifth time in less than two weeks. Only two days after Canada defeated the United States 10-6, the Americans earned a measure of revenge as they beat Canada 9-2 in five innings to advance to the gold medal game against Japan.
 
In the top of the first inning, Canada was able to put two runners on base with a pair of walks, but was unable to push them in to score and the United States went down in order on three groundouts. Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) led off the top of the second with a walk and after a fly out, she moved up to second on a single by Chelsea Jenner (Abbotsford, BC), but a pair of fielder’s choices left two more runners on base. In the bottom of the frame, the Americans were able to open the scoring with two runs on singles by Amanda Chidester and Kelsey Stewart.
 
Canada got a two-out runner on base on an error but could not get anything going before the United States tacked on six runs to take an 8-0 lead, highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by Chidester and Destinee Martinez. The red and white went down in order in the top of the fourth before the United States loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but they were unable to add to their lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, Canada was able to get on the scoreboard. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) led off with a single followed by a hit by pitch to Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON). Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON) singled to load the bases with no outs, and Franklin went on to score on an error. Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) then hit a ground ball to first base to bring in another run as Canada reduced the lead to 8-2. However, the United States but their first two batters on base in the bottom of the inning and a single by Raven Chavanne scored the winning run as the United States won on the run rule.
 
Box Score: United States 9 vs. Canada 2 (5 innings)
 
Canada used four pitchers in the game, as Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, AB) got the start and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning and a third. She was replaced by Sara Plourde (Fredericton, NB) who allowed three runs on two hits and a walk in two thirds of an inning, followed by Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) who gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) pitched one inning, allowing an unearned run on three hits and a walk. Canada was only able to produce three hits in the game, as Timpf, Jenner and Franklin each had a single.
 
The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team will now go home for a few weeks before regrouping in Southern Ontario for a series of exhibitions games from August 3-8. The team will then travel to Haarlem, Netherlands to compete at the ISF XIV Women’s World Championship from August 15-24.