Women’s National Softball Team Wins Final
Exhibition Series Game against Brakettes 

(Brampton, ON) The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team won the third and final game of an exhibition series against the Stratford Brakettes by a score of 11-0 before the second game was called off due to rain. Team Canada scored all 11 of its runs in the first three innings and the pitching duo of Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, BC) and Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) scattered four hits in the six inning win.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff batter Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) hit a slap single and scored immediately on a two-run homerun to left-center field by Megan Timpf (Port Dover, ON). Canada then loaded the bases on walks by Jen Yee (North Delta, BC) and Megan Gurski (Dalmeny, SK) and a single by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON), followed by a walk by Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) to score the game’s third run. Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) then hit a deep fly ball that hit the centerfielder’s glove and went over the fence for a grand slam, however Thomas overran Gilbert and was called out, as three runs scored instead of four.
 
The following inning, Timpf was hit by a pitch and Yee walked two put runners on first and second before Rafter singled to left field to score Timpf, with Yee retired at third base on the throw from the outfield. Gurski followed with a double to right-center field to score Rafter, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Thomas to increase Canada’s lead to 9-0 after two innings. In the third, Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) led off with a double and scored on a double to the gap in left field by Timpf, who went on to score on a single to centerfield by Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON).
 
Groenewegen earned the win in the pitcher’s circle, allowing only one hit and three walks with two strikeouts in four innings. Caira closed out the game by allowing three hits and striking out three in two innings of relief. Thomas drove in four runs for Canada, while Timpf had a homerun, a double and three runs batted in. Rafter also had a pair of hits and produced two runs, with other hits going to Franklin, Wideman, Gurski, Groenewegen and Polidori. Gilbert also drew three walks.
 
Team Canada will be back in action on Thursday, August 7th when they take on Puerto Rico for a doubleheader at the Meadowvale North Sports Park in Mississauga, ON beginning at 6:30pm EDT. The following day, they will play another doubleheader against Puerto Rico at the Brampton Fairgrounds also beginning at 6:30pm. Tickets for all games are available at the gate at the cost of $5.00 per person. Athletes under the age of 18 wearing their softball jersey will be admitted for free.