Softball Canada - Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at Softball Worlds

September2006

Softball Canada - Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at Softball Worlds

September 5, 2006

Beijing, CN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2006

Canada Earns an Olympic Berth at Softball Worlds

(Beijing, China) - Canada defeated Italy 3-0, to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China. Canada earned the final Olympic berth that was available at the XI ISF World Championships and will join the USA, Japan and Australia at the 2008 Olympic Games. China also qualified as the Olympic Games host team.

With the win, the Senior Women's National Softball Team became the first Canadian team sport to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympic games. Since softball's inception in the Olympics in 1996, Canada has not failed to qualify and has had a fifth place finish in 1996 and 2004 and an eighth place finish in 2000.

In Tuesday's fifth place game, Canada relied on solid pitching and a strong offence to defeat Italy and give them the win. Lauren Bay (Trail, BC) and Robin Mackin (Newmarket, ON) combined to throw a no hitter. Together, the Canadian duo struck out 8 Italian batters.

Offensively, Canada strung together 8 hits and took advantage of Italian errors to score one run in three consecutive innings to give Canada the 3-0 lead. Rachel Schill (Kitchener, ON) started the attack and the scoring for Canada in the third inning reaching first on a single. After being moved to third by a sacrifice bunt from Melanie Matthews(Surrey, BC) and a single from Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC), Schill stole home as Italy tried to catch Salling stealing second.

Alison Bradley (Pinkerton, ON) continued the Canadian attack in the fourth with a lead off triple. Bradley would score on an error as the third baseman bobbled the outfield throw. Angela Lichty, (Guelph, ON) capped off the Canadian scoring, in the fifth, after reaching on a fielder's choice. After being moved to second on a Bradley ground out, Lichty stole third and then came home on a passed ball to give Canada a 3-0 lead.

This is only the second time in history that a special (5^th Place) playoff game was required to determine the top qualifying teams for the Olympic Games. Since China finished in the top four at the Worlds and had already earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games as the host team, the extra game was required. In 1998, Canada also defeated Italy (1-0) in the 5^th place game which qualified Canada for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.