Canada secure playoff spot

HERMOSILLO, MEXICO – Team Canada came through in the clutch Friday night in a must win game as they downed Guatamalla 10-0 to secure the fourth and final playoff position here at the 2006 Pan American softball championships.

They will now face USA OR Argentina (unsure as of early this morning my time) in the third-fourth game, and will need two wins to make it to their third game of the day if they are to make it to the championship final Saturday and look to claim Canada’s third straight Pan Am gold medal.

The Canucks finished at 6-3 (won-lost) and in a four way tie with USA, Argentina and Cuba. Cuba had the least runs between the four teams, six, so they were eliminated.

Friday night, Ian Fehrman was 3-for-4 and Rick SMith was solid on the slab to earn the win. Alberton's Jeff Ellsworth went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

Playoff schedule was to be announced following the late games.

(Pat Healey)
pathealey@eastlink.ca