Received: 7/15/07 4:46:28 PM From: Gilles LeBlanc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Canada shut down in loss to United States FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15th, 2007 Canada shut down in loss to United States (Oklahoma City, OK) â When it comes to International Softball, the United States are usually the team to beat. That was proven once again today, as the Canadian Senior Womenâs National team stuck around for a while but eventually fell 7-0 in six innings because of the run rule in a KFC World Cup III game that was nationally televised on TSN. The loss gives Canada a 3-2 record in the round-robin, and they will need a lot of help to reach the final and earn a rematch against the powerful Americans. After the first two batters of the game were retired by Canadian starting pitcher Robin Mackin (Newmarket, ON), USA jumped to an early lead after a two-out, two-run home run. Mackin then walked the two next batters before giving up a single to load the bases, but was able to escape the inning with only two runs against. Canada was then able to get its first hit of the game in the bottom of the first, as Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, BC) dropped a base hit into center field. However, Canada was not able to advance her and Salling was stranded on first base. The red and white threatened again in their half of the third inning as Kristy Odamura (Richmond, BC) led off the inning with a perfectly placed slap single over the third baseman and later stole second base, but Finch settled in and struck out the side to leave Odamura stranded. The United States rallied around Finchâs strong pitching, putting up two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning on another two-run home run, which barely went over the right field wall. Mackin again loaded the bases with three walks after the homerun, but was able to escape without any further damage yet again, with the score now 4-0. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) relieved Mackin and pitched a perfect fifth inning, but the Americans were able to put the game away in the sixth. After the two first hitters reached on singles, Lawrie was able to get the next hitter to ground a ball that hit the runner on first in the back, and then got the second out on a fly ball to first base. However, Lawrie walked the next batter to load the bases and hit the following batter to score the fifth run.. The next American batter hit a sinking line drive to right field that just got under the glove of Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) in right field to bring in two more runs, pushing the score to 7-0. Matthews singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but Canada was unable to score, ending the game on the run rule. Jennie Finch was spectacular in the pitcherâs circle for USA, holding the Canadian offence to only three hits and one walk while fanning eight batters at the plate. Mackin pitched four innings for Canada, allowing four runs on five hits, with six walks, one hit by pitch and two strikeouts. Lawrie pitched two inning of relief, giving up three runs on four hits with one walk and a hit by pitch. The United States (5-0) earned an automatic berth to the Championship game tomorrow night (9:00pm ET), while Canada (3-2) will have to wait until the end of the day to know their fate. Japan (2-1) plays Venezuela (1-3) at 7:00pm and China (1-2) at 9:30pm ET today and Canada needs them to lose both games to have any hope to reach the final. Should Japan win either one of those games, Canada would play for the bronze medal tomorrow at 5:30pm ET. -SC- For more information, please contact: Gilles LeBlanc Sport/Recreation Management Intern MBA in Sport and Recreation Management University of New Brunswick Coordinator, Marketing and Communications Softball Canada gleblanc(at)softball.ca (613) 523-3386 ext 3105 Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball VIA http://www.webbox.com
_______________________________________________ Alsfastball mailing list Alsfastball@fastpitchwest.com http://fastpitchwest.com/mailman/listinfo/alsfastball_fastpitchwest.com
