Titcume solo home run gets Australia home over Canada Australia faced up against Canada in the second match of the day at the 2008 International Challenge at Blacktown Olympic Softball Centre. While Australia is still in the midst of selecting their 2008 Olympic team for the Beijing Olympics, the Aussie girls tonight faced a tough Canadian Olympic roster in a tight game.
Starting pitchers for both teams, Zara Mee (NSW, Australia) and Danielle Lawrie (Canada) were dominating the opposition hitters and base hits were a rarity in the first three innings. Australia opened the top of the 4th innings with a solo home run from the Australian catcher, Natalie Titcume (VIC). Tracey Mosley (QLD) then followed Titcumes lead, by driving the ball to the right field corner for a stand up triple. Natalie Ward (NSW) and Jodie Bowering (QLD) were then walked by Canadas Lawrie to load up the bases. Unfortunately for Australia they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity to score more runs and Canada shutdown the innings to go into the bottom of the 4th down 1 run to nil. Canada had a great opportunity in the bottom of the 4th innings with the first two hitters reaching base however great defense by Australian stalwarts Natalie Ward and Stacey Porter (NSW) combined to get the next two hitters without the runners advancing. Belinda Wright (NSW) ended the innings with a great catch in centrefield off an Alison Bradley (Canada) line drive. Canada shut down Australia in the top half of the 5th innings and went into the bottom half of the innings with confidence. Australian Head Coach, Fabian Barlow (QLD), replaced Zara Mee on the pitching mound with Felicity Witt (NSW) and Canada capitalized on the pitching change. Kaleigh Rafter (Canada) hit a stand up double to left field to start the innings. In what proved to be Canadas only real chance of the game, the Australians lifted once again to shut them down. A sensational diving stop by Sandra Lewis (QLD) at 2nd base for the out at first stopped a sure equalizer. Felicity Witt is renowned for her great change of pace and called on this to strike out the remaining batters to end the innings. The 6th and 7th innings were again dominated by the pitchers and the was no change to the score. Australia were victorious 1 run to nil. Australia picked up five hits for the game, Titcume (HR), Mosley (2), Ward (1) and Simone Morrow (1). The winning pitcher for the game was Zara Mee and the save goes to Felicity Witt. Canadas Danielle Lawrie gets the loss. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Kylie Bloodworth Softball Australia Mobile: 0400 909 166 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
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