KFC World Cup of Softball V - Games #5 and #6 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 26, 2010
Canada splits pair of games, will play for Bronze at the KFC World Cup V (Oklahoma City, OK) The Canadian Women's National Team handed the United States their first loss of the tournament, and scored more runs against USA than anyone has this summer in a rain-delayed 5-2 victory. Canada temporarily improved its record to 2-3 with the win, but dropped a 4-0 decision to Japan later in the evening to finish 2-4. As a result, Canada will play in the Bronze medal game at 5:00pm EDT on Monday. Against the United States, Canada scored all of its five runs in the top of the third, before the rain settled in for a lengthy delay in the top of the fifth inning. When the game resumed, the Americans fought back hard in the bottom of the seventh, but came up short. The United States opened the scoring in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Ashley Charters, but Canada responded right away with their big inning. Erin Cumpstone (Saskatoon, SK) led things off with a single through the left side of the infield, and Heather Ebert (Rosthern, SK) sacrificed pinch runner Victoria Hayward (Mountain View, California) to second. Joey Lye (Toronto, ON) then forced a walk before Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) doubled up the middle to bring in two runs. Caitlin Lever (Buffalo, New York) then double to push Matthews in to score, and Jenn Yee (North Delta, BC) followed that up with a two-run homerun to center field to give Canada a commanding 5-1 lead. The United States showed life in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run and loading the bases with two outs, but Canadian pitcher Jenna Caira (Toronto, ON) forced a ground ball to end the game. Caira earned the victory in the pitcher's circle, pitching the first four innings and allowing only one run on three hits. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) came on in relief and allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts in two and two thirds innings, but Caira re-entered the game to get the final out. Eileen Canney was the losing pitcher for the Americans, allowing all five runs on four hits over two and a third innings. Jennie Finch then came on to pitch four and two third hitless innings of relief, walking four batters and striking out five. Offensively, Melanie Matthews and Jenn Yee each had a hit and two runs batted in, while Caitlin Lever added an RBI double. Erin Cumpstone had the other hit for Canada, as they scored their five runs on only four hits. In the nightcap, Japan scored single runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings, and Makiko Fujiwara and Sayuri Yamane combined to allow only four total hits to shut out the Canadian squad 4-0. Melanie Matthews had two singles for Canada, while Sheena Lawrick (Calgary, AB) and Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) had the other hits. Tina Andreana (Oakville, ON) took the loss in the pitcher's circle for Canada, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in four innings of work. Ashley Lanz (Winnipeg, MB) pitched the last three innings, allowing one run on three hits. With a 2-4 record, Canada will play in the Bronze medal game later today at 5:00pm EDT. Their opponent will be determined later today, as the United States (4-1) take on the USA Futures NT (2-3) at 1:00pm EDT. A Futures win would force a tie with Japan (3-3) to determine who will face USA in the Gold medal game (9:00pm EDT) and who will play Canada in the Bronze medal game. The Gold medal game will air on TSN at midnight EDT early on Tuesday morning. The Bronze medal game can be seen on webcast at http://asa.video4ever.net/index.htm. Live scoring for both games will also be available on USA Softball's GameTracker. Check the Softball Canada at www.softball.ca to follow the game. Canada 5 vs. United States 2: GameTracker Canada 0 vs. Japan 4: GameTracker -SC- For more information, please contact: Gilles LeBlanc Manager - Marketing and Communications Softball Canada (613) 797-7171 glebl...@softball.ca Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com fastb...@pmihrm.com 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