Canada Cup - Day 1
Sunday, July 05, 2009
(Surrey, BC) – After seven scoreless innings of softball, Venezuela was able to produce a run in the top of the eighth inning, leading them to a 1-0 win over Team Canada in the opening game for both clubs at the 16th Annual Canada Cup in Surrey, BC. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, BC) - who won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and led the University of Washington to the Women’s College World Series last month - pitched all eight innings for Canada, allowing only three hits to the Venezuela hitters. Despite outhitting Venezuela, Canada was not able to push any runs across the plate.
Team Canada seemed poised to take an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Melanie Matthews (Surrey, BC) led off with a double, followed by a walk to Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, C-B). After a fielder’s choice, Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, ON) reached on a hit-by-pitch to load up the bases with one out, but Canada was unable to push anyone in to score.
The following inning, Evelyne Pare (Ile-Perrot, QC) notched her first hit with the National Team, but was left stranded at first. Canada threatened once again in the bottom of the third when Jennifer Yee (North Delta, BC) singled, and Kaleigh Rafter was hit by a pitch for the second time to set up runners on first and second. After both runners were advanced to second and third, Canada was unable to come up with the big two-out hit.
From there, both pitchers cruised, making quick work of the opposing hitters until the bottom of the seventh, when Team Canada newcomer Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby, BC) stroked a leadoff single. However, Canada was not able to push her any further, forcing the game to an extra inning. In their half of the eighth, Venezuela began with a runner on second (due to the international tie-breaker rule). The runner advanced to third on a sacrifice, and later scored on a single by Venezuelan leadoff hitter Maria Soto. Canada came up in the bottom of the eighth with Melanie Matthews starting on second base, and she advanced to third on a ground out by Jennifer Salling, but once again Canada was not able to push her to the plate.
Danielle Lawrie took the eight-inning loss for Canada, despite not allowing an earned run. She scattered only three hits and two walks, and struck out seven hitters. Venezuela ace Mariangee Bogado also threw eight innings, giving up five hits and one walk while striking out four.
Melanie Matthews led Canada at the plate with two hits, while Evelyne Pare and Kelsey Haberl notched their first hits with the National Team. Jennifer Yee had the other Canadian hit.
Canada vs. Venezuela: Box Score and Play-by-play
For live box scores of the games and for all tournament information, please visit www.canadacup.com.
In other Day 1 action at the Canada Cup, USA blanked both Australia and the Netherlands by scores of 7-0.
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For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 x3105
gleblanc@softball.ca
www.softball.ca / www.backsoftball.com