ISF Jr. Worlds - Exhibition #2Tuesday, December 06, 2011 (Cape Town, South Africa) Canada’s Junior Women’s National Team lost a close 2-1 decision to Australia in a pre-tournament exhibition game at the ISF Junior Women’s World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa. Canada split their two pre-tournament exhibition games and will open the 16-team World Championships on Thursday at 12:30pm EST against the United States.
In a tight contest, Canada outhit Australia 6-5 and had their chances but ended up on the short end of a 2-1 score. Canada opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) led off with a double as she lined a pitch down the right field line. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON) followed with a slap double past the third baseman to score Gilbert. Canada could not capitalize further to add the second run as the next three hitters were retired.
Madison Schreyer (Winnipeg, MB) started for Canada and struck out the first batter she faced, but loaded the bases with two out as she gave up a single and two walks before inducing a soft pop up to end the inning. In Canada’s half of the second, Kirsten Grant (Oakville, ON) singled with two out with a grounder off the pitchers glove but was thrown out trying to steal on a ball in the dirt, which the Australian catcher made a nice play on to get the third out.
In the top of the third, Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, BC) led off with a slap single that trickled down the third base line. However, Canada could not advance Franklin any further as the Australian pitcher recorded three straight strikeouts. In the bottom of the inning, Schreyer got the first out but gave up back-to-back homeruns to the Australian three and four hitters that put Canada down 2-1.
Canada threatened in the fourth with one out. Jaycee Affeldt (Maple Ridge, BC) singled to center field and was pinch run for by Tessa Loewen (Abbotsford, BC). Shannon Davidson (Whitby, ON) advanced to first on a catcher’s interference call. With one out, Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON) hit a hard one hopper that the Australian third baseman made a nice play on and was able to touch third and throw to first to get Wideman out and end the inning. Natalie Becker (Waterloo, ON) came in to pitch for Canada in the bottom of the inning. Becker struck out the first two batters she faced before giving up a drag single. Grant then made a nice throw to get the runner trying to steal second base.
There was no scoring in the fifth but Canada got the leadoff runner on base in the sixth when Hayward drew a walk. Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) struck out but Hayward stole second, Carey-Leigh Thomas (Ohsweken, ON) grounded out to third and Affeldt hit a deep fly that the center fielder had to go back on and make a nice over the head catch to end the inning.
In the seventh, Wideman drilled a single up the middle with one out but pinch hitter Taylor Beck (Vancouver, BC) lined out to the shortstop and Wideman was doubled off at first to end the game.
Schreyer and Becker combined to allow five hits, seven strikeouts and three walks while three Australian pitchers gave up six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
|