FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13th, 2011

Junior Women's National Team Wins Tight Game at Canadian Open Fastpitch Futures Tournament

(Surrey, BC) After winning four straight games on the run-ahead rule to open the tournament, the Canadian Junior Women's National Team needed the full seven innings of regulation today to defeat the Washington Lake Breeze by a score of 4-2. Washington surprised Canada by taking a quick 2-0 lead, but the red and white responded with three runs in the third inning and one in the fifth and held on for the victory.

After a quick first inning, Washington opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second on an RBI triple and two errors. Canada looked to even the score in the bottom of the frame when Carey-Leigh Thomas (Oshweken, ON) reached on an error and Jaycee Affeldt (Maple Ridge, BC) singled before Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, ON) sacrificed them to second and third. However, the Junior National Team hit a pair of fly outs on the infield to end the inning.

Canada was finally able to push a few runs in to score in the bottom of the third. Shannon Davidson (Whitby, ON) led off with a single up the middle followed by a slap single by Victoria Hayward (Toronto, ON). After both runners advanced on a passed ball, Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, SK) reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Davidson to score and Hayward to advance to third. Erika Polidori (Brantford, ON) then hit an RBI ground out, and Carey-Leigh Thomas later scored on a double steal to give Canada a 3-2 lead.

Neither team was able to get much going in the fourth, but Canada was able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Carey-Leigh Thomas. Canada was able to hold on the rest of the way to earn the tight win.

Natalie Becker (Waterloo, ON) notched the win in the pitcher's circle, allowing two unearned runs on three hits with five strikeouts in five innings pitched. Madison Schreyer (Winnipeg, MB) earned the save, allowing only a hit and two walks with one strikeout in three innings of relief. Carey-Leigh Thomas led Canada with two hits, while Hayward, Gilbert, Affeldt, Davidson, Tessa Loewen (Abbotsford, BC) and Brigitte Aizprua (Terrebonne, QC) each added a hit each.

The Canadian Junior Women's National Team (5-0) will wrap up its preliminary round schedule on Thursday morning against the Rivercity Hornets (0-4) at 10:30am PDT at Softball City.

Canada 4 vs. Washington Lake Breeze 2 - Box Score and Play by Play



For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 797-7171
gleblanc@softball.ca