*(Photo supplied by Your Mind's Eye Photographic Services 2011)
PRINCE GEORGE- After hammering Bahamas 13-1 on Friday, the Canadian entry at the World Baseball Challenge fell to Japan Toshiba Baseball, 4-1, in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The victory over the Bahamas was called due to the 10-run mercy rule as the Canadians collected twelve hits including homeruns from Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC) and Brooklyn Foster (Prince George, BC).
Dustin Northcott (Rocky Mountain House, AB) picked up the win as he went the distance (7 innings), allowing only 1 run on 3 three hits, while striking out 7.
In the quarter-final, Japan Toshiba scored a run in the 1st inning on a Canadian error which gave them the early lead.
Shawn Schaefer (Pitt Meadows, BC) was given the start for Canada and was effective until the 4th when Japan Toshiba struck for three more runs to take a 4-0 lead.
With runners on second and third and one out, a single from Masato Ohkawara scored two runs. Ohkawara later came around to score on a single, all the way from first base to give his club a four-run cushion.
The Canadians broke the shutout bid in the 8th when Mark Ellis (Maple Ridge, BC) led the inning off with a solo homerun, but that was as close as they would come.
Hayato Arakaki was the story of the game as he threw a complete-game, giving up the 1 run on 6 hits while fanning 9 Canadians.
Japan Toshiba will now face Cuba in the semi-final with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final against Chinese Taipei.
To follow all of the action, visit: www.worldbaseball.ca
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