KISSIMME, FL. – Baseball Canada announced, today, its roster for the 2006 COPABE Americas Olympic Qualifier beginning August 25 in Havana, Cuba as the federation aims to earn its second consecutive Olympic berth.
A number of pivotal games were played, Saturday, in both the Baseball Canada Cup and Bantam Girls Championship. In Day 3 Canada Cup action, Manitoba evened their record at 2-2 by defeating Newfoundland and Labrador 12-0 in five innings. Starting pitcher Brendan Johnson surrendered just one hit, no runs, no walks, and fanned six for the complete game victory. British Columbia edged Quebec 5-3 in 1:00 PM action from Athletic Park, handing Quebec their first loss in the tournament thus far. Improving to 2-1, B.C. left fielder Greg Wallace’s second inning 3 RBI double to right-centre highlighted the offence. In other Cup competition, New Brunswick defeated P.E.I. 7-3, while Ontario doubled up on Saskatchewan for a 10-5 win. For more information, complete box scores, schedules, and standings, please visit the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup website at www.baseball.ca/cup/ Turning to Bantam Girls action, B.C. maintained their undefeated record and Pool B lead by defeating Ontario 11-6. B.C. second baseman Laura Gordon contributed with a 2-for-3 performance, driving in three runs. In Pool A, Saskatchewan solidified their spot atop the standings, narrowly defeating Quebec 11-10. Sask. centre fielder Sarah Bachart led her team, going 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI, and 1 run scored. In other action, Alberta improved to 2-1, trumping Newfoundland/Labrador 21-2 in yet another mercy rule shortened game. Shortstop Kendra Miller and second baseman Kristen Heisler helped secure the victory with three hits apiece. For more information on the Bantam Girls Championship from Grande Prairie, Alta. please visit www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
British Columbia and Ontario continued their torrid offensive pace on Day 2 of the Bantam Girls Championship, both improving to 2-0 by defeating Nova Scotia and Grande Prairie 17-0 and 27-0 respectively. B.C. pitchers Allison Pepper and Jesse Bears combined to throw a no hitter in a mercy rule-shortened four-and-a-half-inning game. Ontario’s second baseman Katie MacPherson was 3-for-4, with 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored, while centre fielder Katie Paculta went 3-for-3, with 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored in the sixth shortened game of the tournament thus far. In late Day 1 Thursday Bantam Girl’s action, Manitoba evened their record to 1-1 with a 15-4 win over host Grande-Prairie. Manitoba’s performance was highlighted by pitcher/left fielder Candis Mullin and shortstop Allysa Shupe, who both smacked four hits in the victory. For more information, please visit the championship website at www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls.ca/
In Day 1 evening action from the 2006 Canada Cup, Québec defeated Alberta 11-4, and improved their record to 2-0 on the tournament. Québec centre fielder Marc Bourgeois was 2-for-3, with a walk, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored, chipping in with first and fourth inning singles to help secure the victory. In second day action from the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, P.E.I. boosted their record to 2-0 by defeating Manitoba 11-6 at Athletic Park. P.E.I. centre fielder Rob Phalen’s seventh inning 2 RBI double propelled his team ahead, finishing an impressive 3-for-4, with 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. For more information, please visit the Baseball Canada Cup website at www.baseball.ca/cup/
Seven Canadians saw action in the Major Leagues yesterday. Here’s how they fared: Position Players 1. Kansas City Royals third baseman Mark Teahen was 1-for-4 with a double, 1 RBI and 1 walk in a 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. 2. Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) was 1-for-5 with a double, 1 run scored and 1 strikeout in a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. 3. Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) was 1-for-1 after singling for Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Yates as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a 9-6 loss to the Washington Nationals. 4. Russell Martin (Chelsea, Qué.) was 0-for-1 after grounding out for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brett Tomko as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a 15-4 loss to the Florida Marlins. 5. Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.) was 0-for-1 after flying out for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mike Gonzalez in the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Pitchers 1. Baltimore Orioles starter Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C.) earned his third win of the season (3-4) after beating the New York Yankees 3-2. The line on Loewen: 5.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 107 pitches-70 strikes, 24 batters faced. 2. Twins reliever Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.) threw 1.2 scoreless innings in a 7-2 win over the Indians. The line on Crain: 1.2 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 17 pitches-11 strikes, 6 batters faced. Today’s games featuring teams with Canadian players (Bolded teams): American LeagueBaltimore Orioles @ New York YankeesKansas City Royals @ Chicago White SoxCleveland Indians @ Minnesota TwinsTexas Rangers @ Detroit Tigers National LeagueAtlanta Braves @ Washington NationalsNew York Mets @ Philadelphia PhilliesCincinnati Reds @ St. Louis CardinalsArizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado RockiesHouston Astros @ Milwaukee Brewers
The 2006 edition of the Baseball Canada Cup, hosted in Medicine Hat, Alta., began Thursday at Jeffries Park, with New Brunswick defeating their Atlantic rivals from Nova Scotia 11-2. New Brunswick right fielder Daniel Reid went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, and 3 RBI, stroking a three-run home run down the right field line in a seven-run second inning. Stewart Langille got the win, pitching five complete innings, surrendering just one run. Nova Scotia centre fielder Jeremy Wade was 2-for-3 in a losing effort, hitting a first inning double to left-centre field, and contributing again in the third with a single. In other Canada Cup action Thursday, Athletic Park witnessed a tight 1-0 Saskatchewan win over Alberta. Saskatchewan right fielder Braden Baumi’s fourth-inning solo home run to right field was the game’s only run, as losing pitcher Matt Diteljan gave up just three hits, no walks, and just one run over six innings in an impressive effort. Saskatchewan pitcher Shawn Wilyman threw 5.1 innings for the win, while Jordan Rawlyk pitched the last 1.2 innings for the save. For more information, please visit the championship website at www.baseball.ca/cup/. In addition, the 2006 Baseball Canada Bantam Girls Championship kicked off Thursday morning in Grand Prairie, Alta. with a 9-4 Saskatchewan victory over Alberta and a dominating 10-0 British Columbia win versus Manitoba. Saskatchewan pitcher Melissa Armstrong surrendered a mere four hits over seven innings to pick up the complete game victory. Helping her own cause at the plate, Armstrong was 2-for-3, with 4 RBI, and 1 run scored. In game two, British Columbia’s impressive offensive production brought an end to their game against Manitoba after four and half innings, invoking the 10-run mercy rule. B.C. shortstop Sarah Hilworth was 2-for-3, scoring three times, while first baseman Jamie Brovold also chipped in with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring twice. Winning pitcher, Melissa Ross hurled all five innings, giving up just one hit, no runs, and needing just 54 pitches in an impressive outing. For more information, please visit the championship website at www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
In more day one action from the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, Saskatchewan exploded with six runs in the sixth inning to defeat British Columbia 6-4 and improve to 2-0 in the tournament. Left fielder JP Willner’s sixth inning, 3 RBI double pushed Saskatchewan ahead, as he followed the lead of catcher Kal Whiting, whose earlier 2 RBI single cut into B.C.’s lead. B.C. first baseman/left fielder Chad Stang was 3-for-4, with 2 RBI in a losing effort. In other action, Québec came away with a victory in a tight fought 1-0 game against the traditionally strong Ontario team. Philippe Aumont threw a complete game three hitter for the victory, holding Ontario off the scoreboard while striking out seven. Prince Edward Island defeated Newfoundland and Labrador 15-5, highlighted by designated hitter Neil Sherren, who went 2-for-2 at the plate, doubling into left field for 2 RBI in the first inning and scoring 2 runs on the day. Also, Manitoba pieced together three separate four-run innings, defeating Nova Scotia 13-1. Manitoba shortstop Mike Mutcheson was 3-for-4, with 1 RBI, and 3 runs scored in a winning effort. Winning pitcher Logan McGonigal needed little help, as he hurled five innings of one hit, one run ball. The Opening Ceremonies, as well as a game between Alberta and Québec, are scheduled to take place later tonight at Athletic Park. For more information, please visit the championship website at www.baseball.ca/cup/ Québec Pitchers Combine for Perfect Game In Bantam Girls action, Ontario’s juggernaut of an offence rolled over Nova Scotia 39-4 in an abbreviated five-inning game. Ontario centre fielder Katie Pacuta went 4-for-5, with 5 RBI, and 5 runs scored, while catcher Samantha Leviston also had 5 RBI and 5 runs scored, going 2-for-4 at the dish. In other Girls action, Québec beat up on Newfoundland and Labrador 12-0 in a condensed four-and-a-half inning game, also invoking the mercy rule. Québec pitchers Sabrina Gauthier and Chrytelle L. Lepage combined to pitch a perfect game, not allowing a hit or walk, and fanning six hitters. Québec second baseman, Maxandre Desharnais, and catcher, Amelie Patry-Roy, both had 3 RBI in a winning effort. For more information on the Bantam Girls Championship, please visit www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
Without using the letter "e," Ernest Vincent Wright once wrote a 50,000-word novel called ‘Gadsby’. Team Canada Manger Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.), who holds the career major league record for fielding percentage at .993 also saw very few ‘e’s over his 15-year Major League Baseball career. ****** If Puhl should opt to publish his own manuscript outlining how to play ‘D’ on a ball pitch, I think anybody that has anything to do with this sport should study it from front to back – start to finish. For all you kids and aspiring MLB stars, you would consult this book to find out if your ability away from batting is as good as you claim it is. Just for fun, try to unfold you own microcosmic variation on Puhl’s 15 MLB campaigns, which saw him botch but 18 balls hit towards him from 1977 to 1991. I will toss all of my gambling chips in, and risk all my cash to hazard a supposition that you will last about as long as Moonlight Graham did in a Giants uniform back in 1905 or as long as Mitch Williams did on a 2-2 count of a sixth and final match-up for a World Championship in 1993. Tackling such an arduous task is about as inviting as physical with an unusually thorough proctologist or facing David Ortiz in a walk-off situation in Boston with that ridiculously inviting short porch in right, gobbling up long balls on a nightly basis. I don’t know how long it took Puhl, a 1978 all-star, to polish his skills on ‘D’, but my assumption is that this man would stop at nothing to attain his goal. Puhl was, without a doubt, a workaholic and a champion at anticipation, thus not much got by him. Truthfully, Puhl’s passion was probably of ridiculous proportions, proving to gain him much admiration from thousands of ball fans in Canada and abroad in towns such as Houston and Kansas City. Fans that saw Puhl play will concur – Puhl always put on display his skillful command of running, catching and throwing. An old myth also told Puhl could guard a turf of potato chips and not crush anything whilst chasing down a long warning track fly. I find it difficult to dismiss his amazing .993 mark as anything short of inspirational – most apt ‘D’ man in history and without a solitary gold mitt award. I must admit that I hold an unconditional admiration for such an artist. It is obvious that Puhl has not and will not obtain as much acclamation as stars such as Ruth, Aaron, Williams or Jackson – goliaths who could swing a bat with intimidating fury. Many fans may not forcibly honour his flair for his tactful manufacturing of a myriad of outs – a final total of 2,576 in addition to 57 assists – but historically, Puhl is a king at his craft, a top-notch man and catalyst for his squad. Puhl will look to apply such skills and bring a similar approach to Canada’s squad in its bid to win a 2nd straight Olympic trip, starting in Havana Cuba, August 23. By playing solid ‘D’ and swinging that bat on occasion, Puhl and his troops know anything is possibl‘e’ . . . . . Oops.
Baseball Canada’s national women’s team claimed its second bronze medal at the Women’s World Cup of Baseball today, blanking Hong Kong 10-0 in Taipei, Taiwan. Four teams were tied in second place with 4-2 records behind the gold medalists from the United States after the round robin tournament. Japan came out of the tie-break scenario with the silver medal while Canada claimed the bronze to duplicate the final medal standings from the 2004 World Cup in Edmonton. Despite having the same 4-2 record, Australia and Taiwan had to settle for fourth and fifth place respectively while Cuba finished in sixth at 1-6 and winless Hong Kong rounded out the pack. Canada took control early against Hong Kong, scoring three runs in the first inning to set the tone for the game. Four runs in the second, two in the third and a solo marker in the fourth ended the game early after five innings thanks to the international 10-run mercy rule. Designated hitter/first baseman Marie-Josée Tremblay (Saint Honoré-de-Chicoutimi, Qué.) led the way for Canada, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, but was not to be outdone by catcher Amanda Asay (Prince George, B.C.) who also produced three runs, while going 1-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) was 2-for-4 with a two RBI and Karin Gagné was 2-for-2 with 2 walks, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. Asay, who batted .500 at the World Cup, was named to the tournament All-Star Team. Southpaw Annie Kowalczyk (Mississauga, Ont.), Susan Douthwright (Riverview, N.B.) and Samantha Ostrom (Calgary, Alta.) combined for a three-hit shut out. Douthwright held Hong Kong hitless over one inning of work in relief to earn the win. Box Score
Baseball Canada’s national women’s team’s hopes for a gold medal at the Women’s World Cup in Taipei, Taiwan were dashed with a 9-4 loss to Australia today. After beating the defending gold and silver medalists from the United Sates and Japan to help the Canadians start the tournament with three straight victories, Canada has now suffered two consecutive defeats, placing the team in a dog fight for a medal. “We managed 10 hits, but never at the right moments,” said Canadian head coach André Lachance. “It was a really tough day for us.” Canada made three errors behind starting pitcher Martine Nadeau (Québec, Qué.) who was tagged with the loss. Japan and the U.S., who share the top spot in the tournament with 4-1 records, will face-off tomorrow to determine the World Champion. What follows could be a murky tie-break scenario in which a possibility of four teams could be involved with 4-2 records. Two of those teams would be left out of the medals. Barring a major upset against winless Hong Kong in the final game of the tournament tomorrow, Canada will likely finish at 4-2, as will the loser of the Japan/U.S. game. Chinese Taipei could also finish at 4-2 with a win over Cuba while Australia has already wrapped up its schedule, also at 4-2. Standings Japan 4-1U.S.A 4-1Canada 3-2Chinese Taipei 3-2Cuba 1-4Hong Kong 0-5 TomorrowU.S.A. vs. JapanCanada vs. Hong KongChinese Taipei vs. Cuba*Box score from this game has not been released.
