Baseball Canada’s national women’s team suffered its first loss, today, 7-1 against the host squad from Chinese Taipei, missing an opportunity to secure a podium finish at the 2006 Women’s World Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Catcher Amanda Asay (Prince George, B.C.) collected the only Canadian hit in the seven-inning affair while several fielding errors keyed the victory for Taiwan who improved its record to 2-2 to stay alive in the tournament. “After the game against Japan where the intensity level was at a maximum, I think the girls were emotionally drained and tired,” said Canadian head coach André Lachance. “Our bats are going to have to come alive tomorrow if we want a chance to win the gold.” Canada’s record, meanwhile, drops to 3-1 and moves the team down one spot in the standings behind Japan (4-1) with two games remaining in the tournament. Kat Hannah (Kirkland Lake, Ont.) took the loss for Canada on the mound. Samantha Ostrom (Calgary, Alta.), Annie Kowalczyk (Mississauga, Ont.) and Marie-Josée Tremblay (Saint Honoré-de-Chicoutimi, Qué.) all pitched in relief for Canada, Tremblay closing out the game with two perfect innings of work. With the loss, Canada’s bid for gold becomes a more difficult task as five teams are still in the medal hunt with only two days remaining in the tournament. A win against Australia (3-2) tomorrow would put Canada back in the driver’s seat going in to the last day of competition where it is slated to face the entry from Hong Kong, which has been outscored 98-4 in its first four games of the tournament. Martine Nadeau (Québec, Qué.) will get the start on the mound for the Canadians. Current Standings 1) Japan 4-12) Canada 3-13) U.S.A. 3-14) Australia 3-25) Chinese Taipei 2-26) Cuba 0-47) Hong Kong 0-4 Tomorrow Hong Kong vs. CubaChinese Taipei vs. U.S.A.Australia vs. Canada*Box score for this game is unavailable.
Eight Canadians played in the major leagues yesterday. Here’s how they fared. Position Players 1. Kansas City Royals third baseman Mark Teahen was 3-for-5 with a double, a homerun, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored in a 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. Teahen hit his homerun off of Freddy Garcia in the fifth inning. 2. Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.) was 1-for-3 with a double, 1 RBI and 1 walk in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. 3. Texas Rangers right fielder Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) was 1-for-5 with 1 RBI and 1 strikeout in a 10-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. 4. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) was 0-for-2 with 2 walks in a 10-2 loss to the Rangers. 5. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin (Chelsea, Qué.) was 0-for-3 with 1 walk in a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. 6. Braves first baseman Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) was 0-for-2 in a 3-2 win over the Pirates. Pitchers 1. Reds reliever Rheal Cormier (Moncton, N.B.) threw one scoreless inning in a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers. The line on Cormier: 1.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 10 pitches-7 strikes, 4 batters faced. 2. Baltimore Orioles starter Erik Bedard (Navan, Ont.) was tagged with his seventh loss of the season (12-7) after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Seattle Mariners. The line on Bedard: 5.1 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 homerun, 93 pitches-57 strikes, 24 batters faced. Today’s games featuring teams with Canadian players (Bolded teams): American LeagueMinnesota Twins @ Kansas City RoyalsTexas Rangers @ Los Angeles Angels National LeagueAtlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh PiratesArizona Diamondbacks @ Chicago Cubs – Game 1Arizona Diamondbacks @ Chicago Cubs – Game 2Los Angeles Dodges @ Cincinnati RedsPhiladelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals
First baseman Amanda Asay (Prince George, B.C.) was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI to lead Baseball Canada’s national women’s team 6-3 past Japan in a crucial battle of undefeated teams today at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. With the win, Canada is now the only undefeated team remaining half-way through the tournament and is one win away from assuring itself of a top-three finish. Asay, who was named the top catcher at the Women’s National Championships July 20-23, was quick to display her offensive prowess to help Canada strike first in the game and take a 3-0 lead mid-way through the third inning. The Canadians never looked back as three Canadian pitchers staved off all Japanese comeback efforts. Martine Nadeau (Québec, Qué.) was credited with the win, retiring all eight batters she faced in relief of starter Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.). Psota threw well, giving up three runs behind six hits in 4.1 innings of work, but was replaced by Nadeau before she could meet the five-inning requirement to qualify for the win. Kat Hannah (Kirkland Lake, Ont.) retired the final batter of the game to earn the save. After going 5-for-5 in a win over Cuba yesterday, third baseman Ashley Stephenson continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4 with a run scored while Samantha Magalas was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored to help pace the Canadian attack. Having already defeated the defending gold and silver medalists (U.S.A. and Japan), Canada is now in great position to match and possibly improve on their bronze medal performance from the 2004 World Cup in Edmonton, Alta. The Canadians will look to improve to 4-0 Friday against the host squad from Chinese Taipei (1-3) before facing the Australians (3-1) Saturday and wrapping the tournament up against winless Hong Kong (0-4) on Sunday. Box Score
Third baseman Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.) was 5-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored as Baseball Canada’s national women’s team came from behind three times to top an upstart Cuban squad 10-8, today, moving Canada to 2-0 at the Women’s World Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Two first-inning errors by Canadian shortstop Erin Forman (Hamilton, Ont.), allowed Cuba to take a quick 3-1 lead into the second inning where the wild see-saw affair began. Canada came back with a three-spot of their own in the top-half of the second to take a 4-3 lead, but the Cubans struck with three more in the bottom half of the inning to take another two-run lead, 6-4. After both teams were held scoreless in the third inning, Canada reclaimed a one-run lead only to have it slip away in the bottom of the fourth as Cuba drove in a pair of runs to take a 8-7 advantage. Katherine Hannah (Kirkland Lake, Ont.) picked up the win in relief, shutting Cuba out over the final 3.1 innings of work, allowing only one hit and striking out four. While Hannah stymied the Cuban offence, Canada took advantage of a tiring Yaima Ramos, who pitched all seven innings for Cuba. The Canadians scored a pair in the sixth to go ahead for good and added a final run in the seventh for the 10-8 win. “The Cubans have really improved since we played them in Havana in 2005. That team has a lot of potential,” said Canadian head coach André Lachance. “We got off to a rocky start with the two errors in the first inning, but Hannah was spectacular on the mound and Geneviève Beauchamp (St. Jérome, Qué.) continued to do damage at the plate.” Beauchamp, Karine Gagné (Granby, Qué.) and Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.) each had a pair of RBI while Canada was also sparked by its youngest team member, 16-year-old Nicole Luchanski (Edmonton, Alta.), who was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Canada does not play Wednesday but will prepare for a rematch of the 2004 World Cup Semi Final, Thursday, against Japan. The reigning silver medalists, Japan beat Canada 3-1 to advance to the 2004 championship game. Box Score
OTTAWA-The Senior Women’s Invitational began yesterday in Spruce Grove, but only two of four scheduled games were completed due to inclement weather. Four provinces (BC, Alberta, Ontario and Québec) and one regional team (Team West) are in Spruce Grove to determine a National Champion.
Baseball Canada’s national women’s team opened its 2006 Women’s World Cup schedule, today, with a 5-2 win over the defending champions from the United States in Taipei, Taiwan. The bronze medal winners at the 2004 World Cup, Canada rode clutch hitting to victory, scoring four of their on two-out hits. Right fielder Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.) broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fourth inning to score Erin Forman (Hamilton, Ont.) and Nicole Luchanski (Edmonton, Alta.). Having given her team the lead, Psota, then earned the save in the game by throwing three scoreless innings in relief of winning pitcher Martine Nadeau (Québec, Qué.), who gave up the only two U.S. runs behind five hits, a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Canadian catcher Geneviève Beauchamp (St. Jérome, Qué.) drove in the first two Canadian runs with a two-out double to score Samantha Magalas (Burlington, Ont.) and Melanie Harwood (Mississauga, Ont.) in the second inning. American shortstop Keri Lemasters slapped an RBI-single to centre in the top of the third and the Americans tied the game on a wild pitch from Nadeau. Psota dominated the rest of the way and Canada added an insurance marker in the sixth inning to secure Baseball Canada’s second straight victory over the United States in international competition following an 8-6 win by the men’s senior national team at the World Baseball Classic in March. Canada will look to improve to 2-0 at the World Cup when they face Cuba tomorrow at Tien-Mou Stadium in Taipei. Box Score
Team Québec succeeded, Sunday, in its bid for the 2006 Women’s Invitational Championship crown, defeating Alberta 5-3 in a hard fought final at Sanscartier Park in Gatineau, Qué. Québec outfielder Stephanie Savoie was 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in three runs en route to the championship title. Pitcher Marie-Josée Tremblay scattered just three runs on three hits over seven innings to record the victory. Alberta right fielder Pam Fox was 2-for 3 in a losing effort, driving in one, while pitcher Heather Northcutt took the loss. In a battle for the bronze, Ontario (black) triumphed over Nova Scotia 7-3 on the heels of four Nova Scotia errors and five unearned runs. Infielder Kate Psota was 2-for3 with one RBI as pitcher Cindy Saavedra pitched a scoreless seventh inning to record the victory and ensure the third place finish. Nova Scotia pitcher Sarah Burgess threw six innings, surrendering just two earned runs and striking out five in a losing effort. In the first semi-final, Québec defeated team Ontario (black) 5-3 as catcher Geneviève Beauchamp propelled her team to victory with a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance. Backed by a strong pitching performance turned in by Martine Nadeau, who went seven strong innings for the victory, Québec awaited the winner of Alberta vs. Nova Scotia to determine their championship game opponent. With Québec eagerly looking on, Alberta dominated Nova Scotia 7-0 to advance to the final on the arm of pitcher Sam Ostrom, who hurled a complete game shut out, defeating a previously unbeaten Nova Scotia squad. Second baseman Nicole Luchanski was 3-for-4 with three RBI, also sparking her team with stingy infield defence. Candace Slaunwhite took the loss for Nova Scotia, pitching 6.1innings, allowing six earned runs on nine Alberta hits.
Baseball Canada’s women’s national team roster for the Women’s World Cup will be officially announced, Monday, before the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx face-off against the Norfolk Tides at Lynx Stadium. After all 18 players on Team Canada’s roster are introduced, one of the athletes will throw out the first pitch as a prelude to the 12:05 p.m. start. The athletes will then be in attendance for the game and will depart for Taipei, Taiwan, the site of the 2006 World Cup, early Monday evening. Canada finished third behind the United States and Japan, beating Australia in the bronze medal game at the first-ever Women’s World Cup in Edmonton, Alta., in 2004. Canadian head coach and Baseball Canada’s manager of baseball operations, André Lachance, is optimistic that this year’s squad should be able to either match or better their result in the team’s second World Cup appearance. “Baseball Canada is extremely proud to be involved in the development of women’s baseball,” said Lachance. “Baseball opened its doors to women during World War II and has since taken on a whole new complexion with the advent of numerous international competitions for women. There are now plenty of opportunities for girls to play this wonderful sport and we hope that young girls will continue to play baseball because it’s now possible to play it at all levels.” Canada will tune up for the World Cup with exhibition games against Australia, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong prior to opening their World Cup schedule against the United States, July 31 at Tien-Mou Stadium in Taipei. Click here for Baseball Canada’s women’s national team program schedule.
Thanks to Baseball Canada’s new integrated series of websites for eight of its national championships, fans won’t miss a beat as they follow their favourite teams on their quest for gold. The new websites include all the information pertinent to each respective championship, from championship news, host city information and accommodations information to schedules, standings, statistics, photo galleries and more. Baseball Canada designed the championship websites in preparation for next year’s single-site championships in Québec, Qué., when all of its championships, will be held in the same city for the second time in history. Windsor, Ontario hosted seven championships in 2003. “This will help solve many of the problems that we have had in the past with respect to having the ability to provide the information fans were seeking in a timely manner,” said Jim Baba, Baseball Canada’s Director General. “With the implementation of a universal system and putting everybody on the same page, that information will be organized much more effectively and accessed with much more ease.” The websites will be updated periodically throughout the day ensuring that new content, results and statistics are available on demand. Fans will get their first glimpse of how the websites work when the Senior Women’s National Championships get underway Thursday in Gatineau, Qué.. “The women’s championship gives us an excellent opportunity to pilot our new technology because the event is being hosted a full month before the rest of our championships,” said Baba. “We’ll have the opportunity to see exactly how the technology works when it is applied and have ample time to tweak a few things if we need to.” Click here for access to the various national championship websites.
The second annual Baseball Canada Women’s National Invitational Championship is set to get underway Thursday at Sanscartier Park in Gatineau, Québec. The championship, which will be held from July 20 to 23, will feature the best female baseball players in the country, representing five teams from Ontario (2), Québec, Alberta and Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia and Ontario 2 will face-off in the tournament opener slated for 4 p.m. Thursday, July 20th while the bronze and gold medal games are schedule for Sunday afternoon. “Anybody that makes it out to these games is going to get treated to a very good show,” said National Team Head Coach André Lachance. “The championship will also present a good opportunity for young girls who play baseball in the area to see first-hand that women’s baseball is healthy and that it is possible to play the sport at a very high level.” In addition to fighting for national women’s baseball supremacy, the best female baseball players in Canada will also be fighting for a spot on Baseball Canada’s women’s national team, which will travel to compete in the Women’s World Cup July 31 to Aug. 7 in Taipei, Taiwan. The national tournament will double as a try-out camp where Lachance and national team staff will select the team’s 18-person roster before departing for Taiwan on July 24th, less than 24 hours after the final out of the national championships. “It’s definitely not a vacation weekend for team officials,” said Lachance. “It’s never easy to put together an 18-person roster for the World Cup because you know that everybody out there has a burning desire to wear the red and white at the World Cup. That being said, we have complete confidence that the athletes we chose will be ready and more than capable of well representing our country in Taipei.” Click here for a complete tournament schedule. Click here for the Baseball Canada’s Women’s National Team program.
