Surrey, B.C. - The Canadian Women’s National Team got off to a good start at the WBSC Softball Americas Qualifier with a 17-0 victory over Cuba in three innings in their opening game of the tournament.
Team Canada was dominant from the jump, putting up two runs in the first inning, and clinching the victory with an offensive explosion in the second where they put up 15 runs in a single frame.
In the first inning, Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) earned her way aboard with a walk and scampered around to score when Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) reached on an error by the Cuban pitcher. Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) was next up and smacked a single through the left side of the infield to score Gilbert and put Canada up 2-0.
In the second, Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) led off the inning with a walk, and thanks to heads up base running, came home to score when Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) reached on an error. After Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) took first after being hit by a pitch followed by a sacrifice bunt, Leung scored on a fielder’s choice on an unsuccessful attempt to retire Hayward at third. Speers earned her second RBI of the night with a single up the middle. A hit by pitch by Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) loaded the bases for Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) who wasted no time with a single on the first pitch she saw to score Gilbert and Speers. A single from Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) loaded the bases again, and a single from Entzminger added another run for Canada to put them up 8-0.
The runs kept coming for Canada with two outs. Walks to Hayward and Jenkins forced in a pair of runs, and Gilbert laced a three-run double to center field to make it 13-0. An intentional walk to Speers, and a single from Salling led to another run for Canada. Rafter closed out the scoring for with a three -run home run deep into the right field bleachers.
Box Score: Canada 17 vs. Cuba 0
Rafter’s five runs batted in on the night led the way for Canada, followed by Gilbert with four. Rafter, Speers and Entzminger each had two hits for Canada, with Gilbert, Salling and Franklin each contributing one.
In the pitcher’s circle, Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, B.C.) cruised through two perfect innings, retiring all six Cuban batters she faced, and struck out four in the process. Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) came into the game in the third inning, and closed out the game for Canada, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.
Team Canada will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Guatemala at 6:00pm PDT.
Team Canada was dominant from the jump, putting up two runs in the first inning, and clinching the victory with an offensive explosion in the second where they put up 15 runs in a single frame.
In the first inning, Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) earned her way aboard with a walk and scampered around to score when Jennifer Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) reached on an error by the Cuban pitcher. Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) was next up and smacked a single through the left side of the infield to score Gilbert and put Canada up 2-0.
In the second, Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) led off the inning with a walk, and thanks to heads up base running, came home to score when Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) reached on an error. After Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) took first after being hit by a pitch followed by a sacrifice bunt, Leung scored on a fielder’s choice on an unsuccessful attempt to retire Hayward at third. Speers earned her second RBI of the night with a single up the middle. A hit by pitch by Jennifer Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) loaded the bases for Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) who wasted no time with a single on the first pitch she saw to score Gilbert and Speers. A single from Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) loaded the bases again, and a single from Entzminger added another run for Canada to put them up 8-0.
The runs kept coming for Canada with two outs. Walks to Hayward and Jenkins forced in a pair of runs, and Gilbert laced a three-run double to center field to make it 13-0. An intentional walk to Speers, and a single from Salling led to another run for Canada. Rafter closed out the scoring for with a three -run home run deep into the right field bleachers.
Box Score: Canada 17 vs. Cuba 0
Rafter’s five runs batted in on the night led the way for Canada, followed by Gilbert with four. Rafter, Speers and Entzminger each had two hits for Canada, with Gilbert, Salling and Franklin each contributing one.
In the pitcher’s circle, Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, B.C.) cruised through two perfect innings, retiring all six Cuban batters she faced, and struck out four in the process. Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) came into the game in the third inning, and closed out the game for Canada, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.
Team Canada will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Guatemala at 6:00pm PDT.
