Surrey, B.C. – The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team completed the preliminary round with an 8-1 win over Mexico to finish first in the Black Pool at the Canada Cup.
 
Prior to the game, former Women’s National Team star Melanie Matthews was honoured for her induction to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Hall of Fame in front of her hometown family and friends. Matthews was accepted to the Hall of Fame at the WBSC Congress held in 2019, but the ceremony had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada Cup Chairman Greg Timm, retired Softball Canada CEO Hugh Mitchener and Matthews herself each had the opportunity to speak on Matthews legendary career.
 
Following the ceremony, Team Canada hit the field against Mexico in the first matchup between the countries since the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal game. Morgan Rackel (Calgary, Alta.) got the start in the pitcher’s circle and retired Mexico in order in the top of the first before Canada struck for three runs in the bottom of the frame. Kianna Jones (Surrey, B.C.) singled up the middle to score Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) from second. After another single by Kelsey Lalor (Red Deer, Alta.) put two runners on base, Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) singled to left to score Jones and Lalor crossed the plate on an error by the left fielder.
 
Mexico scored one run in the top of the third, loading the bases with two singles and a hit by pitch before another hit by pitch forced a run home. Canada responded immediately in the bottom of the inning, as Alysen Febrey (Peachtree City, Ga.) singled followed by a walk by Jones before both runners scored on a double to the left field corner by Lalor. The following inning, Kelsey Harshman (Delta, B.C.) reached on a double to left followed by a single by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.). Polidori re-entered the game for Franklin and stole second before Febrey hit a two-run single to center.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Febrey hit a one-out double to center and scored on a single by Jones to end the game on the run rule.
 
Box Score: Canada 8 vs. Mexico 1
 
Rackel earned the pitching win, holding Mexico to one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work. Sam Ryan (Monroe, N.Y.) allowed one hit in one inning of relief, with Nicola Simpson (Seattle, Wash.) pitching a hitless sixth with one strikeout. Febrey led Canada at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Lalor, Harshman and Entzminger each doubled and singled, while Jones hit two singles and drove in two. Franklin chipped in with a single.
 
With the win, Canada finished the preliminary round with a 5-0 record to take first place in the Black Pool, earning two lives in the playoff round. Their first playoff opponent has yet to be determined, with the Czech Republic (3-2), Triple Crown Colorado (3-1) and the United States (3-1) all still in the mix for the top two spots in the Red Pool. Canada will face the second-place team in the Red Pool at 7:00pm PDT on Friday.
 
Earlier in the day on Thursday, the United States shut out Chinese Taipei 13-0, the Czech Republic edged Triple Crown Colorado 1-0 and Chinese Taipei 5-4, the Netherlands blanked the Calahoo Erins 6-0, and the Philippines beat the Aussie Spirit Development Team 8-1.