Guatemala City, Guatemala - The Canadian Women’s National Team is now 3-0 at the 2022 WBSC Women’s Pan American Championship after defeating the Dominican Republic 11-1 at Carlos Cano Gomez field on Monday.
Sara Groenewegen (Surrey, B.C.) got the start for Canada and worked a perfect first inning recording two ground outs and a strike out to send the opponents down in order.
In the bottom of the first, Canada jumped out to a quick lead when Kelsey Harshman (Delta, B.C.) lined the first pitch she saw over the right field fence for a home run. Kianna Jones (Surrey, B.C.) then walked and a ground rule double by Alysen Febrey (Peachtree City, GA.) put runners at second and third. A run-scoring single from Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) was followed by a three-run home run off the bat of Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) to push Canada's lead to 5-0.
Sara Groenewegen only needed 12 pitches to record three outs including two via the strikeout in the top of the second inning.
The offense kept the pressure on in the bottom of the second, tallying six more runs. Kelsey Harshman drove in two runs on a single to left after Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) and Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) led off the inning with a walk and a single. Alysen Febrey notched her second hit of the game with another single, this time adding a run-scoring single scoring Harshman from second base. After a Polidori walk, Grace Messmer (Cloverdale, B.C.) singled to left field scoring two more runners. Messmer was soon brought home on an Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) run-scoring triple to cap the Canadian scoring.
After recording two outs in the top of the third, Jorde Chartrand (Weyburn, Sask.) came in to relieve Sara Groenewegen. Chartrand scattered two hits, giving up one run in 1.1 innings of relief as Team Canada won by the final tally of 11-1 in four innings.
Groenewegen finished the game giving up no hits, no runs, and retired all eight batters she faced. Kelsey Harshman has now hit safely in seven consecutive plate appearances. It was the third consecutive game where five or more Canadian hitters recorded an RBI.
Canada continues their tournament November 15 at 15:30 CST when they look to remain undefeated against Cuba. A livestream feed will be available throughout the tournament on Softball Canada’s Facebook page and the WBSC Americas YouTube page.
