SURREY, B.C. — Team Canada’s Women’s National Team completed a perfect tournament run on Sunday, scoring five runs in the seventh inning to defeat China 7-3 and capture the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship.
The victory capped an unbeaten week for Canada, which finished the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record and earned its second win over China in as many days.
Canada 7 – 3 China
For much of the championship game, runs were hard to come by as both teams received strong pitching and defensive performances.
Canada threatened in the opening inning when Kelsey Harshman singled and Grace Messmer doubled, but China escaped the early jam. The Canadians again put runners in scoring position in the third inning before China broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom half.
A double by Xintian Li and an RBI single from Xiaoyan He gave China a 1-0 lead before a sacrifice fly by Jiaxin Xie extended the advantage to 2-0.
Canada answered immediately in the fourth inning.
Kianna Jones and CC Wong opened the frame with consecutive singles before Emma Entzminger delivered the game’s biggest hit to that point, lining a two-out triple to right field to score both runners and tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth inning when Min Ren put China back in front with a solo home run, giving the hosts a 3-2 deficit heading into their final at-bat.
Canada saved its best for last.
Leading off the seventh, Entzminger worked a walk before Erika Polidori reached on an error. Harshman then stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run to right field, instantly swinging the momentum and putting Canada ahead 5-3.
The Canadians weren't finished. Messmer followed with a double, and after a sacrifice bunt from Larissa Franklin and a walk by Jones, CC Wong lifted a sacrifice fly that, combined with a throwing error, allowed two more runs to score and extend the lead to 7-3.
China was unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the inning as Canada recorded the final three outs to secure the championship.
Key Performers
Harshman led the offence, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, including the championship-winning blast in the seventh inning.
Entzminger continued her outstanding playoff run by going 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a walk, while Messmer added two doubles and scored a run.
Jones scored twice, and Wong contributed a hit and an RBI.
In the Circle
Canada used a trio of pitchers in the championship game.
Sara Groenewegen, Dawn Bodrug and Morgan Reimer combined to limit China to three runs while striking out five. Reimer closed out the victory and recorded the final three outs to secure the title.
BY THE NUMBERS
Team Canada
- Kelsey Harshman: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
- Emma Entzminger: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
- Grace Messmer: 2-for-4, 2 doubles, R
- Kianna Jones: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
- Canada finishes the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record
CHAMPIONS
With the victory, Team Canada captured the 2026 Canada Cup championship, completing an undefeated run through both the round robin and playoff rounds.
Canada outscored opponents 90-17 over nine games and closed the tournament with three consecutive playoff victories over Chinese Taipei 1, China, and China again in the championship final. 🥎🇨🇦🏆
