SURREY, B.C. — Team Canada’s National Team and Elite Women’s Team went unbeaten on Thursday, combining for four wins during a busy doubleheader day at the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship.
The Elite Team earned victories over TC Colorado (6-5) and Peru (4-3), while the National Team defeated Czechia U22 (10-0) and China (16-4).
Canada Elite 6 – 5 TC Colorado
The Elite Team jumped out to an early lead and held off a late rally to open the day with a 6-5 victory over TC Colorado.
Canada scored three runs in the first inning on RBI hits from Julia Knowler and Jorde Chartrand, while Natasha Limbani added an RBI fielder’s choice. Limbani drove in another run with a single in the third to make it 4-1 before Canada added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Caitlin Colley provided the eventual game-winning run with a solo home run to center field in the fifth.
TC Colorado closed the gap to one run with a two-run sixth inning and threatened again in the seventh, but Nicola Simpson recorded the final out to secure the win.
Colley finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Limbani drove in two runs. Avery Tucker collected two hits and scored once.
Canada Elite 4 – 3 Peru
The Elite Team completed the doubleheader sweep with a walk-off victory over Peru.
After three scoreless innings, Canada broke through in the fourth on sacrifice flies from Jana Want and Avery Hess to take a 2-0 lead.
Peru answered with two runs in the fifth, but Madelyn McKinnon responded immediately with a solo home run to restore Canada’s advantage.
The Peruvians tied the game in the seventh inning before Canada delivered in its final at-bat. Natasha Limbani reached on an error and advanced to third before Donnalea Barnett lined a game-winning single back through the circle to bring home the winning run and seal a 4-3 victory.
Barnett finished 2-for-3 with the walk-off RBI, while McKinnon’s home run accounted for the difference.
Team Canada 10 – 0 Czechia U22
The National Team continued its dominant run through the tournament with a four-inning shutout victory over Czechia U22.
Canada opened the scoring in the second inning when Emma Entzminger delivered an RBI double and Larissa Franklin followed with a run-scoring single.
The lead grew to 6-0 in the third thanks to a solo home run by Kianna Jones and a two-run triple from Paige Simpson. Canada added four more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run triple from Natalie Wideman and another two-run double from Entzminger.
Entzminger finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Wideman went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Simpson scored three runs and drove in two.
In the circle, Dawn Bodrug struck out five through the first three innings, and Sara Groenewegen handled the fourth.
Team Canada 16 – 4 China
The National Team capped off the day with its most explosive offensive performance of the tournament, defeating China 16-4.
After Kianna Jones opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, Canada erupted for 15 runs in the third inning, sending 21 batters to the plate.
Erika Polidori led the charge with two three-run home runs and six RBIs. Logan Forman added a grand slam, while Grace Messmer, Kianna Jones, and CC Wong also went deep during the outburst.
China scored four runs over the final two innings, but the result was never in doubt.
Polidori finished 2-for-3 with six RBIs, Jones went 2-for-2 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Forman collected four RBIs. The National Team totaled 13 hits and seven walks in the contest.
Morgan Rackel earned the win in the circle, striking out three through the four innings.
BY THE NUMBERS
Team Canada
- Erika Polidori: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 6 RBI (vs. China)
- Emma Entzminger: 2-for-3, 4 RBI (vs. Czechia U22)
- Natalie Wideman: 3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R (vs. Czechia U22)
- Kianna Jones: 3 HR, 4 RBI across two games
- Logan Forman: HR, 4 RBI (vs. China)
Canada Elite Team
- Caitlin Colley: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R (vs. TC Colorado)
- Natasha Limbani: 1-for-3, 2 RBI (vs. TC Colorado)
- Donnalea Barnett: 2-for-3, walk-off RBI (vs. Peru)
- Madelyn McKinnon: HR (vs. Peru)
- Avery Tucker: 3-for-7 over the doubleheader
WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can watch and rewatch games from the 2026 Canada Cup on the CBC Sports YouTube channel and follow all the action through Softball Canada’s social media channels.
Team Canada returns to the field today as both the National Team and Elite Team continue their pursuit of playoff berths at the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship.
