SURREY, B.C. — Team Canada’s Women’s Elite Team split a doubleheader while the Women’s National Team continued its strong run at the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship on Friday.
The Elite Team dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to Israel before rebounding with a 10-0 victory over Singapore, while the National Team powered past Chinese Taipei 2 by a score of 14-0, giving them a perfect undefeated 6-0 record through the preliminary round.
Canada Elite Team 2 – 3 Israel
The Elite Team battled back from a two-run deficit but fell in dramatic fashion as Israel walked off with a 3-2 victory.
Israel opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Amanda Licht before adding an unearned run in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.
Canada finally broke through in the sixth. Julia Knowler led off with a single before Nicole Rivait launched a game-tying two-run home run to left field.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when Zoe Levine hit a solo home run to center field to give Israel the win.
Rivait led the Canadian offence with two hits and two RBIs, while Avery Hess added a pair of hits. Lauren Schurman, Annabel Teperson, and Jorde Chartrand combined to keep Canada within striking distance throughout the game.
Canada Elite Team 10 – 0 Singapore
The Elite Team responded immediately in its second game of the day, scoring early and often in a four-inning run-rule victory over Singapore.
Canada erupted for five runs in the opening inning. Peyton Bryden, Madelyn McKinnon, and Natasha Limbani all drove in runs as the Canadians raced out to a 5-0 lead.
Jorde Chartrand extended the advantage with a solo home run in the second inning, while Limbani added an RBI double and Avery Hess followed with a run-scoring single.
Canada added two more runs in the third to reach the 10-run mark.
Chartrand finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Limbani drove in three runs, while Bryden and Avery Tucker each collected two hits.
In the circle, Nicola Simpson and Olivia Simcoe combined on the shutout, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit.
Canada National Team 14 – 0 Chinese Taipei 2
The Women’s National Team continued its offensive surge, collecting 16 hits in a dominant 14-0 victory over Chinese Taipei Development.
Canada wasted no time getting on the board as Kelsey Harshman launched a three-run home run in the first inning. Harshman added two more RBIs later in the game to finish with five.
The offence exploded again in the third inning. Grace Messmer hit two home runs in the game, including a three-run blast during a seven-run third inning. Zoe Hicks added a two-run homer, while Kianna Jones chipped in with an RBI double.
Messmer finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Harshman went 2-for-3 with five RBIs. Hicks was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Erika Polidori reached base three times, scoring three runs.
In the circle, Morgan Reimer and Sara Groenewegen combined on the shutout as Canada improved its tournament record once again.
BY THE NUMBERS
Canada National Team
- Kelsey Harshman: 2-for-3, HR, 5 RBI
- Grace Messmer: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI
- Zoe Hicks: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
- Erika Polidori: 2-for-2, 3 R, RBI
- Team Total: 16 hits, 14 runs
Canada Elite Team
- Nicole Rivait: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI (vs. Israel)
- Jorde Chartrand: 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R (vs. Singapore)
- Natasha Limbani: 2-for-3, 3 RBI (vs. Singapore)
- Avery Tucker: 3-for-7, 2 R on the day
- Avery Hess: 3 hits across two games
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 the playoff round begins. Finishing first in Pool Red, the National Team will play Chinese Taipei who finished second in Pool White. Meanwhile, the Elite Team finished third in Pool White and will play Brazil in their first playoff game.
