Monteria, Colombia - The Canadian U18 Women’s National Softball team dominated the U.S. Virgin Islands with an impressive 18-0 victory in just four innings, marking a strong start to the U18 Women’s Pan American Championships on Saturday. Canada’s offense attacked at the plate tallying 11 runs by the third inning before adding 7 more in the fourth to seal the game. Pitchers Morgan Reimer (Langley, B.C.) and Rylee Rupple (Maple Ridge B.C.) delivered a stellar combined no-hitter, striking out a total of 8 of the 12 U.S. Virgin Islands batters faced.  

Rayelle Cooley (Oxbow Sask.) started things off in the first by capitalizing on an error, swiftly followed by a double from Madeline Hallman (St. George Ont.) putting Canada on the board. Alexia Chevrier (Saint-Lazare Que.) maintained the momentum with a sharp single up the middle bringing home Hallman and Reimer. Tegan Harnett (Maple Ridge B.C.) drove in Chevrier with a single to right field concluding the inning with a 4-0 lead for Canada.  

In the second inning, a couple of walks set the stage for more scoring opportunities, as timely hits from Reimer and Cooley extended Canada’s lead to 7-0 heading into the third.  

The offense continued to chip away into the third inning, initiated by Katherine Thiessen (Lloydminster Sask.) with a double to center field. Singles from Taitumn Reynen (Langford B.C.), Jana Want (Stoney Creek Ont.), and Reimer added three more runs to Canada’s total.   

Entering the fourth inning, Canada maintained their aggression at the plate. Thiessen and Reynen capitalized on errors, loading the bases for Want, who drew a walk. A deep fly out to center field by CeCe Brown (Maple Ridge B.C.) advanced runners, setting the stage for three timely singles from Lauren Lugtigheid (Langley B.C.), Harnett, and Reynen driving in the final four runs of the game.  

On the defensive front, Reimer showcased her talent in the circle, pitching two hitless innings while striking out four of the six batters she faced and allowing only one walk. Rupple entered in relief to preserve the no-hitter, matching Reimer’s four strikeouts of six batters faced.  

Box Score: Canada 18 vs. U.S. Virgin Islands 0

Canada will play tomorrow at 5:15pm local time (6:15pm EST) against Puerto Rico for game 2 of the preliminary round.