Canada
7
–
0
Great Britain
Team Canada did not waste any time jumping out to an early lead against Great Britain. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off the bottom of the first with a double, followed by a walk to Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) and a sacrifice bunt by Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) before Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) hit a sacrifice fly to center and Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) singled to right to give Canada a 2-0 lead. The following inning, Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, stole second and scored on an error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.). Another error by the catcher on the following play allowed Franklin to score. Hayward singled to put runners on first and second and they were moved ahead on a sacrifice bunt by Polidori before Salling hit a sacrifice fly to center to increase Canada’s lead to 5-0.
Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) got the start in the pitcher’s circle for Canada. She allowed a one-out single in the first, but that runner did not advance any further and sat Great Britain down in order in the second. Great Britain drew a leadoff walk in the top half of the third and later got a two-out single to put two runners on base, but Lawrie induced a ground ball back to her to keep them off the scoreboard. Team Canada added another run in the bottom of the third when Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.), Leung and Franklin all singled to load the bases with Gilbert crossing the plate on a fielder’s choice.
After a quick fourth inning, Great Britain got another leadoff walk in the top of the fifth, but that runner was doubled off at first after a caught fly ball behind shortstop. A single and a walk put two runners on base but a fielder’s choice to second ended the inning for Great Britain. In the bottom of the frame, Speers got a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a single by Leung and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Franklin to end the game on the run rule.
Lawrie earned the win in the pitcher’s circle, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four in four innings. Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, Alta.) pitched the fifth inning, allowing a hit and a walk. At the plate, Hayward had a double and a single with Leung adding a pair of singles. Speers, Gilbert and Franklin each singled with Salling, Jenkins and Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) each driving in a run.
Canada
7
–
0
Venezuela
Canada got on the board quickly once again with four runs in the top of the first. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off with a walk and advanced to third on single to right by Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) before Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Hayward. Salling and Speers moved up to second and third on a ground out before Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) stepped up and delivered a three-run homerun to right-center field to give Canada a quick 4-0 lead. Venezuela threatened to score with a single and a walk in the bottom of the second, but Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) notched a big strikeout and forced a pop out to short center to leave to runners stranded on base.
Team Canada added a run to its lead in the top of the third when Speers led off with a single, advanced to third on an error and scored on a single to left by Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.). Venezuela was retired in order in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings, with Canada going on to add two runs in the top of the sixth. Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) got a leadoff walk with Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) coming in to pinch run. After Entzminger advanced to second on a wild pitch, Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) reached on an error and both runners were sacrificed ahead by Hayward. Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) then drilled a two-run single to center to increase Canada’s lead to 7-0 and put the run rule in effect. Caira got a strikeout and a pair of ground outs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Caira fired a one-hitter for Canada, walking only one and striking out six batters in six innings. Leung had the big three-run shot, with Speers getting a double and a run-scoring single. Polidori had a pair of singles and drove in two while Gilbert and Salling each contributed singles.
Canada
1
–
0
Italy
Sara Plourde (Baker Lake, N.B.) started the game in the pitcher’s circle for Canada and sat Italy down in order in the first with a pair of strikeouts. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off the bottom of the inning with a single but was caught stealing, while Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) and Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) later added singles but Canada was unable to score. Team Canada pushed the winning run across the plate in the bottom of the second when Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) hit a one-out triple to left-center field and scored on a ground out by Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.).
In the third, Italy got its first hit of the game with a one-out single through the right side of the infield and got another runner on base with a hit by pitch, but Plourde got out of the inning with a strikeout and a fielder’s choice. The following inning, the Italians got another one-out single off Plourde, but the next two batters flew out. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) relieved Plourde to start the fifth and retired Italy in order, with Hayward notching a two-out single in the bottom of the frame but a ground out ended the inning.
Italy managed a leadoff single to start the sixth and the runner moved up to second on a wild pitch, but Lawrie struck out the side, and did it again in the seventh to preserve the 1-0 win.
The Canadian pitching tandem was fantastic, with Plourde allowing only two hits and struck out four in four innings of work to register the win. Lawrie threw the final three innings, allowing only one hit and striking out eight. Franklin’s triple was Canada’s only extra-base hit, with Hayward adding two singles and Lye and Salling each contributing one.
Australia
2
–
0
Canada
Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) tried to get Canada going in the top of the first by lacing a two-out triple, but the next batter struck out to stop her from coming in to score. In the bottom of the inning, the Aussies got a leadoff single but Canadian starting pitcher Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, Alta.) induced a fielder’s choice followed by a double play to end the inning. Australia opened the scoring in the bottom of the second by getting a pair of one-out singles to put runners on the corners and scoring on a fielder’s choice with the lead runner just avoiding the tag at the plate.
In the third inning, Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) hit a one-out single to center but was retired at second on a fielder’s choice to second by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.). Polidori stole second and advanced to third on an error followed by a walk by Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) to load the bases, but the next batter lined out to a high leaping shortstop as the Aussies escaped the inning. Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) came in relief for Hovinga to start the bottom of the third and retired Australia in order, while Canada put two more runners on base with two outs on a single by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) and a hit by pitch but the next batter grounded out.
Australia added an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff single and an error put two runners on base, Caira got a ground ball to retire the lead runner on a force play at third and a fly out to center, but the next batter hit a two-out single to right to bring a run in to score. Rafter led off the top of the seventh with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) on the base paths. Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) worked a walk to put the tying run on base, but two ground outs and a fly out to right ended the game.
Hovinga took the loss in the pitcher’s circle by only allowing one run on three hits to go along with one strikeout in two innings. Caira allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out two in four innings of relief. Rafter led Canada at the plate with a pair of singles with Salling adding a triple. Hayward contributed Canada’s other hit with a single.
Canada
7
–
0
China
Team Canada did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off the game with a double to right, was sacrificed to third and scored on a fielder’s choice by Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.). China got a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning, but the very next batter grounded into a double play as Canada’s defence kept its stellar play going. Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) started the third inning with a single, with Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) coming in to pinch run for her and stole second base. Hayward singled to right-center field to bring Lye in to score, followed by a fielder’s choice by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) that moved Hayward to third before she scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Salling. Polidori stole second, moved up to third on a single by Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) and crossed the plate on a single to center by Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) as Canada built a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Rafter and moved ahead to third when Hayward reached on a fielder’s choice. After Hayward stole second, Polidori singled up the middle to score Franklin with Salling hitting another sacrifice fly to bring Hayward in to score from third, increasing Canada’s lead to 6-0. Meanwhile, Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) was keeping China’s bats silent, allowing only two hits and striking out five batters over the first five innings.
Hayward stayed hot at the plate by hitting a one-out triple to right in the top of the sixth and scored on a single through the right side of the infield by Polidori to score Canada’s seventh run. Lawrie retired China in order in the bottom of the inning, notching two strikeouts to end the game on the run rule.
Lawrie earned the win by allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in six innings. Hayward led Canada at the plate from the leadoff spot by registering a triple, a double and a single, driving in a run and scoring four times. Polidori had two hits and two runs batted in out of the second spot in the lineup, while third batter Salling drove in three runs. Speers and Jenkins each added two singles, with Rafter and Franklin each contributing one hit to Canada’s 11-hit attack.
Japan
2
–
0
Canada
In the top of the first, Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) hit the second batter she faced, and the runner later stole second, but Japan was unable to score as Caira struck out a batter and got two ground outs. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off the bottom of the inning with a single into short center field, followed by a single by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) off the drawn in first baseman and a walk by Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) to load the bases with no outs. Ueno got a strikeout for the first out and after two pitches to the next batter, the teams were brought into the dugouts due to poor field conditions. When play resumed, Ueno got two strikeouts to escape the inning and end Canada’s threat.
Caira went back to work in the top of the second and got two groundouts and a strikeout for a clean inning. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) lined a one-out single over shortstop but Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) hit a hard liner back to Ueno who was able to gather it and throw it over to first for an inning-ending double play. Sara Plourde (Baker Lake, N.B.) replaced Caira in the pitcher’s circle to start the third and allowed a one-out single, and after a wild pitch moved the runner up to second, Caira re-entered the game. The runner advanced to third on a passed ball, with Caira getting a strikeout on a fantastic changeup before hitting the next batter. The following hitter hit a tough ground ball past the pitcher to second with the throw to first slightly off the mark to allow both runners to score as Japan took a 2-0 lead.
Hayward led off the bottom of the third by reaching on a ground ball that eluded the first baseman, was sacrificed to second by Polidori and moved up to third by tagging up on a deep fly ball to right-center by Salling. However, the next batter popped out behind third base for the final out of the inning. Caira sat Japan down in order in the fourth, and Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) lined a one-out single to left before moving up to second on a ground out but a lineout to shortstop cut the rally short.
In the fifth, Japan got a one-out single and the runner stole second, then third on a ball in the dirt, but Caira picked up a pair of big strikeouts to hold the score at 2-0. After Canada went down on three groundouts, Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) came in to pitch to start the sixth and allowed a one-out double that dropped in front of the diving left fielder. She bounced right back by inducing a pair of pop outs on the infield. Ueno sat Canada down in order in each of the last three innings to hold on for the win.
Caira was great in the pitcher’s circle, allowing only one unearned run on one hit and two hit batters while striking out seven batters in four innings and two thirds. Plourde took the tough loss by allowing the winning run to reach base with a single, with that run also being unearned. Lawrie allowed a hit and struck out two in two innings of relief. Hayward, Polidori, Gilbert and Franklin all singled for Canada, who outhit Japan 4-3.
Canada
22
–
0
Botswana
Team Canada struck for 15 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) started the inning with walks before scoring on a three-run homerun by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.). After two more walks, Nicole Schroeder (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.) both hit run-scoring singles before Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) double to center to score two more runs and give Canada a 7-0 lead. After a single by Franklin, Lye laced a two-run double to left and scored on another double to left by Polidori. Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) followed with Canada’s third consecutive double to push Polidori to the plate, with Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) blasting a two-run shot to left-center field. Canada loaded the bases on singles by Schroeder and Emma Entzminger (Victoria, B.C.) and a walk before Wideman singled home a run and Franklin brought another one in to score on a sacrifice fly.
In the second inning, Canada loaded the bases with one out on a walk, an error and a single by Schroeder. Jenkins drove in a run with a single, with a second one coming in to score on an error by the left fielder on the play. An error by the second baseman on the very next play scored another run for Canada, with Wideman then producing an RBI single. Franklin tripled inside the right field line to score two more runs and crossed the plate on a single by Lye to make the score 22-0. Karissa Hovinga (Edmonton, Alta.) struck out the side in the top of the third to end the game on the run rule.
Hovinga allowed a single in the first and a walk in the second, striking out eight batters in the three-inning shutout win. Polidori led Canada at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a homerun, a double and four runs batted in, while Wideman also went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs and Schroeder was 3-for-3 with three runs and a run batted in. Gilbert had a two-run homerun, Franklin had two hits including a triple and drove in three runs, Lye added a double and a single to drive in three runs and Jenkins produced two runs with a pair of singles. Speers doubled and drove in one while Entzminger singled and produced a run.
Canada
8
–
1
Netherlands
Team Canada did not waste any time jumping out to an early lead as Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off with a walk, stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error by the catcher before scoring on a single to right by Kelsey Jenkins (Delta, B.C.). In the top of the second, the Netherlands got a solo homerun by Soclaina Van Gurp to tie the game for Danielle Lawrie’s (Langley, B.C.) only blemish on the day. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) took over from there, hitting a two-run shot to center in the bottom of the second after Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to give Canada a 3-1 lead.
In the fourth inning, Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) led off with a double to left followed by a walk by Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.). After the runners were sacrificed to second and third by Leung, Franklin sent her second homerun of the game over the centerfield fence for a three-run blast to increase Canada’s lead to 6-1. The following inning, Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) led off with a walk and Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) reached on a fielder’s choice, with both runners being sacrificed ahead by Polidori. Gilbert was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Franklin laced a two-run double to right to end the game on the run rule.
Lawrie allowed a run on one hit and struck out seven, facing only one batter over the minimum in the five-inning win. Franklin was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two homerun, a double and seven runs batted in, with Polidori adding a double and a run scored. Jenkins contributed a run-scoring single and Hayward singled, scored and stole two bases for the red and white.
Canada
1
–
4
Puerto Rico
Team Canada opened the scoring when Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.) hit a two-out homerun in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. The following inning, Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) singled, advanced to third on a double to left by Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.). Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) then drove in Franklin with a single up the middle as Canada took an early 3-0 lead. Puerto Rico fought back in the bottom of the second, producing four runs on five hits off Canadian starter Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) including a two-run homerun and a two-run single to take the lead.
Canada tied the game up on a two-out solo blast to left by Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) in the top of the third, and regained the lead in the fourth when Rafter hit a solo homerun to right-center. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) relieved Caira to start the bottom of the third and retired Puerto Rico in order. She allowed a walk and a single in the fourth but was able to get out of the inning leaving both runners stranded. After neither teams were able to score in the fifth and sixth innings, Canada piled up five insurance runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) reached on an error by the pitcher and Polidori was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and after a pop out and a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Franklin singled in a run followed by a walk by Rafter to load the bases. Gilbert then launched a grand slam to center to increase Canada’s lead to 10-4. Lawrie retired Puerto Rico in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Caira allowed four runs on five hits and struck out two in two innings for Canada, while Lawrie picked up the win in relief by allowing only two hits and a walk to go along with eight strikeouts over five innings of work. At the plate, Gilbert had a huge game by going 3-for-3 with a grand slam, a double and five runs batted in, with Rafter, Polidori and Speers all connecting with solo homeruns. Franklin had two hits including a double and drove in a run.
Canada
1
–
0
Australia
Canada’s bats picked up right where they left off in the previous game, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning to jump to a big early lead. Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) led off with a single, stole second and was sacrificed to third by Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) before scoring on a double to right by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.). Holly Speers (Surrey, B.C.) hit a double of her own to score Polidori, with Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) following up with a two-run homerun to right forcing a pitching change by Australia. Larissa Franklin (Maple Ridge, B.C.) greeted the new pitcher by smashing a solo shot on the second pitch she saw as Canada built a 5-0 lead.
Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) sat Australia down in order in the first, but the Aussies got a single and took advantage of an error to put two runners on base in the second. Lawrie kept the momentum in Canada’s corner by notching a pair of strikeouts to keep them off the scoreboard. Team Canada put up another big inning in the top of the third, as Salling drew a leadoff walk followed by a single up the middle by Franklin before Jenny Gilbert (Saskatoon, Sask.) doubled in a run. Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ont.) singled to left to score Franklin from third, with Hayward following that up with a three-run shot to center. Canada was not finished there, as Lye singled and moved up to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a two-run homerun by Polidori as Canada took a commanding 12-0 lead. Australia got a two-out triple in the third but couldn’t bring that runner in and made a great effort to extend the game in the fourth by getting a leadoff single and a two-out double to put runners on second and third, but Lawrie got a strikeout to earn the four-inning shutout victory.
Lawrie scattered four hits and struck out six batters in her four innings of work. Canada smashed four homeruns at the plate, with Polidori going 3-for-3 with a homerun, a double and three RBIs while Franklin stayed hot with another 3-for-3 game with a solo blast. Hayward had two hits including a three-run blast, with Salling adding a two-run shot. Gilbert and Speers each doubled in a run, with Leung contributing a run-scoring single.
Japan
3
–
0
Canada
In the top of the first, Canada got into the hit column with a bunt single by Joey Lye (Toronto, Ont.) and a single up the middle by Erika Polidori (Brantford, Ont.), but Ueno got a strikeout and a ground ball back to her to leave two runners stranded. Canada came ready to play, as the first Japanese batter hit a solid line drive that was snagged by a diving Lye at second base for the first out. However, Japan got on the board when the next batter singled into short left field followed by a triple to the right-center field gap by Saki Yamazaki. Danielle Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) bounced back after that, inducing a weak ground out to third and getting her first strikeout of the night to leave a runner stranded on third.
Larissa Franklin Maple Ridge, B.C.) led off the second with by reaching on an error on a high throw by the shortstop and used her speed to beat a throw to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaleigh Rafter (Guelph, Ont.) as Canada put two runners on base with no outs. After a pop out in foul territory at third and a strikeout, Victoria Hayward (Toronto, Ont.) hit a short fly ball that was caught by a diving right fielder as Ueno escaped the inning. Lawrie got two quick outs to start the bottom of the second, but the next batter hit a ground-rule double that fell on the line deep in the left field corner, followed by a deep drive to left that was caught just in front of the fence to hold the game at 1-0.
Ueno retired Canada in order in the third on a lineout and two strikeouts, with Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ont.) coming on in relief of Lawrie to start the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Yamazaki was at it again as she dropped a hit into shallow left-center field that hit a diving centerfielder and rolled all the way to the side fence in left field for an inside-the-park homerun. After a single, the following batter singled to center with a throw over to third missing the target to allow another Japanese run to score on the error as Japan increased its lead to 3-0. Ueno made quick work of Canada again in the fourth, while Caira issued a pair of walks but kept Japan from adding to its lead.
In the top of the fifth, Hayward hit a two-out single up the middle with Lye reaching on an infield single on a ground ball just out of Ueno’s reach on the second base side. However, the next batter struck out as Canada left two runners on base. Japan got a pair of two-out baserunners on a hit-by-pitch and a single on a line drive off the shortstop’s glove, but the next batter flew out to left to end the inning. Canada went down in order quickly in the top of the sixth, with Japan getting a one-out baserunner to second on a throwing error but could not move her any further. Down to their final at-bat, Canada could not get anything going as Japan sealed the win.
Lawrie allowed a run on three hits and struck out two in two innings, while Caira gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts. All four of Canada’s hits came from the beginning of the batting order as Lye registered a pair of singles with Hayward and Polidori each adding one.
