2017 Women’s Fastpitch

The 2017 Canada Cup closed out with Japan playing host to a “somewhat” tired Australia team who had played just prior to the final taking on Team Venezuela in what was exciting, but lacked the gusto the final showed.

While many were hoping to see Canada in the final or at least the semi-final’s it was in the cards this year as they were eliminated from any further action after a 6-3 loss to the Philippines.

Canada found themselves in the single knockout round following the 5-0 drubbing after two innings against a team that was partially loaded with NCAA Pac-10 players that saw them finish with a 1-2 in the second round of seating or pool play.

White Rock’s Sara Groenewegen struggled throughout the tournament which shocked many especially after the stellar season she had at the  University of Minnesota.

She was beaten 6-2 in a loss against the Philippines in Canada’s home opener and was yanked after an inning and two-thirds and charged with all five runs.

Her next outing on Friday she (again) lasted only 1 1/3 innings giving up all seven runs in the 7-5 loss to Australia.

Canada’a Head Coach told the media “We got behind early and I think people started trying to do more than they needed to and that’s common in situations like this. You can’t keep digging yourself out of holes like that. And today, it came back to bite us.”

Canada was held off the score-sheet through five complete innings by Sierra Lange, a young Texas High School student who is attending George Washington University this fall.

The Canadians scored two in the sixth on an RBI double off the bat of first baseman Holly Speers, but with the bases loaded in the seventh, they were unable to get one run across, just prior to Lange managing ground out and a fly out ending the game.

Jenn Salling, Canada’s extraordinaire short-stop batted .500 at the World Cup in Oklahoma earlier in the month with Canada winning Bronze,  was out due to an injury and unable to play any games this week making Canada extremely shorthanded with a roster of only 15..

Canada gets a short rest before playing three (3) exhibition games against the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fast-pitch then travel to the Dominican Republic for the Pan American Championships.

In order for Canada to qualify for the 2018 World Championships in Japan they must finish in sixth spot.

While this is on the minds of the Coaching staff let’s remember that the National Development team, better known as the Canada Elite team was also eliminated with a 8-5 loss to Venezuela.

While some consider the event to be a success, from the media perspective they help in the area of media relations and what the require.

The first several years under the media guidance of Colleen Goodwin-Ryan the event went off without a hitch – but since the change, they are failing to score!!