Having just wrapped up the Women’s Fastpitch at Softball City in White Rock or South Surrey, depending on who you talk to, it’s great to see our Canadian Junior Women’s National Team thump Ireland 8-0 in five short innings of play.
This win at the WBSC Junior Women’s Softball World Championship saw Oakville’s Sarah Benn hammer a pair of doubles while driving in three runs that saw Brampton’s Amanda Janes add a two-run home-run, with Maple Ridge’s Elizabeth Murphy earn the five-inning shutout win.
The top of the first saw Team Canada score five runs as Toronto’s Allyse Volpe hammered a grounder back to the pitcher that was eventually overthrown at first, giving Volpe to chance to tag up at third before eventually scoring on a single up the middle by Manitoba’s Alexis Huggart.
Shortly after Huggart stole second, stealing third on a wild pitch before Spruce Grove’s Becki Monaghan walk putting runners at first and third.
Monaghan stole second and the throw from the catcher went into centerfield to allow Huggart to cross the plate.
Benn lined a double over the third to LF driving in Monaghan going on two score on a two-run homerun to left by Janes giving Canada an 5-0 lead.
Ireland managed to get a pair of singles but not until the bottom of the inning but this wasn’t enough to score.
In the second, Emma Adams led off with a walk advancing to second on a passed ball that saw Edmonton’s Cassie Matlock grab an infield single.
Following a pop out to third then a strikeout (SO) Surrey’s Maria Palmegiani singled off the third baseman loading the bases, followed by a single to left by Toronto’s Rebecca Jones driving in a run.
Canada added two runs in the top of the fourth, with Monaghan and Palmegiani connecting with a pair of one-out singles then advancing on a wild pitch (WP) before both scoring on a double down the third base line by Benn to make the lead 8-0.
Ireland got a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth but was unable to extend the game as Canada won on the run rule.
Murphy got the start for Canada holding Ireland to four hits in five innings of play striking out six.
Benn had a pair of doubles while driving in three as Janes hit a two-run blast only to be followed by Matlock and Palmegiani each adding two singles.
Other hits in the game saw Huggart, Monaghan and Jones manage to work magic in the game and this win now helps Canada improve its record to 2-0.
Canada will now play a pair of games July 26th (Wednesday) against a 0-1 Korea at 11:00 AM followed by a game against 1-0 Great Britain at 6:00 PM EDT.
