Parade Of Athletes

With the women’s 2015 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship well underway, teams, athletes, families, friends and fans of the game gathered last night on the Championship Diamond at Softball City for the annual Parade of Athletes.  

The event gave all those involved in the tournament the opportunity celebrate the sport of fastpitch and inspire young female athletes to reach for their personal best.

The celebration also allowed the up-and-coming talent from the Women’s Futures and Showcase Gold, and Future Showcase Select to walk alongside their idols and mentors.

The Parade of Athletes served as an opportunity to thank the Championship hosts and volunteers for all of their hard work and dedication in facilitating a Championship that draws the best of the best from all over the world.

On Thursday evening, Team Canada will face off against Team Japan to compete for the number 1 spot.

Directly following the game will be an opportunity for fans and spectators to meet the athletes that make up Team Canada at the official autograph signing following the 6:30 PM match.

Team Canada vs. Team Cuba

Team Canada started the game on the field, and with a quick three up three down move to the bats. Canada jumped on the sticks by pushing two across when there where two out.

In the second inning, Team Cuba put pressure on the Canadians by hitting into the holes and loading the bases, but to no prevail when Canada’s shortstop caught the pop fly to get the third out.

Team Canada stayed fired up on the sticks by scoring another two runs in the bottom of the second.

Team Cuba proved to not stop without a fight. In the third inning, Cuba got one on base and number 17 came up to hit a homerun over the centre field to put Team Cuba on the scoreboard to make the game 4-2.

To shut down Team Cuba, Canada got a double play with a throw to second, then first to get the force on both bases. Off of an amazing throw from the Cuban right fielder to the catcher, to what should have been the second out, Canada scored another run from an interference call on the catcher.

The Canadian team used the momentum switch to their advantage by hitting a triple to score another two runs and to keep pushing by, hitting a home run to make the score 9-2 in the fourth.

After an emotional game for Team Cuba, Team Canada used it to their advantage by winning the game in the fifth 9-2.

Team Japan vs. Team Mexico

To start the game off, Team Mexico got a runner on with a single, and pushed her around to score the first run of the game. Team Japan answered back by getting two on with walks and hitting a ball to the left field to score their first run, they ended the inning at 2-1 for Japan.

In the third inning, Team Mexico hit a triple and the runner scored from a single up the left side, making the game 2-2. By using a sacrifice bunt and sac fly, Team Japan scored another run to get ahead in the third.

Team Japan kept the pressure on by getting back on the sticks in the fourth inning and moved runners with hard hits and smart base running.

Team Mexico centre fielder made a beautiful diving catch to get the second out during the inning.

To keep the Japanese on the sticks, number 28 hit the ball over the centre field fence to score another two runs.

At the end of the fourth inning the score was 10-2 for Japan, but in the fifth inning # 55 for Team Mexico (no name given) hit a homerun to add an extra run to the board.

Her teammate, number 77, followed suit with a hit to the fence, to get a triple. Team Mexico stayed alive by putting the pressure on team Japan and found the holes to score another two runs in the fifth inning.

Team Japan came back in the sixth inning to score one more run to win. Team Mexico put up a good fight against Team Japan and were competitors for the whole game, bringing Team Japan back into range to fight for their win. Unfortunately, it was not enough and Team Japan came out on top at 11-4.

Thanks to Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship for the info.