July 11, 2005

Canadian Teams Relegated to Losers Bracket at

( Surrey , BC ) Team Canada won one game and lost one, while the Canada Elite team lost one game in the first round of the Canada Cup playoffs. Both teams still have one life left in the double-knockout format.

Canada Elite will take on China – Beijing and Canada will play the winner of the China/Carbondale Cougars match in Saturday action.

All though the road to the final game is a bit longer via the losers bracket, both teams remain in contention for the championship.

In Canada's second playoff game, starter Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, BC) did not have her best stuff against Australia (world #2 ranked) and they made the Canadian squad pay the price. In the first three innings Holtz loaded the bases. In the 1st, Aussie veteran Natalie Ward doubled in 3 runs. In the 2 nd, Holtz pitched herself out of a 2-out bases loaded situation. However, in the 3 rd, Australia upped its lead to 5-0. With the bases again full, Kate Quigley hit a ball sharply to short stop Angela Lichty that took a nasty hop and allowed 2 more runs to score. Danielle Lawrie ( Langley , BC ) came in to relieve Holtz in the 3 rd inning.

Lawrie enticed the first batter she faced to hit into a double play to get out of the inning. Lawrie shut down the Aussie for the remainder of the game.

Canada managed to scatter four singles, one each from Sheena Lawrick ( Calgary, AB), Alison Bradley ( Pinkerton, ON), Brittany Freight ( Las Vegas, NV) and Angela Lichty ( Guelph , ON ), but could not score any runs against Justine Smethurst..

Holtz suffered the loss for Canada , pitching 2 innings allowing 5 earned runs on five hits while walking 4.

In earlier action, Canada came back against China to win its first playoff game at the Canada Cup. Down 1-0, Canada scored 3 runs in the top of the 5 th for the victory and advanced to the next round against Australia .

China got on the board in the bottom of the 3 rd inning. Jiang Xin singled and moved to 2 nd on Yu Yanhong sacrifice bunt. Jiang Xin advanced to 3rd and scored on a Zhou Yi single.

In the top of the 5 th, Lauren Bay (Trail, BC) walked and Erin Cumpstone ( Saskatoon, BC ) was hit by pitch to put runners at 1 st and 2 nd. Stephanie Reid ( Pickering , ON ) entered the game to pinch run for Cumpstone.

Kristy Odamura ( Richmond, BC ) singled to centre to drive in Bay with the equalizer. Rachel Schill ( Kitchener, ON ) walked to load the bases. Sheena Lawrick ( Calgary, AB) and Alison Bradley ( Pinkerton, ON) both walked to drive in Reid and Odamura to put Canada up 3-1.

Lauren Bay pitched a complete game for Canada to earn the win. Bay gave up 1 earned run, on 3 hits, walked 1 and struck out 9.

The Canada Elite team used up their first life in playoffs with a hard fought loss to the USA Elite on Friday afternoon.

The USA scored both their runs in the 3 rd inning. Tiffany Haas walked and moved to 2 nd on a sac bunt.

Lindsay Schutzler singled to drive in Haas. Haas advanced to 3 rd on single and a fielder's choice and scored on a pass ball to put the USA up 2-0.

Canada made things interesting in the 5 th inning when they closed the gap to one run.

Tiffany Patteson ( Guelph , ON ) hit a single.

With two out, Tamra Howren ( Surrey , BC ) doubled to left centre to score Patteson.

Robin Mackin ( Newmarket, ON) and Ashley Lanz ( Winnipeg , ON ) each pitched 3 innings.

Mackin gave up 2 runs (1 unearned), on 3 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4. Lanz gave up no runs on 1 hit and struck out 1.

Canada Elite first baseman Cindy Eadie ( Brantford , ON ) was awarded an all-star for her play in the round robin. Eadie hit .423 and drove in 6 runs in Canada Elite's