July 18, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

Feature: Venezuela

Showdown in Women’s Championship

Player Profile

page 2

see schedule on page 3

Kelsey Haberl page 4

Canada vs. Japan

® CANADA

JAPAN

USA

AUSTRALIA

VENEZUELA

Showdown: Delta Heat vs Saskatoon Selects July 18 CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Canada wins first game at Canadian Open

Force out at second!

Team Canada baserunner Jenny Gilbert (24) is forced out at second base by California A’s infielder Danielle Henderson, while teammate Nicole Matson looks on. Canada defeated The A’s 5-1. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Thursday July 18, 2013

2013

Visit www.CanadianOpenFastpitch. com for event information, maps, tickets, scores and more. Visit BCLocalNews.com for feature coverage of the tournament by Black Press publications, including Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader.

Follow @CdnOpen on Twitter to stay up-to-the-minute with the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Use the hashtag #COFP13 to let people know you’re tweeting about the tournament and to see what others are saying. Also, follow @BlackPressDigital to stay informed.

Snapshots of the game: Wed. July 17

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WATCH GAMES ONLINE, JULY 16-22

The Women’s International Championship games from the Championship Diamond will be broadcast LIVE online with our pay-per-view service! Visit www. CanadianOpenFastpitch.com to view live games through the dedicated feed directly from Softball City. Proudly supported by the video team from Briere Production Group and the website streaming services of NeuLion.

FOLLOW ALONG

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Visit the Canadian Open Fastpitch official YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/ CdnOpenFastpitch for softball-related videos and tournament action.

Five years after qualifying for the Summer Olympic Games, Venezuela hopes to challenge for a medal at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

A lone softball team from South America Team Venezuela is the only team representing South America at the 2013 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship, but their solo status at this year’s games hasn’t deterred them – if anything, it’s fueling their competitive fire.

The Venezuela women’s national team placed fifth at last year’s Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship, defeating New Zealand in their final game.

TEAM VENEZUELA

Boasting an impressive roster of talented young athletes, this team qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where they fought hard against the best teams in the world in the hunt for a medal and a place at the top of the podium. In Beijing, they won two games in a row without giving away any runs, but ultimately missed a place in the medal round to one of the top teams.

The team is currently ranked 12th overall in the world softball standings, and they remain a point of national pride for Venezuela.

Venezuela hosted the 12th ISF Women’s World Championship in 2010 in Caracas. The National Team hopes to improve upon last year’s performance at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship and will be looking to take home a medal this time around.

Tweet photos to @CdnOpen

Thursday July 18, 2013 • CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET

Friday, July 12th ■ It’s Opening Day of the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City. Saturday, July 13th ■ Women’s Elite Championship division play begins at Softball City. ■ It’s Opening Day of the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Cloverdale Athletic Park and Sunnyside Park. Monday, July 15th ■ The Showcase Select C hampionship Game on Diamond 2 begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Showcase Select Awards Presentation. ■ Watch the Futures Select Championship Game on Diamond 2 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Futures Select Awards Presentation. Tuesday, July 16th ■ Team Canada takes on China-Nanjing for their first game in the Women’s International Division on Diamond 1 at 6:30 p.m. ■ It’s Boy’s Night Out at the ballpark! Catch some local boys softball games at Diamond 2 at Softball City, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17th ■ Join the Celebration of Softball! The Parade of Athletes begins at 5:30 p.m. on Diamond 1 at Softball City. ■ Team Canada vs. Team Australia at 7 p.m. at Softball City. Thursday, July 18th ■ Visit Team Canada for their autograph signing, taking place after their 6:30 p.m. game vs. Team Japan at Softball City. Friday, July 19th ■ The Women’s Elite All Star Awards take place at 5:30 p.m. on Diamond 1. ■ Team Canada vs. Team USA, 6:30 p.m. at Softball City. Saturday, July 20th Don’t miss the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Women’s International All Star Awards on Diamond 1 at 6 p.m.

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Sunday, July 21st • ■ The Showcase Gold Championship Game will be held on Diamond 2 at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Showcase Gold Awards Presentation. ■ The Futures Gold Championship Game is on Diamond 2 at 4 p.m. followed by Futures Gold Awards. ■ The Women’s Elite Championship Game is set for Diamond 1 at 4 p.m., followed by the Women’s Elite Awards Presentation.

▼ KEY DATES AND EVENTS

games to watch:

Today’s Schedule: THURSDAY, July 18

PARKS: SBC - Softball City, CAP - Cloverdale Athletic Park, SP - Sunnyside Park.

Monday, July 22nd ■ The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Women’s International Championship Game happens on Diamond 1 at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Women’s International Awards Presentation.

Are you wondering what’s happening on the field when you’re somewhere else? View scores, statistics, and the live-updated Game Live system from Pointstreak scoring technologies online at www.CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Gabby Jamieson of the Surrey Storm ’96 Selects smiles after she safely dives back to first base in a Futures Select game against Parksville Rage earlier this week. (Boaz Joseph/Surrey Leader photo)

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Thursday July 18, 2013

▲ DAILY GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Renegades share top spot with Rebelles

The White Rock Renegades grabbed a share of first place in the Women’s Elite division, defeating the Quebec Rebelles 7-4 Tuesday night, a result that left both teams with two wins in three starts. The other two teams in the Elite group, Team BC and the Northwest Lady Sharks, each have one win in three games. The Renegades scored twice in the first and three times in the second for a 5-1 lead. The Rebelles crossed the plate three times in the fourth to get to within a run, but were shut out the rest of the way. Marina Groenewegen was three-for-three with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Maddie Lynch-Couture was the winning pitcher, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five batters. Today (Thursday) is the final day of play in the round robin portion of the Women’s Elite competition, and each team will play twice. All four teams will advance to a double-knockout playoff that begins tomorrow, leading up to Sunday’s championship game at 4 p.m.

Team Canada starts with a win over A’s Team Canada opened the Women’s International division tournament in fine fashion Tuesday night at Softball City, defeating the California A’s 5-1. Saskatoon native Jenny Gilbert drove in three of the host country’s runs, while South Surrey native Sara Groenewegen – in her first month with the senior national team – was credited with the win after pitching three innings of scoreless relief. Marina Demore – who, like Groenewegen, is a former White Rock Renegade – started in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, allowing one run in four innings. Canada opened the scoring in the first inning when Caitlin Lever hit a triple and came around to score on a single from Gilbert, and the game stayed 1-0 until the fourth, when the A’s tied it after a series of singles and sacrifices. In the sixth, however, Canada scored the four runs to restore the lead and walk away with the victory. Today (Thursday), the Canadians take on the defending Canadian Open champions from Japan. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at Softball City’s Diamond #1. Japan was surprised by Venezuela in its first game Tuesday. Winners of last week’s US World Cup in Oklahoma, Japan allowed six runs in the bottom if the sixth inning in an 8-6 loss.

Hooch Fagaly of the California A’s can’t get a glove on a ball, allowing Caitlyn Lever of Canada to arrive safely at first base. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

Player profile: Kelsey Haberl (Burnaby) – Team Canada In 2012, Kelsey Haberl finished off a successful senior season at SFU setting very strong offensive numbers and leading the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) in batting average (.465) on base percentage (.496) and walks (38). She also finished with an impressive fielding percentage of .995 and was named GNAC player of the year. The recent SFU Clan graduate is a former member of the Surrey Storm and a graduate of Burnaby Mountain Secondary. The first baseman competed with Team Canada in the 2012 World Cup, 2012 ISF Women’s World Championships and the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship.

Fast facts: Did you know....? The first softball league outside the United States was organized in 1897 in Toronto. Did you know....? In softball pitchers throw the ball underhand, using a windmill motion, and games last seven innings instead of nine. It is also played on a smaller diamond. Did you know....? Softball was named an Olympic sport for women in 1991, and made its debut as a medal event in Atlanta in 1996. Did you know....? Despite the name, the ball used is not soft. It is about 12 in. (30 cm) in circumference, which is 3 in. (8 cm) larger than a baseball. Did you know....? The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship has more than 400 volunteers!