July 19, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

Showdown in Women’s Championship Feature: California A’s Elite teams begin playoff see schedule on page 3

page 2

Player Profile Leigh Godfrey page 4

® CANADA

JAPAN

USA

AUSTRALIA

VENEZUELA

Showdown: Australia vs Japan July 19 CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Playoffs near at Canad ian Open

Off and running!

A baserunner from the Quebec Rebelles takes off from first base during their game against the White Rock Renegades at the 2013 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Friday July 19, 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: Thu. July 18

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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.

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

The California A’s are the lone club team in the Women’s International tournament at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

A’s bring their best for international test Last year’s Women’s Elite division champions, the California A’s, have moved into the Women’s International division this year to take on the world’s top national teams at the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship.

three runs against for the entire tournament.

CALIFORNIA A’s

For the California A’s, this competition will be a true test of the team’s strength and determination, which went relatively uncontested during last year’s Women’s Elite play. The team asserted themselves early on as one to watch in the 2012 tournament and had no runs scored against them after the first three days. They ultimately came out on top in that division with 11 wins, 83 runs and only

The California A’s is a team of accomplished Division 1 college athletes or newly recruited players entering their college careers, and is the product of owner/manager Kathy Miller, who funds the entire Newport Beach-based team.

With an incredible pool of talent and an incredibly short season that is limited to one tournament (the Scotiabank Canadian Open), these athletes are brought together by a shared passion and dedication to the sport. They will undoubtedly be bringing their A-game to Softball City this year.

Tweet photos to @CdnOpen

Friday July 19, 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: FRIDAY, July 19

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

Baserunner Maria Palmegiani of the Delta Heat ’98 slides safely back to first base during a game against the Oregon Panthers at the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Cloverdale Athletic Park. (Boaz Joseph/Surrey Leader photo)

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Friday July 19, 2013

▲ DAILY GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Teams all even in Elite division

The Women’s Elite division went into the final day of round robin play yesterday (Thursday) with all four teams deadlocked in the standings. After Team BC topped the White Rock Renegades 12-6 Wednesday evening, every team had a 2-2 won-lost record with two games to play. Lindsey Ogilvey, who played for the Surrey Storm last season, was the winning pitcher for Team BC, throwing the final three innings and allowing two earned runs. Iris Chow, also a former player in the Storm rep program, and Courtney Bridge each drove in three runs. Rachelle McGarva tripled to drive in two runs for the Renegades, also scoring herself. Earlier in the day, the Northwest Ladysharks topped the Quebec Rebelles 3-1 for their second consecutive win. All runs were scored in the fifth inning. Quebec got their run when Corinne Brookhuis singled to score Brigitte Aizprua from second base. The Sharks responded with five singles to score three times in the bottom half of the inning. All four teams played twice yesterday (Thursday) to determine the seeding for the doubleknockout playoff round which begins today. The first-place team plays the-fourth place at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second- and thirdplace teams playing at 8:30 p.m. The championship game is Sunday at 4 p.m. All games are at Softball City.

Second straight win for Team Canada

Team Canada improved its record to 2-0 (won-lost) at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship after a 3-0 win over Australia Wednesday night. Victoria Hayward had three hits and and a run batted in, and Saskatoon native Jenny Gilbert blasted a solo home run to centrefield in the sixth inning to lead the way offensively. Leadoff hitter Joey Lye also had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. Veteran pitcher Jenna Caira picked up the win for Canada, allowing four hits while striking out two in five innings of work, and reliever Sara Plourde picked up the save, striking out four Aussie batters over the final two innings. In other action on Wednesday, the California A’s (1-2) doubled Venezuela (1-2) by a score of 4-2, and the United States (2-0) defeated Japan (0-2) 10-3 in six innings in the final game of the day.

A California A’s batter rounds first base after hitting a single against the U.S.A. Tuesday night at Softball City. The U.S.A. won the game 4-1. (Evan Seal/Surrey Leader photo)

Player profile: Leigh Godfrey Leigh Godfrey has been vice-captain of Team Australia since 2011 and has been part of Australian squads since she was 13 years old. She has played on the Open Australian team since 2008, has won three Australian National Championships, has been to three World Championships and was the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2009. Godfrey’s mother and aunt have also represented Australia at the World Championships in softball. This is her fourth time playing at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City and she says it’s always a highlight of her softball calendar.

Fast facts: Did you know....? The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship has 300-400 delegates (trainers, doctors, ISF representatives) and 300-400 coaches from around the world. Did you know....? Softball was invented in 1887 by George Hancock, a journalist for the Chicago Board of Trade. He designed the game to be a form of indoor baseball to be played during the winter. Did you know....? Softball is one of only two sports in the NCAA which are exclusive to women, the other is field hockey. Did you know....? If the pitcher steps to the side or backwards while pitching, this motion is considered deceptive, and the pitch will be declared illegal.