TORONTO 2015 Softball Pan American Softball Confederation Daily Newsletter July 22, 2015
USA clinches top spot in standings
Toronto, July 22, 2015.- After beating Cuba yesterday, United States clinched the first place in the round robin. For its part, Brazil and Cuba will play this evening for the last ticket to the playoffs. While Canada and Puerto Rico will play for the second place in the regular phase.
USA 9-2 Cuba Yesterday, United States beat Cuba 9-2 in six innings, and thus clinched first place in robin round. The USA team scored six runs in the second inning to take the victory.
In the bottom of the first inning, Cuba took the lead with two runs. Yuselys Acosta and Maylin Sanchez started the game with consecutive singles from starter Allyson Carda. The right hander retired Katia Coello and Maritza Toledo with two fly balls before walking Yanisleidys Casanova. With the bases loaded, Leanneyi Gomez hit a 2 run single to put the Caribbean team ahead. However, in the opening of the second inning, the United States exploded on offense. With the bases loaded and one out, Raven Chavanne hit an RBI single to left field and Haylie McCleney put her
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country ahead with a two-run single to center field. With two outs and two runners on, Valerie Arioto hit a long ball to the warning track for a 2 run triple. Arioto scored shortly after on an RBI single by Chidester to center field. Despite the USA rally, Cuba seemed to react in the bottom of the second. Yilian Rondon reached on an error by the USA pitcher, followed by an infield hit to shortstop by Diamela Puentes, all without any outs. That was all for Carda, who left the circle after 1+ innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 base on balls, and no strikeouts. Jessica Moore entered in relief and managed to get out of the jam, and from there silenced the Cuban bats. The knock out runs came in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Valerie Arioto walked and Chidester singled, producing two runs, putting the result 9-2. USA winner was Jessica Moore in relief for five innings, striking out five and allowing just two hits. For Cuba, the loss went to Yumey Vega (2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 BB). With this result the USA clinched first place in the round robin, which ensures them a medal in these games. On the other side, Cuba is tied in the standings with Brazil in fourth place; both teams will play this afternoon to define the last guest to the playoffs.
What you need to know Standings G
W
L
RF RA
USA
4
4
0
32
4
Canadá
4
3
1
20
14
Puerto Rico
4
3
1
18
16
Brasil
4
1
3
2
16
Cuba
4
1
3
7
18
Dominicana
4
0
4
14
25
Yesterday’s
scores
Puerto Rico 2-0 Brazil Puerto Rico beat Brazil 2-0 in the first match of the day to clinch a playoff spot in the Pan American Games Women’s Softball competition. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second inning when Aleshia Ocasio tripled to deep center field with no outs, placing herself in scoring position. Then, Dayanira Diaz walked and Monica Santos drove in the first Puerto Rican run with a bunt. In the third inning, with two outs and pinch runner Gabi Palacios on second, Ocasio hit a hard liner to center field, driving in the second run for Puerto Rico to expand their lead. Brazil had just three runners on base during the whole match; one for a base on balls in the third and two from hits in the final two innings of the game.
Brasil 0 - 2 Puerto Rico WP: Aleshia Ocasio (2-0) LP: Nilze Higa (1-2)
USA 9 - 2 Cuba WP: Jessica Moore (2-0) LP: Yumey Vega (0-1)
Canadá 9 - 7 Dominicana WP: Sara Groenewegen (2-0) LP: Geovanny Núñez (0-4)
Games Schedules
Ocasio took the victory pitching seven innings, allowing two hits and a walk, striking out five; in addition, she was the best offensive player, going 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
14.00 hs. - DOM vs USA
Puerto Rico will meet Canada today in the last game of the day, playing for the second spot in the standings. For their
19.00 hs. - PUR vs CAN
16.30 hs. - CUB vs BRA
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part, Brazil will define its future in the Games facing Cuba in the second match of the day to battle for the last playoff spot in play.
The fifth run for Canada came in the top of the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly by Polidori to left field to score Franklin.
Canada 9-2 Dominican Republic
After three scoreless innings, the Dominican Republic put numbers on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer by Geraldine Feliz to center field, to make the score 5-2.
Canada beat the Dominican Republic 9-7 last night in an agonizing match with numerous lead changes in the score. The home team entered the last inning down 7-5, and was one strike away from losing the game, but clutch hitting allowed them to turn the score around and get their third win of the tournament. Canada scored its first run through Kaleigh Rafter, thanks to a wild pitch from pitcher Anabell Ulloa. After two quick outs, Canada loaded the bases on a single by Rafter and walks to Jennifer Salling and Erika Polidori before Rafter scored from third. In the top of the third, Rafter made some noise again. With Larissa Franklin on base, the first baseman doubled to right, driving in the second run for her team. Soon after, she scored on an RBI single by Polidori, while the fourth Canadian run entered with a single by Natalie Wideman.
And one inning later, the Dominicans took the lead thanks to three defensive errors by the Canadian team. Geovanny Nunez found two runners on base and brought them home with a hard line drive to right field. Soon after, she scored on a fielder’s choice, tying the game at 5-5. And finally, the Dominicans took the lead with a run by Feliz on an error by Rafter. However, in the top of the seventh, Canada scored four runs to regain the lead and claim the victory. Megan Timpf tripled to lead off the inning and scored shortly after from a passed ball. With two outs, Canada managed to stay alive and eventually win the match. Jen Yee walked and Franklin reached with an infield hit, leaving runner on first
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and second. With two strikes in the count, Rafter connected a single to left field. The fielder tried to pick up the ball and throw it to home, but the ball went under her glove, allowing two runs for Canada. The last run was produced by Jenn Salling with a single to center field, putting final score on the board. The game winner was Sara Groenewegen with 2 innings of work, allowing 1 hit and 1 run with 5 strikeouts. For Canada started the leftie Jocelyn Cater, who allowed 3 hits and 2 runs with 5 fanned. However, Karissa Hovinga couldn’t keep the lead in one inning of work, allowing 4 runs and 3 hits. For the Dominican Republic, Geovanny Nunez took the loss (1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 K), pitching in the seventh inning and allowing the winning runs for the home team.
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