(ATR) – Canada scored five runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the host United States 8-5 and win the bronze medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup.
The Canadians, who lost in the championship game to Japan two years ago, avenged an earlier 5-1 loss to Team USA that knocked them out of contention for the gold-medal game.
"The medal is awesome," said Canada manager Andre Lachance. "We faced adversity the last couple of games. The game against the U.S. was a killer for us to play for gold. I told them yesterday when you play for bronze, sometimes your energy goes down, but if you don’t play with everything you’ve got, you’re going to regret it after."
Canada had no regrets, winning its sixth World Cup medal (two silver and four bronze).
"We wanted that win so bad so everything came on clutch," said Daphnee Gelinas, whose three-run home run in the top of the fifth put Canada ahead 3-2 at USSSA Space Coast Stadium.
The One that Got Away
For Team USA, which won gold medals in 2004 and 2006, this was the one that got away.
"It’s just disappointing," said Megan Baltzell, whose towering home runs, including a 363-footer, sparked her team in previous games. "But we’ve come a long way. We’ve just got to come back in two years with a lot more fire and a lot of revenge coming."
Still, the United States fared better than it did two years ago when it didn’t make it to the Super Round (the final six teams) in Korea.
With the pressure on in the bottom of the seventh, Team USA tied it at 3 at the end of regulation. The game then moved into extra innings, with runners starting each inning on first and second.
Manager Matt Weagle said missed opportunities cost his team, which wound up stranding 16 base runners throughout the game.
"Hats off to(Canada)," he said. "They didn’t give in. They kept it a two-run game, the girl hit a three-run homer and that’s what you’re fearful of as a coach. That’s why you like to put away teams early and we didn’t and it bit us in the butt."
Bang-Bang Play
As the 10th inning began, Canada loaded the bases when pitcher Stacy Piagno scooped up a bunt, but her throw to third was not in time.
Weagle challenged the call to no avail. "There was that bang-bang play at third," he said. "She beat it, but using the challenge there, it was risk-reward. If there was the possibility of getting that call overturned, we were going to use it."
Gelinas then hit a line drive up the middle for her fourth RBI and the go-ahead run. Other runners scored on a hit-by-pitch and an infield single, then veteran Ashley Stephenson drove in two runs to cap the inning at 8-3.
Canada’s 16-year-old phenom Allison Schroder pitched the final 4 1/3 innings. She wore No. 16 to match her age and next year will switch to No. 17.
"As we started scoring runs, it’s obviously easier to pitch with a lead," she said. "I don’t really let age affect me very much, but playing with the older girls, you learn a lot from them, both on and off the field, so it’s good to have that experience around you."
Schoder struck out a batter, then Team USA drove in two runs to start a rally which was snuffed out by a double play.
"It was tough for sure knowing we were down five runs," said Baltzell, who was intentionally walked in clutch moments against Canada. "But we just had to keep on fighting and unfortunately today was not our day."
Coaching Change for Canada
This is Lachance’s last game as manager of Team Canada, but he will remain as general manager.
"I’ve been coaching the team for 15 years and it’s healthy to have someone else," he said. "I’m still going to stick around."
He said he doesn’t have to say anything to his team to get them ready to face the U.S. "They know what’s at stake," he said. "It’s a natural rivalry, which is really healthy. They know we’re playing for bronze and we want to win."
Written by Karen Rosen in Viera, Florida.
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