July 28, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

Canada had an explosive start in its first game of the ninth Women’s Baseball World Cup Sunday evening at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The Canucks scored five in the first and two in the second, to secure a 7-2 win over Mexico.

Alexane Fournier (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) got the win, pitching five innings for Canada.

Starting off the World Cup with a victory gives Canada important momentum moving into Monday, said Canada’s manager Anthony Pluta, set to play world No. 1 ranked Japan.

“It was crazy important,” Pluta said. “Having a win under your belt going in to play the powerhouse country, the last six-time world champion, it gives us a little more confidence.”

3B Zoe Hicks (Boissevain, Man.) was key to their offensive success. With two outs and the bases loaded, Canada’s most valuable player in 2023 hit a three-run double.

2B Maddie Willan (Edmonton, Alta.) also added a run-scoring single in the first, making it 2-0 after the first run scored on two walks and a hit batter.

Canada was aggressive on the base paths early, with centre fielder Sena Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.) stealing two bases. The multi-sport athlete, who also plays hockey at Clarkson University, scored the first run in the second.

Andréanne Leblanc (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) representing Canada for the first time in international competition, hit a double in that same inning, scoring Canada’s seventh and final run of the game.

“Coming in, that’s who we wanted her to be,” Pluta said of Leblanc. “A big, power hitting switch hitter that can play first base, and she did her job.”

Rookie Michelle Roche (Burnaby, BC), also representing Canada for the first time in international competition, took over on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, helping secure the win for Canada. Roche pounded the strike zone, Pluta said, and didn’t waiver even after hitting a batter with two strikes.

“Michelle kept her composure and kept going,” he said. “It’s all you can ask for.”

Mexico scored their lone two runs of the game in the bottom of the second, after Gabriela Sandoval hit into a force with the bases loaded, scoring Daniela Ibarra from third. Samaria Benitez had an RBI single for Mexico.

Rosa Maria Del Castillo allowed seven runs, five hits, and walked two batters over two innings in her start for Mexico. Maricela Aguillera, who entered in relief of Del Castillo, threw four hitless frames where she recorded three strikeouts and four walks.

It’s not the first time Canada has had success against Mexico, participating in the World Cup for the first time in 2023. In the introductory meeting at the World Cup qualifiers last summer in Thunder Bay, Canada beat Mexico 9-1.

Canada is currently ranked seventh by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, heading into Monday night’s game against Japan at 7 p.m. Japan opened the tournament with a win against No. 2 ranked Chinese Taipei.

Also securing a win, Team USA, after Team Venezuela had to forfeit, failing to get a team together for game one.

Going into the Japan game, Canada has to be perfect, Pluta said, and play the way his team is capable of playing.

“Japan doesn’t make many mistakes, and one mistake could decide the entire game,” he said. “So we have to go in and play hard, and expect to be able to play defence and throw strikes.”

Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, BC), 19, will get the start for Canada.