Canada Strikes First
THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – A packed stadium, a back-and-forth battle on the diamond, and two nations hungry for a win; this matchup had all the drama a baseball fan could ask for!
In the third inning, Australia’s starting pitcher Genevieve Beacom seemed to wobble under pressure, walking three batters to juice up the bases. Alexane Fournier then seized the moment, driving a clutch two-out single to centre, handing Canada an initial 2-0 advantage. Zoe Hicks turned the heat up a notch as she zoomed past the plate following a wild pitch.
Australia Roars Back
However, the Aussies were far from done. A duo of singles and a walk soon had the bases buzzing with potential. Leah Cornish and Lili Pearl both showcased their batting prowess, drawing walks and clocking in Australia’s debut runs. Yet Canada was determined to keep the lead, closing out the inning with a spectacular diving catch by Eli Day-Bédard, leaving them in the driver’s seat, 4-2.
Come the fifth, Australia found their rhythm. With bases loaded and Raine Padgham called to the mound to relieve Allison Schroder, tension was palpable. Leah Cornish took the opportunity to knock a run-reducing single, slicing Canada’s lead to just one. But the thrill didn’t stop there. Australia’s hotshot, third baseman Caitlin Eynon, stepped up to deliver a go-ahead RBI single, flipping the scoreboard in favor of Australia. Abbey Kelly rounded off the inning with a two-run single, propelling Australia to a 7-4 lead.
Canada’s Last Stand
However, the top of the sixth saw Canada rising from the ashes. Sena Catteral set the stage on fire with a scorching lead-off triple. With the bases now ripe for scoring, Alizée Gélinas and Zoe Hicks delivered singles, taking advantage of a wild pitch to shift into scoring positions. The spotlight was once again on Alexane Fournier, who delivered, tying the game 7-7.
In the ensuing action, Canada put the finishing touches on their comeback. Madison Willan’s grounder with a loaded base saw Canada once again edging ahead. And just when you thought it was over, Alizée Gélinas delivered two vital runs, with Alexane Fournier sealing the deal with yet another single. With an outstanding five RBIs, Fournier emerged as the game’s undeniable MVP.
Stay tuned, sports fans! This tournament is shaping up to be one for the books.
