Veteran Ashley Stephenson came into the womenB次元官网网址檚 baseball World Cup with the mindset that the tournament could be her last as a player.
Now that sheB次元官网网址檚 leaving with a bronze medal after a dramatic win over the United States, the third baseman from Mississauga, Ont., isnB次元官网网址檛 quite sure sheB次元官网网址檚 ready to give it up.
Stephenson drove in two runs as part of a five-run 10th inning after Daphnee Gelinas broke the tie with an RBI single, and Canada held on to defeat the host United States 8-5 in Viera, Fla., on Friday.
B次元官网网址淚 was talking to Kate Psota, another veteran on the team, and she was like: B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 know how we can hang it up after this. That was just way too much fun,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Stephenson said with a laugh. B次元官网网址漌e just kind of chuckled to ourselves and left the room without saying anything else B次元官网网址� so yeah, it will be a cliffhanger for the next little bit.
B次元官网网址淚 approached it like it was my last tournament and have no regrets about it. ItB次元官网网址檚 every two years so itB次元官网网址檚 a big commitment. B次元官网网址� But we didnB次元官网网址檛 pull the chute just yet.B次元官网网址�
With international baseball rules in play, the teams began their respective halves of the extra innings with runners on first and second. Neither team managed to push a run across over the eighth and ninth despite plenty of chances on both sides.
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Gelinas finally broke through with a run-scoring single off Stacy Piagno in the top of the 10th B次元官网网址� her fourth RBI of the game after a three-run homer in the fifth B次元官网网址� and Anne-Sophie Lavalee made it 5-3 with a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Mia Valke drove in another and Stephenson followed with her two-run base hit.
Right-hander Allison Schroder, competing in her first World Cup, allowed two runs in the bottom of the 10th before getting a double play to end the game.
Stephenson, a high school teacher, has played in each of the eight World Cups since the tournamentB次元官网网址檚 inception in 2004. Psota, of Burlington, Ont., has done the same while manager Andre Lachance has skipped the team from the beginning.
This World Cup marked LachanceB次元官网网址檚 last at the helm of the womenB次元官网网址檚 national program.
B次元官网网址淲here the sportB次元官网网址檚 gone since 2004, not just in our country but across the globe, a lot of it has to do with Andre,B次元官网网址� Stephenson said. B次元官网网址淭oday, the bronze felt like gold and IB次元官网网址檓 glad he was able to go out with a medal.B次元官网网址�
Canada won silver at the last tournament in South Korea in 2016, losing to No. 1-ranked Japan in the championship final. The Canadians, ranked No. 2, have finished in the top 4 in every World Cup and have six medals B次元官网网址� four bronze and two silvers.
Japan beat Taiwan for its sixth consecutive gold medal later Friday.
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Gelinas had given Canada a 3-2 lead with her three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning. The second baseman from Repentigny, Que., connected on a 3-1 pitch from Brittany Schutte with one out, sending the ball over the right-field fence and scoring Kaitlyn Ross and Nicole Luchanski.
Canada was two outs away from victory when the U.S. tied the game on a Malaika Underwood double off Schroder in the bottom of the seventh.
B次元官网网址淲e knew it was going to be tough,B次元官网网址� Stephenson said. B次元官网网址淚 just remember saying when I jogged into the dugout B次元官网网址榳ell letB次元官网网址檚 have fun.B次元官网网址� International tiebreak, I knew it would be a crazy finish.B次元官网网址�
The Americans had scored two in the first inning on a single and a bases-loaded hit batter from CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Amanda Asay, who was starting two days after pitching a complete game shutout against Venezuela.
The right-hander from Prince George, B.C., whoB次元官网网址檚 in the process of completing a PhD in forestry at UBC, worked 5 2/3 innings before being replaced by the 16-year-old Schroder. The Fruitvale, B.C., native inherited a runner on third, but struck out pinch hitter Samantha Cobb to end the inning.
B次元官网网址淎say really bared down on the mound and was outstanding,B次元官网网址� Stephenson said. B次元官网网址淎nd then Schroder came in with nerves of steel. And she just kept dealing in extras.B次元官网网址�
Schroder was one of two 16-year-olds on a Canadian team that blended youth with experience. Five more players on the roster were under 18.
B次元官网网址淭he future is right now for sure for this program.B次元官网网址� Stephenson said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some veterans that were key, Psota had an unbelievable tournament, Luchanski is always so good. But the young girls really are the future and theyB次元官网网址檙e here and theyB次元官网网址檙e ready.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been fun to watch.B次元官网网址�
Melissa Couto, The Canadian Press
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