Team Canada has clinched a spot in women’s softball at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas Women’s Olympic Softball Qualifier from Surrey, British Columbia on Sunday, Canada trounced Brazil 7-0 to get one of the two vacant Olympic spots from the tournament.
In Canada’s win over Brazil, three Canadians had multi-hit games as Victoria Hayward of Toronto, Ontario, Kaleigh Rafter of Guelph, Ontario and Larissa Franklin of Maple Ridge, British Columbia each had two hits. Rafter led Canada with three runs scored, while Franklin led Canada with three runs batted in. On the mound, Danielle Lawrie of Burnaby, British Columbia pitched extremely well as she only gave up one hit in five innings and had eight strikeouts compared to zero walks.
The seven run win over Brazil was one of two Super Round wins for Canada in the tournament. The other was an 11-0 Canada win over Venezuela on Friday. Kelsey Jenkins of Delta, British Columbia led Canada with three runs, while Jennifer Gilbert of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan led Canada with three runs batted in. Six Canadians led the team with two hits as Hayward, Jenkins, Gilbert, Holly Speers of Vancouver, British Columbia, Jennifer Salling of Burnaby, British Columbia and Emma Entzminger of Victoria, British Columbia all had multiple-hit games.
Team Canada initially blew a chance of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo when they lost 2-1 to Mexico on Saturday. Mexico and Canada are joined in the Olympic tournament so far with the United States, Italy and Japan.
