Canada shutout again in Olympic women's softball
6-0 loss makes it tougher to make semifinals
August 17, 2008
BEIJING -- Two runs for Japan in the second inning and another two runs in the third and the sixth innings have made a tough spot even tougher for Canada in Olympic women's softball.
Canada lost 6-0 to Japan today. The Canadian women needed a win to be assured a spot in the semifinals.
It was just a couple of days ago that Canada took a 1-0 lead into the final four innings of a suspended game with the mighty Americans, whom they'd never beaten at the Olympics.
They were 3-0 in the seven-team tournament and the thought wasn't of qualifying for the semifinals, but whether they might finish first overall in the preliminary round.
But after a shocking unravelling to that American game – the 1-0 lead turned into an 8-1 loss and included an inning in which they gave up four runs on no hits – the Canadians have not only not won a game, they haven't scored a run.
Losing for the third straight game – to the United States 8-1, to Venezuela 2-0 and to Australia 4-0 Saturday night – the pressure was on Canada to beat Japan.
But the competition was tough today and once again Canada couldn't score a run.
Whitby's Erin McLean had two at bats but was struck out in the third inning and grounded out in the sixth.
-- with files from Doug Smith, Torstar news services