USA DEFEATS JAMAICA

 

In the first of two games the USA will play Thursday at the Pan Am games, the USA team defeated Jamaica 20-0 in three innings. Fifteen players batted in the 1st inning, with 10 runs scored, highlighted by Emily Zaplatosch’s four rbi (she had 6 for the game while Lauren Lappin had 4 for the game).

 

The victory moves the USA to 5-0 in the pool standings, with the number one seed in the championship round to be determined by their game tonight against Canada, which is also undefeated as it goes into an afternoon game against Netherlands Antilles.  The loss eliminates Jamaica from any consideration for a berth to the 2003 Junior Olympics.  Jamaica lost all six games.

 

Laura Ferreira pitched the first two innings.  Sasha-Gaye Johnson led off the game with a dribbler past the mound for Jamaica ’s only hit.  Ferreira fanned the next six batters.  Alicia Hollowell pitched the 3rd inning, striking out two.

 

Norelle Dickson walked to open the bottom of the 1st; Linda Secka followed with a single to right, scoring Dickson.  Lauren Lappin walked, and Emily Zaplatosch hit a 2-rbi double to left.  After an out, Stephanie Van Brakle singled to right for an rbi.  Anna Beardman followed with a single to left.  Kristie Fox brought in both runners with a double to left.  Tina Boutelle singled.  Dickson drew her second walk, and Secka was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Lappin hit into a 5-2 fielder’s choice, forcing Boutelle at home.  Zaplatosch then drove in two more runs (4 rbi for the inning) and Mallorie Lenn drove in the 10th run of the inning with a single to left.  Fifteen players batted.

 

The USA went down 1-2-3 in the 2nd inning, a rare occurrence in this tournament.

 

In the top of the 3rd, Natalie Simme fouled out to Monica Abbott at 1st, the only ball hit since the game’s  leadoff batter.

 

Abbott now leading off the 3rd stroked a single to left, followed by a single from Secka, who enjoyed her best game at the plate, and Lapping walked to load the bases.  Zaplatosch, who was 3-3 on the day, added to her rbi total with a 2-run single to center.  Lenn hit into a fielder’s choice, retiring Lappin.  Van Brakle hit an rbi single to center, and Lenn scored when the Jamaican 3rd overthrew on Anna Beardman’s grounder.  Fox then collected her third rbi with a single to right.  Abbott followed with an rbi single to center, and another run scored when Secka’s grounder was misplayed at 2nd. 

 

The two runs needed to close out the game were driven in by Lauren Lappin who hit a hard double to left; an error on the play let both Secka and Lappin score.

 

The USA had 30 at-bats in two and two-thirds innings, collected15 hits, and drew four walks, and one strikeout.  Jamaica made 1 error.

 

Guatemala plays Argentina at 2pm , and Canada plays Antilles at 430.  The final game between the USA and Canada is scheduled for 730.

 

End

 

 

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