USA WINS PAN AM GAMES

The United States defeated Canada 2-0 Saturday night to win the Pan American Junior World Championship in Hermosillo , Mexico .

Monica Abbott, named Most Valuable Player in a well-done closing ceremony, pitched a one-hitter, striking out 13 Canadians.  Only one other Canadian reached base (an infield error in the 4^th).  The tall left-hander mixed a sweeping curve, a sharp-breaking low rise, and some timely change-ups to hobble the Canadians, the second-most powerful team in the tournament.  Abbott struck out the first six Canadians, and three of their last four.

USA firepower was supplied by Caitlin Lowe (3-3 including the first run and an rbi single, and a walk), Christina Clark (rbi single) and Lisa Dodd (double).  Lowe and Dodd scored the USA runs.  Emily Zaplatosch and Kristen Vesely had the other USA hits.

The United States threatened from the outset, but the defenses on both sides were awesome. Lowe led off the bottom of the 1^st with an infield single.  Tina Boutelle was hit by a pitch but the next three Americans – Jodie Legaspi, Clark and Mallorie Lenn --made outs.  Zaplatosch  singled to open the 2^nd, and Anna Beardman drew a walk, to once again put two Americans on with no outs. But, Kristie Fox hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Zaplatosch at 3rd.  Linda Secka advanced the runners with a sacrifice fly and Lowe walked to load the bases, but substitute Lauren Lappin popped to 1^st after fouling off several pitches on a 3-2 count.  The USA went down in order (Legaspi, Clark, Lenn) in the 3^rd, as did the Canadians, thanks to two consecutive defensive gems by Abbott, snaring hard-hit ground balls by Jenny Fitzgerald and Katherine Tipper which were headed up the middle; a right-hander probably would not have made those plays.  

Between the 3^rd and 5^th innings, the USA changed its defense.  Lappin took Boutelle’s spot in the batting order and replaced Legaspi at short, who moved to left.  Norelle Dickson took Anna Beardman’s spot in the batting order, and moved to 3^rd, while Christina Clark replaced Beardman at 1^st.  Kristen Vesely took Linda Secka’s spot in the batting order and replaced her in right field where she made two sparkling catches, including the final out.  Finally, Lisa Dodd took Emily Zaplatosch’s designated hitter spot in the batting order and played shortstop in the final inning.

Canada had its best shot in the 4^th; leading hitter Katherine Van Deviere popped to short but the ball was dropped.  Jenna Campagnola popped to 3^rd, and Abbott struck out power hitters Noemi Marin and Alisia Naradowski to end the threat. Naradowski had worked the count full before striking out.  In the USA half, Zaplatosch fanned.  Norelle Dickson, batting in place of Beardman, flew out to short while Fox flew out to left field – the Canadians playing very deep against the USA lineup.

Diana Baruffa brought the Canadian crowd to its feet with a line drive to right field in the 5^th caught by Vesely but Abbott silenced them striking out designated hitter Jordan Keen.

In the USA half, Vesely ground out to second, but Lowe beat out her second infield hit.  Lappin drew a walk.  Legaspi flew out deep to right, setting the stage for Clark ’s hard two-out single to center scoring the speeding Lowe. Megan Mackenzie, the Canadian ace, recorded her third and last strikeout against Lenn.

That one run lead seemed smaller in the Canadian sixth when Van Deviere smacked a drive inside the right field line for the visitors’ first and only hit.  Again, Abbott rose to the occasion, striking out Campagnola to end the rally.

Relief in the form of an insurance run was provided by Dodd in the 6^th; she opened the inning with a double which went to the wall.  Dickson reached on an error by the third baseman.  Fox flied out to 3^rd.  Vesely hit a sharp grounder which ricocheted off the pitcher for a hit, loading the bases. Canada brought in power pitcher Keen.  Up stepped Lowe; the infield was prepared for another slap by the lefty center fielder; instead, Caitlin drilled a single to center on a 2-2 count, driving in Dodd.  The also speedy Dickson rounded the corner but was out at home on a great throw by center fielder Campagnola.   The inning ended on a ground out.  Dodd took over at SS in the 7^th.

Now just three outs away from the championship of the Pan American games, Dodd struck out power hitters Marin and Naradowski, each for the third time.  Finally, Jessica Morris hit a fly ball to Vesely in right to end the game.  Earlier Vesely had impressed with a diving attempt to catch a sinking foul ball hit by Keen in the 5^th. 

The good-sized American contingent broke out with cheers as the USA team ran into the center of the field, joined by teammates from the dugout, to congratulate Abbott and each other.  They won the first-ever Pan American championship, and, when they won the pool game segment on Thursday, qualified for a berth in the 2003 Junior Olympic games which begin September 24 in Nanjing, China.

The USA did not yield a run in eight games, while scoring 91 runs.  Abbott won two games; Alicia Hollowell and Laura Ferreira also won two; Stephanie Van Brakle and Lisa Dodd each won one game.  Dodd and Clark homered.

Close games like these are won by top pitching, timely hitting, and tight defense.  Each team had one error.  Canada ’s superb shortstop Marin figured into five of the USA ’s 18 outs.  Patience plays a role; with one out and Lowe on base in the 5^th, Lappin, who looked at two of Mackenzie’s inside pitches, then worked the count full before popping up in the 3^rd, laid off as Mackenzie nibbled the edges and drew a walk on four pitches to keep the rally alive.  Lenn and Zaplatosch also showed the patience to go deep into the count.

Ironically, this could be the last game for this team as currently constituted.  USA Softball will begin a series of 9 regional tryout camps in January.  Two players from each region, plus 15 at-large players chosen from the regional pool, will join these 17 players next August in Salem , OR , following the ASA Gold tournament, for a final camp from which the Women’s National Team Selection Committee will choose the USA ’s Junior Olympic team.  ASA has decided not to enter the Canada Cup Futures Tournament or other interim competition.

Canada 11, Argentina 3

In the previous round, #2 seed Canada had lost to the USA while #3 Argentina defeated #4 Netherlands Antilles .  On Saturday, they competed for the opportunity to challenge the USA in the tournament finale.

The scrappy Argentines, like the Guatemalans, are a young team whose spirit endeared them to fans from all countries.  But, they were no match for the Canadians in this game.

Jeane Sigurdson struck out 10 Argentines, while her teammates scored one run in the 1^st, five in the 2^nd, four in the 4^th, and a final run in the 6^th.

The Argentines started off as though they might make a close game of this contest.  The first two batters struck out but superstar shortstop Agustina Goboy doubled to center and pitcher Florenica Olheiser walked, but Sigurdson struck out the next batter.

Leader hitter Katherine Van Deviere singled to open the Canadian 1^st, and scored on power hitter Noemie Marin’s single to left.  Diana Baruffa walked to start the 2^nd; Brittany Ellis grounded into a fielder’s choice but the Argentines did not make the out.  Both runners advanced on Lindsay Wightman’s sacrifice bunt.  A run scored on catcher Sarah Kish’s infield hit and another on Van Deviere’s sacrifice fly.  Jenna Campagnola doubled to left, and Marin hit a 2-run double, followed by Alisia Naradowski’s rbi single to right. 

The Argentines, who went down in order in the 2^nd, scored in the 3^rd.  Romina Chimento walked with two out and scored on Goboy’s second double of the game.  Baruffa walked in the Canadian half but was thrown out stealing second by catcher Tatiana Tauella.

Canada answered with four more runs in the 4^th.  With one out, Jenny Fitzgerald doubled to left center, and Marin followed with an rbi single to left, her third consecutive hit.  After a groundout, Sigurdson and Baruffa hit rbi singles to left.  Ellis walked and Wightman hit an rbi single to drive in the fourth run of the inning.  Ellis was thrown out at home.

Argentina mounted yet another two-out rally in the 5^th.  Chimento singled; Goboy hit her third double of the game to drive in her second rbi, and Olheiser doubled in Goboy.  That cut the lead to 10-3, but Argentina went down in order in the last two innings as the coaches emptied their bench.  Meanwhile, Canada added a final run in the 6^th.  Sigurdson and Ellis walked; Wightman drove in the final run with a single to right.

Olheiser started for Argentina .  The Argentines also sent Maria Echesveste, Victoria Murina and Maria de la Vega to the mound.

The Canadians indicated they will keep this team together, definitely playing the in the Canada Cup Futures Tournament and, with a recommendation from SPY, are considering the Independence Day tournament in Boulder .

The Argentines, whose players paid their own air fare to Mexico , told reporters they would raise the money to send this team to China .  They hope to raise their level of pay, and are hoping some organization will donate a pitching machine.

Tournament Honors

The tournament hosts, CONPASA, named USA pitcher Monica Abbott most valuable player.  Jodie Legaspi was batting champion, with an average of .463 in pool games (data from the championship games was not considered).  Lisa Dodd was honored as the leading home run hitter.  Canadian pitcher Megan Mackenzie had the lowest ERA.  Her teammate Alisia Naradowski won the award for runs batted in.  The sponsors also honored Antilles pitcher Shilauka Rifaela who won the most games (3).

Each player on the final four teams was awarded a medal, and, then the teams stepped forward for team trophies – which included a gigantic wooden eagle for the USA .

The crowd then turned to face the flag stand in center field, and the Star Spangled Banner was played as the American flag was hoisted.  Finally, the Mexican flag was brought down, to the playing of Mexico ’s national anthem.

As the teams were being loaded onto their buses on a side street, SPY learned that the Canadian girls – who are great diplomats, having bought toys for a local children’s hospital, then gifts for the Argentine team who must remain here over Christmas – had planned to sing O Canada if they won.  So, SPY asked the girls if they would sing their beautiful national anthem there on the side street – and they sang a cappela – very moving as their coaches, SPY, and others removed their caps and listened. 

Potpourri

We can’t provide team or individual statistics; the sponsors would not release them because errors were discovered.  If SPY obtains them later, we will publish them.

The illegal pitch rule vigorously enforced during this tournament – which requires a two second pause in the pitcher’s presentation – was adopted by ISF in January, 2002.

The bend in the Worth Quad bat owned by players from Smoke is a viable reason why ASA should not add another half-ounce to the weight of the ball.

SPY will resume daily updates when we return to Virginia on Monday – the first flight we could get after canceling our original ticket so that we could cover the finals.

Our heartiest congratulations to head coach Pam Newton, and assistant coaches Mike Gonzales and Chuck D’Arcy.

On to China – with a great group of young American diplomats.

End

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