Softball Canada – (Whitehorse, Y.T.) The Canadian Men’s National Softball Team improved its record to 6-0 with a 7-0 win over the Dominican Republic in five innings. Team Canada put up six runs in the bottom of the first inning highlighted by a grand slam by Shane Boland (St. John’s, N.L.), while Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) fired a two-hitter, striking out eight batters.
 
The Dominican Republic got a leadoff walk to start the game, but McCullough got a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. In the bottom of the inning, Brandon Horn (Waterloo, Ont.) led off with a single to left, advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a single up the middle by Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L). Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) was hit by a pitch and Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) walked to load the bases before Ryan Boland (St. John’s, N.L.) was also drew a walk to bring a run in to score. Shane Boland then took a 3-1 pitch deep to center for a grand slam as Canada took an early 6-0 lead.
 
After McCullough struck out the side in the second, Canada started the bottom of the inning with a pair of walks followed by a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners. However, the next batter struck out followed by a pickoff play at first to end the inning. The Dominican Republic got a leadoff single to start the third but a strikeout and two groundouts kept them off the board. In the bottom of the frame, Shane Boland led off with a walk, moved up to second tagging up on a fly ball to right and then to third on a wild pitch but a strikeout kept Canada from adding to its lead.
 
In the fourth, the Dominican Republic got a leadoff single and the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch, but McCullough was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout, a fly out and a groundout. Team Canada got a pair of two-out walks in the bottom of the fourth, but the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice. Canada was able to put the game away on the run rule the following inning, as Shane Boland led off with a double down left field line and scored when Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) lined a pitch to the right-center field wall.
 
Box Score: Canada 7 vs. Dominican Republic 0
 
Shane Boland led the way offensively for Canada with a grand slam, a double, a walk, and two runs scored. Abrey registered an RBI double, with Horn and Ezekiel each adding a single to round out Canada’s five hits, to go along with nine walks. McCullough allowed two hits and three walks while striking out eight over five innings for the win.
 
In other WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship scores on Wednesday, Venezuela defeated Botswana 7-1, the United States hammered Hong Kong 16-0, South Africa beat India 6-2, Great Britain pummeled Turkey 24-1, New Zealand defeated Denmark 8-1, with Japan and Australia each earning 9-1 wins over the Czech Republic and Argentina respectively.
 
Team Canada (6-0) has locked up first place in Pool A and will wrap up its preliminary round schedule against India (0-6) at 3:00pm PDT on Thursday.

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For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing & Communications
Softball Canada
p: (613) 523-3386 ext. 3105 | m: (613) 795-1996
w: www.softball.ca | e: gleblanc@softball.ca