Team Canada was put to the test for the first time at the Americas Olympic Softball Qualifier Wednesday evening at South Surrey鈥檚 Softball City.
The game looked much different than the two previous ones Team Canada played at the week-long tournament.
Coming off of a followed by a crushing 19-0 win against Guatemala, Team Canada faced Puerto Rico on Wednesday, the team that鈥檚 right on Canada鈥檚 heels in international rankings.
Team Canada, ranked third internationally, and Puerto Rico, ranked fourth, are among the most skilled teams in the tournament, followed by Mexico, which is ranked fifth.
Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, and in a big way, too.
With two out, and runners on first and third, Cloverdale鈥檚 Holly Speers dinged a grounder to second base, but Peurto Rico hesitated and went for the tag 鈥� instead of touching second base 鈥� and missed. Canada鈥檚 Jennifer Gilbert sprinted home for the run.
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Immediately after that, with a runner on first and another on second, Team Canada鈥檚 Jennifer Salling sent a hit towards a gap deep in centre field. It was enough for Gilbert and Speers to score, making it 3-0.
Following the flash of the bats, the bullpens of Team Canada and Puerto Rico were the highlight of the show.
Puertro Rico鈥檚 pitching staff allowed five hits, while Canada allowed four.
Surrey鈥檚 Sara Groenewegen started the game on the mound, and was replaced by Eujenna Caira in the fifth inning. Canada鈥檚 Danielle Lawrie came in during the seventh to close the game.
GAME OVER
鈥� Aaron Hinks (@aaron_hinks)
Hit back to the pitcher, throw to second, 3 out
Canada wins 3-0 against Puerto Rico (ranked 4th internationally.)
All of Canada's runs were scored in the third.
Puerto Rico was charged with two errors and Canada was charged with one.
Team Canada is now one step closer to a berth in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The top two finishers of the tournament will secure an invite to the Games, which will mark the first time softball has been part of the Olympics since 2008.
Canada is scheduled to play the Bahamas tonight at 6 p.m., which will be the last game before the 鈥淪uper Round.鈥�
The Super Round will feature the top three teams from both Pool A and Pool B.
Super Round games begin tomorrow.
Watch last night鈥檚 full game here:
