麻豆社区

After cruising to two victories where they were never challenged, Canada faced one of the top fastball pitchers in the world on Sunday night.

As expected, Japan's Ueno Yukiko was dominant, leading the Japanese team to a 6-2 win.

She allowed only five hits over a complete game and kept the Canadian team baffled with her speed and ball movement.

Canada's Melanie Matthews, who is regarded as one of the best offensive players in the sport, was responsible for three of Canada's five hits.

"I think that's probably the best pitcher in the world over there,鈥� she said after the loss.

"We had some pretty good at-bats towards the end of the game and we just have to try and build off that moving forward.鈥�

After being shut out for the first five innings and finding themselves in a 5-0 hole, Canada found their rhythm the top of the sixth.

Matthews opened up the frame with a single up the middle and the next batter, Joey Lye, was able to draw a walk after a long battle at the plate.

Jennifer Yee took advantage of the rare opportunity to have runners on base against Yukiko and drove Matthews home on another single to centre field.

For the first time in the game, Yukiko appeared shaken.

Sheena Larwick kept the momentum going for Canada with a single that tight-roped the first base line and brought Matthews in for their second run of the game.

After that Yukiko regained her composure, striking out catcher Kaleigh Rafter and ending the rally after Caitlin Lever popped out to centre field.

Japan scored their first run in the second inning, after a throwing error allowed Fujino Haruka to score from second base.

Canada head coach, Mark Smith, said those types of mental errors can't happen if Canada wants to compete against the top teams in the tournament.

"We didn't defend as well as we're capable of,鈥� he said. "We gave up a couple of physical errors and a couple of mental errors and you can't make those mistakes against these teams and beat them. It cost us a ballgame.鈥�

The Japanese team was able to consistently put the ball in play throughout the game, finding gaps in the Canadian defence, a skill that Smith said makes them one of the best teams in the world.

"They're not going to strike out very often and they're going to move the ball,鈥� he said. "They're going to force somebody to make a defensive play and that's the kind of pressure that over time weighs on a team.鈥�

Jenna Caira collected the loss for Canada, giving up six hits and four runs in two innings.

The performance came after Caira dominated Taiwan in Canada's opening game, a 6-0 win on Friday night.

Seventeen year-old Joecelyn Carter replaced Caira and lasted two innings, giving up one run on four hits.

Carter was in control the majority of the time she was on the mound, benefiting from the instruction of Rafter, the team's veteran catcher.

"We have a pretty young pitching staff so I try to share as much experience as I can with them and it usually helps,鈥� she said.

"A lot of them don't have very much international experience and this is a very different game from college or travel ball, which is all some of them have played.

"You have to really push them to keep the ball on the corners and keep it off the plate because every hitter in international ball is dangerous and you can't afford to have any mental lapses.鈥�

It was the first loss for Canada, who hadn't had a run scored on them in their first two games, victories over Taiwan and Mexico.

Smith said the team will regroup and prepare for today's match-up against an emerging squad in Great Britain.

"We know what we didn't do well tonight,鈥� he said.

"The challenge for us now is to fix that and be ready the next time we see them. We just need to be better.鈥�