International Women’s

Game W-24: Australia A vs Israel 3:30AM AEST

AUS-A 2 def by ISR 5
AUS-A: 2R 6H 2E
ISR: 5R 6H 1E

Game W-26: Italy vs Australia A 8:30AM AEST

ITA 8 def AUS-A 0
ITA: 8R 7H 1E
AUS-A: 0R 3H 1E

Australia A encountered another challenging day as they competed against Israel and Italy in their final round-robin games. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure victories in either match.

In the first game, Australia A engaged in a closely contested battle. They managed to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning when Millie Fidge crossed home plate on Alyssa Mighell's single to centre field. However, Israel quickly regained the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and adding another run in the fifth. Steph Trzcinski led the offensive charge with two hits from three at-bats, while Chelsea Robinson, Neve Adams, Taylor Chillingworth, and Alyssa Mighell also contributing with hits. Ashlee Harwood and Millie Fidge shared pitching duties, combining for seven strikeouts, with Harwood tallying four and Fidge registering three.

In their second game against Italy, Australia A faced a formidable opponent. Italy unleashed an aggressive offensive display, scoring three runs in the first inning, followed by four more runs in the second, including a three-run home run over centre field from Italian Olympian Erika Piancastelli. Italy managed to add one more run in the fourth inning. Australia A struggled to generate offense against the talented pitching of Christina Toniolo, who allowed only three hits.

The players and coaches come away with invaluable experience competing against full-strength national teams performing at a world-class level. Notably, five teams ranked in the top 15 in the world participated in the Canada Cup. With a final record of 1-6 in the round robin stage, Australia A now face Mexico tomorrow in the hopes to extend their time at the Canada Cup.

Futures Gold

Game FGCR-16: Australia U-19 vs White Rock Renegades 04 8:30AM AEST

AUS U-19 5 def WHTR 1

AUS U-19: 5R 11H 1E
WHTR: 1R 2H 1E
 

Australia A started their playoff round with a rematch against White Rock Renegades 04, a team they previously defeated in the round-robin stage. The pressure was on the Aussies to replicate their earlier success, and they showed remarkable resolve by securing a 5-1 win. Impressive batting performances from Bianca Markham, Matilda Newman, and Caitlin Hosking resulted in crucial RBIs, while Newman, Soraya Hamson, Hannah Barlow, and Zoe Taylor contributed multiple hits throughout the game.

The Australian pitching duo delivered outstanding performances. Jessica Smith showcased her skills from the mound, surrendering only one run on one hit and tallying eight strikeouts over five innings. Harper Bridley provided solid relief, recording three strikeouts, and allowing zero runs from one hit across two innings.

With this victory, Australia U-19 maintains their winning form and sets their sights on the upcoming challenge against Chinese Taipei U18. As the tournament progresses and the competition intensifies, Australia U-19 aims to continue their impressive run and advance further towards the final day of the tournament.

Showcase Gold

Game SGCR-4: Australia U-17 vs Olds Pistols U17 3:30AM AEST

AUS U-17 3 def OPU17 0
AUS U-17: 3R 5H 1E
OPU17: 0R 3H 1E

Game SGCR-16: Australia U-17 vs White Rock Renegades 06 8:30AM AEST

AUS U-17 1 def by WHTR 3
AUS U-17: 1R 4H 3E
WHTR: 3R 7H 2E

Game SGCR-27: Lloydminster Liners U17 vs Australia U-17 11:00AM AEST

LLU17 0 def by AUS-U17 10
LLU17: 0R 1H 4E
AUS U-17: 10R 5H 0E

The Australia Under-17 team experienced a whirlwind of emotions as they embarked on their playoff round, encountering a loss in their second game but recovering with a resounding victory in their third game to secure another day of play.

In their first game of the day, Australia U-17 had to persevere until the bottom of the fifth inning to make their mark against Olds Pistols U17. Rhiannon Smith kick-started the offensive surge with a triple, allowing Abbey Wehr to cross home plate. Smith capitalised on an error by the Pistols to secure the second run, while Milla Durnell scored on Abbie Bastian's sacrifice fly ball. The pitching ability of Olivia Durham was outstanding, as she delivered eight strikeouts and conceded only three hits, preventing the Pistols from scoring any runs.

The team faced round-robin opponents, White Rock Renegades 06, in their second game, hoping for a different outcome after a previous 1-6 loss. Equipped with valuable insights from their previous encounter, the young Aussies fought bravely but couldn't overcome White Rock's strong start. The Renegades took an early two-run lead in the bottom of the first inning, extending it to 3-0 with another run in the fourth. Australia U-17 managed to get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning with Sophie Rantanen's RBI single, but they couldn't collect any more runs, resulting in a 3-1 victory for White Rock.

Given a second chance to progress in the tournament playoffs, Australia U-17 showcased remarkable resilience and capitalised on their opportunities with a dominant 10-0 win against Lloydminster Liners U17. The young Aussies displayed offensive proficiency, scoring runs in the first three innings, highlighted by Milla Durnell, who delivered a two-run triple in the third inning. Multiple RBIs from Durnell, Rhiannon Smith, and Maddi Durnell contributed significantly to Australia U-17's commanding offensive display. Charlize Aplitt led the defence from the mound, recording three strikeouts and allowing only one hit across three innings.

The team's ability to bounce back from adversity demonstrated their strength and resilience, shaping their approach for the remainder of the Canada Cup. Tomorrow poses a significant challenge for the young Aussies, as they face a potential four-game day that will test their physical and mental stamina.

Photo Credit  - Judy Worthley

Check out our Canada Cup Hub for links to daily recaps, live scores of all games, team lists, and live streams for Australia A matches.