PLANT CITY, FL, USA – Canada defeated Bahamas 20-15 and 23-22 in a double elimination final to become the new WBSC Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball World Cup Champions. The North American nation had to play four consecutive games before being crowned the winner.
The victory gave Canada their first Gold Medal at the WBSC Co-ed Slow Pitch World Cup – unseating the two-time champions Bahamas.
In the first game, Bahamas took the early 5-2 lead. However, Canada roared back scoring seven runs in the second inning to take the lead and never looked back, winning the game 20-15. Overall, Canada hit five home runs on 20 hits to force another game.
In the second and decisive game – with both teams having a playoff loss – Canada struck first scoring eight runs in the first inning. But Bahamas regained the lead in the third inning for a 14-13 score. In the fifth, with runs scoring everywhere, Canada again took the lead at 21-20 but not for long.
In the top of the sixth, Bahamas scored two runs to get on top at 19-14. However, Canada would not settle for that, scoring two more runs to bring the game to 23-22. With the final at-bats for Bahamas, three soaring pop-ups to the outfield ended the game in Canada’s favor.
The tournament structure began with a single round robin to determine each team’s seed. Canada finished with the second seed, while Bahamas finished with the fourth seed going into the double elimination playoffs.
Earlier in the day today, Bahamas defeated the United States 14-11 to advance directly to the Gold Medal Game.
Canada had a much longer path. They began the day in the loser’s bracket, where they had to defeat Great Britain 17-5 to reach the Bronze Medal game. In this game, Canada defeated the United States 16-12 to advance to the Gold Medal game. The loss gave the United States the Bronze.
Co-ed slow pitch features both male and female athletes playing together alongside one another on the field.
Each team is allowed a maximum of 20 players, with no fewer than five being of one gender.
