In a cloudy and grey afternoon in Yokohama, Canada defeated Mexico by a score of 3-2 and claimed today the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal, the first Olympic softball medal in the country’s history. Kelsey Harshman hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Canada the win in a dramatic game, with intermittent rain during big parts of the match.
Mexico’s first attack saw Nicole Rangel and Anissa Urtez hit back to back singles with one out. But Canadian starter Sara Groenewegen keep them scoreless striking out Brittany Cervantes and forcing a full-count fly ball by Suzannah Brookshire.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Jenn Salling surprised with a bunt single to leadoff the inning, and moments later Erika Polidori grounded hard to third base. Amanda Sanchez fielded and assisted to second base to start the double play but Chelsea Gonzalez couldn’t control the ball, leaving the two runners safe. Salling and Polidori advanced on a Groenewegen grounder, and finally scored on a bloop single to left field off the bat of Emma Enztminger.
In the top of the third, Cervantes made it a one-run ball with an RBI single. Sydney Romero drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on a Rangel grounder. With two outs in the scoreboard, Cervantes hit the ball off the end of the bat for a short single to left field to plate Romero from second base.
Jenna Caira went into the circle for Groenewegen in the fourth. One inning later, Mexico’s Romero started the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Second baseman Harshman made a good play that saved a run on a hard grounder by Urtez, but Brookshire delivered a 2-out RBI single to tie the game 2-2. With runners still in the corner, Daniell Lawrie replaced Caira and ended the inning forcing a grounder to third base.
In the bottom of the same inning Canada retook the one-run lead. Janet Leung and Hayward hit back to back infield hits to open the attack, and one out later Harshman delivered a sacrifice fly to the left field to make the score 3-2. Leung’s run would give Canada the bronze medal in Tokyo.
Lawrie was the winner of the game, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings giving up 1 hit while striking out 4 hitters. It was her first win of the tournament, and her second in her Olympic career -she posted a 1-1 record in Beijing 2008.
After the game, Salling and Lawrie retired from the National Team, leaving their cleats at Yokohama Stadium home plate as a symbolic way to say goodbye to the game.
Canada became the fifth nation in history to win a softball medal in the Olympics, joining Australia, China, Japan and USA. The red and white team is only one of four countries to participate in the five Olympic Games (Australia, Japan and USA have also been ever present).
