CARACAS, Venezuela—University of Hawai'i softball player Kaia Parnaby and the Australia softball team has been eliminated from the women's World Softball Championship in Caracas, Venezuela, falling to Canada, 3-2. The Aussies finished third in POOL B with a 5-2 record, then started the Playoff Round with a 3-2 win over the Netherlands before falling to Canada.

 

Australia, also featured three other UH alums: Stacey Porter, Justine Smethurst, and Clare Warwick, who all played significant roles in the championship. Another UH alumnae and assistant coach, Kristi Yoshizawa, was also playing in the World Championships for the Great Britain team.

 

Things looked good for the Aussies at the start of the Playoff game against Canada. Porter drove in the first run of the game off of two-time NCAA Player of the Year, Danielle Lawrie. Porter belted an RBI double in the first. She went 1-for-2 on the day with two intentional walks.

 

Australia added another run in the fourth inning on doubles by Danielle Stewart and Chelsea Forkin, chasing Lawrie from the game.

 

Smethurst and the Aussies took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning. But Canada rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh, ending the game on a two-RBI, walk-off double by Caitlin Lever, that gave the Canadians the 3-2 win. Smethurst threw the complete game and took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits with five strike outs.

For the tournament, Porter finished seventh overall with a .474 average (9-for-19) and was first with four home runs (tied with Canada's Jen Yee); second in RBI (8); and third in runs scored (8). Smethurst closed her Championship throwing 18 innings with a 1.17 ERA, which was third amongst all pitchers.

 

Date Thursday 24 June	Time 7pm	Teams Australia	vs	Venezuela	Score 1-4
Friday 25 June	5pm	Australia	vs	China	2-0
Saturday 26 June	11am	Australia	vs	Czech Republic	6-0
	3pm	Australia	vs	Dominican Republic	6-0
Sunday 27 June	1pm	Australia	vs	United States	2-10
Monday 28 June	1pm	Australia	vs	New Zealand	10-0
Tuesday 29 June	1pm	Australia	vs	Botswana	10-0

 

 

Australia opened the tournament against the host team, Venezuela and lost 4-1 in front of a highly charged home crowd of 5,000 at Independence Stadium. In the first inning, Venezuela went up 2 runs on a home run from Denisse Fuenmayor. In the second inning, Australia's Jodie Bowering quieted the home crowd with a solo home run to rightfield. But Venezuela kept the lead with good pitching and their defense turned two key double plays that prevented Australian rallies in the 3rd and 4th innings.

 

Former Rainbow Wahine, Justine Smethurst pitched 5 inns for Australia giving up 5 hits, 3 runs. Aimee Murch pitched 1 inns giving up 2 hits, 1 run.  

 

Eight players for the Aussie Spirit team made their Open Women World Championships debut.

 

Australia captured their first World Championship win over China, 2-0. Australia posted their first run in the 1st inning, taking advantage of Chinese pitcher, Qi Li, who walked four of seven batters faced. Australia added an insurance run in the sixth when Leigh Godfrey slapped an RBI single to left field scoring Danielle Stewart.

 

Smethurst pitched a complete game shut-out, tossing seven innings while scattering three hits.

 

 Aussie Spirit swept a doubleheader on the third day of competition with a pair of 6-0 shut-outs over the Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic.

 

Against the Dominican Republic, former 'Bow, Stacey Porter two home runs. Current UH player, Kaia Parnaby closed the game, not allowing a hit or a run in the seventh inning.

 

After the USA held Australia scoreless through the first four innings, Porter came through with a stand up double to left field to score De Blaes. Tracey Mosley followed with a single to center to drive in Porter from second. 

  

Three Australian pitchers were brought into the game. Parnaby threw the final two innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a pair of strike outs. US pitcher, Cat Osterman, threw all five innings, allowing the two runs on two hits with  10 strike outs.

 

Australia bounced back to win their fourth game of the tournament, defeating New Zealand 10-0. Australia notched runs in all but one inning.  Smethurst pitched six strong innings, allowing just one hit while not allowing a run with five strike outs. Aimee Murch closed the game in the seventh inning. 

 

Porter led the way with a solo home run in the first inning. In the third,two walks, 2 singles by Tracey Mosley and former UH player, Clare Warwick, scored Porter. Porter scored again in the fourth. 

 

Australia closed out pool-play with a convincing 10-0 win over Botswana in four innings. The Aussies started slowly, but in the second inning, Australia put five runs on the scoreboard.  A combination of Botswana fielding errors and three singles gave Australia the early lead. 

 

Parnaby started the game and shut out Botswana through the first three innings, allowing just two hits with a strike out. Karina Cannon finished the game throwing the final inning.

 

 

Australia defeated the Netherlands 3-2 to open the World Championships playoffs. Smethurst gave up only four hits and two earned runs during seven innings.

 

 
GREAT BRITAIN SOFTBALL (2-5)
Yoshizawa and the Great Britain team won their first game of pool play with a 3-0 win over South Africa and closed their tourney with a 2-1, nine inning win over Argentina. Yoshizawa hit the winning walk-off RBI single to defeat Agentina. 

Great Britain Results

Date Thursday 24 June	W/L W	Teams Great Britain	vs	South Africa	Score 3-0
	L	Great Britain	vs	Netherlands	4-5
Friday 25 June	L	Great Britain	vs	Chinese Taipei	0-3
Saturday 26 June	L	Great Britain	vs	Canada	0-
Sunday 27 June	L	Great Britain	vs	Cuba	1-3
Monday 28 June	L	Great Britain	vs	Japan	0-7
Tuesday 29 June	W	Great Britain	vs	Argentina	2-1 (9)