Japan takes Canada Cup

For much of the last week, the talk at Softball City centred on Team Canada's rise from talented underdogs to bona fide contenders on the women's international fastpitch scene.

However, come Sunday's final at the Canada Cup, Canada was on the outside looking in, while a pair of familiar powers – Japan and Australia – were once again front and centre.

The game was a rematch of the 2004 Canada Cup final, and it ended with Japan winning 4-2, claiming their third title.

After a perfect week in which they went 6-0 and averaged 11 runs a game – without allowing a single run against – Canada appeared to have punched their ticket to Sunday's final, but came up short Saturday in the semifinals, losing to Japan 6-0.

After being knocked into the consolation round of the double-knockout tournament, Canada was eliminated after losing to Australia 3-1 Sunday afternoon.

A first-inning two-run home run from Australia's Stacey Porter proved to be the difference in the game. Canada's lone run came in the fifth, when South Surrey native Melanie Matthews doubled home Caitlin Lever.

Perhaps an indication of just how well-regarded this Canadian squad is, both Japan and Australia threw their No. 1 pitchers – Japan going with Yukiko Ueno, and Australia with four-time Olympian Melanie Roche.

Ueno had yet to play at the Canada Cup, with the Japanese team content to save their star for next month's Olympics. Conversely, Australia trotted our their ace, Roche, despite the fact she'd already started three games that week, and appeared in relief in one more.

Saturday against Japan, Canada was stymied by the fireballing Ueno, who gave up just two hits - both to first baseman Sheena Lawrick – and only allowed three balls out of the infield through six innings of work.

The Canadian offence struggled at times against Australia, as well, leaving a pair of runners stranded in both the fourth and sixth innings.

Canada's No. 3 starter, Newmarket, Ont.'s Robin Mackin, was in the pitcher's circle against Japan, while the team's 1-2 punch of Langley's Danielle Lawrie and Lauren Bay Regula combined in the loss to Australia Sunday afternoon.

The Canadian team left Tuesday for Japan, where they'll play a few exhibition contests before heading to Beijing for the Olympics.