Team Canada takes home third place in the 2024 Women’s Baseball World Cup. They defeated Mexico 4-2 in the Bronze Medal game, medaling for the seventh time in nine World Cups.
Mexico defeated Venezuela on Aug. 1 by a score of 3-2 to qualify for the Bronze Medal game. Canada qualified with one game left to go in final stage play, and with a 3-2 record compared to Mexico’s 2-3 record, they had the advantage.
Mexico struck first, as Denise Deside Perez Valasquez hit a solo homer to deep left field in the top of the second inning. Canadian starting pitcher Raine Feria Padgham settled down after that, giving Canada the opportunity to strike in the bottom of the third. There, Canada took the lead with the use of small ball, loading the bases and scoring on a groundout and bases loaded hit by pitch. That made the score 2-1 Canada at the end of three innings.
Alexane Fournier came in relief of Padgham in the fifth and held Mexico scoreless in two innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Canada extended its lead as Andréanne Leblanc struck an RBI double to left with no outs, and Alizée Gélinas brought her in with an RBI single with two outs. Paired with Fournier’s strong performance on the mound, Canada went into the seventh and final inning, leading 4-1.
Sophy Gagne came in relief in the final inning to pitch for Canada. She quickly caused Gabriela Sandoval to fly out to center, earning her first out of the inning. Samaria Benitez responded with a single to put the first Mexican runner on. Edith de Leija followed Benitez with a single to put women on first and second with one out. Gagne got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice but could not keep the inning clean as on the second pitch of the next at-bat, Liliana Esthela Segovia Arredondo singled and brought in Benitez to cut the Canadian lead to two.
Perez Valasquez walked to load the bases, and with two outs, Mexico had an intense scoring chance. Gagne stood tall under pressure, and just like another famous Canadian closer in the 2003 NL CY Young winner, Eric Gagne, she closed the game down. She generated a ground ball to third which third baseman Zoe Elizabeth Faith Hicks fielded cleanly, stepped on the bag, and secured Canada the Bronze Medal in the 2024 Women’s Baseball World Cup.
This is Canada’s fifth Bronze Medal in their history in the Women’s World Cup. They placed third in the original World Cup in 2004, which was also held in Canada. Mexico has never medaled in the finals.
A great performance from the Canadian pitching staff gave Canada their second straight Bronze Medal in the Women’s World Cup in front of their home fans and fond memories for manager Anthony Pluta’s squad that will last a lifetime.
Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of WBSC
