Husker Connection Paces Team Canada

Nebraska associate softball head coach Lori Sippel led Team Canada to its second straight third-place finish in the World Cup of Softball on Monday with an 8-2 victory over China in Oklahoma City. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Canada’s third-place finish comes after a strong showing at the Canada Cup. Sippel led the Canadians to a 4-2 record at the World Cup, which was an international-only competition that featured some of the best teams in the world, including the World Cup champion United States squad. At the Canada Cup, Team Canada breezed through pool play with a perfect 6-0 record that included a 5-2 victory over Japan, widely regarded as the second-best team in the world.

 

Through two tournaments this summer, Sippel has guided her native country to a 12-4 record, with three of the four losses coming to Japan and the United States. Japan eliminated Canada from the Canada Cup, rallying from a two-run, seventh inning deficit.

 

One of the major reasons for Team Canada’s success has been the play of former Husker Sheena Lawrick (2002-05). Lawrick hit third while starting every game in both the Canada Cup and World Cup. She hit .310 with eight RBIs in Canada, while boasting a .375 average at the World Cup.

 

Through two major international tournaments this summer, Lawrick is hitting .333 with five doubles and 12 RBIs.

 

Lawrick’s best game of the season came in the World Cup opener when she nearly hit for the cycle. Lawrick recorded four of Canada’s five hits, while adding a single, a triple and a pair of doubles.

 

While continuing preparations for the 2008 Olympics, Canada will continue its busy 2007 schedule July 23-28 at the 15th Annual Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

World Cup of Softball Results (July 12 ? July 16)

Canada 3, Dominican Republic 0

Japan 2, Canada 0

Canada 7, Venezuela 6

Canada 5, China 1

United States 7, Canada 0 (6 inn.)

Canada 8, China 2 (third-place game)

 

Sheena Lawrick World Cup of Softball Game-by-Game

vs. Dominican Republic: 4-for-4, 2 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBIs

vs. Japan: 0-for-3

vs. Venezuela: 0-for-1, R, 2 BB

vs. China: 0-for-2, BB

vs. United States: 0-for-2

vs. China: 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBIs

Total: .375 (6-for-16), 3 2B, 3B, 3 R, 4 RBIs, 3 BB

 

 

Canada Cup Softball Results (June 30 ? July 7)

Canada 7, Dominican Republic 0 (5 inn.)

Canada 10, Gold Coast Hurricanes 0 (3 inn.)

Canada 11, Japan-Denso Club 2 (6 inn.)

Canada 8, Georgia Wilson-Select 1 (6 inn.)

Canada 8, Venezuela 1 (6 inn.)

Canada 5, Japan 2

Canada 12, Chinese Taipei 2 (5 inn.)

Japan Elite 3, Canada 0

Canada 7, Japan-Denso Club 0

Japan 4, Canada 3

 

Sheena Lawrick Canada Cup Game-by-Game

vs. Dominican Republic: 1-for-3, R

vs. Gold Coast Hurricanes: 1-for-1, R, 3 RBIs, HBP

vs. Japan-Denso Club: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI

vs. Georgia Wilson-Select: 2-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBIs

vs. Venezuela: 1-for-3, RBI

vs. Japan: 0-for-2, BB

vs. Chinese Taipei: 1-for-4, R

vs. Japan Elite: 0-for-3

vs. Japan-Denso Club: 1-for-3, RBI

vs. Japan: 0-for-4

Total: .310 (9-for-29), 2 2B, 4 R, 8 RBIs, BB, HBP