University of Massachusets Athletics
Kaila Holtz Olympic Update
August 14, 2004 | Softball
Aug. 18, 2004
ATHENS, Greece -- Former UMass pitcher/designated player and current assistant coach Kaila Holtz is a member of the Canadian National Team at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The Canadians are 2-3 in pool play. They own wins over Chinese Taipei and second-ranked Japan. Holtz has pitched four innings and allowed two unearned runs.
Game 5
United States 7, Canada 0 (5)
Holtz did not pitch.
Recap:
When Rachel Schill wraps up her Olympic softball career, Wednesday's outing against the United States won't be among the memorable moments.
Two errors by the Kitchener, Ont., native in center field led to three U.S. runs in Canada's 7-0 loss in Athens.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to run differential.
Pitcher Jennie Finch went the distance for the U.S., striking out seven, including the first five batters she faced.
With the U.S. leading 4-0 in the sixth inning, designated player Crystl Busto and third baseman Lisa Fernandez put the game away with home runs off Canadian reliever Ani Nyhus.
The Americans (5-0) made it 7-0 in the fifth en route to their fifth straight shutout of the tournament.
Canadian starter Auburn Sigurdson of Surrey, B.C., took the loss. She allowed four runs (two earned) through four innings.
The Canadian women drop to 2-3 in Greece. They will now play Australia on Aug. 19 at 12:30 PM EST.
Game 4
Canada 1, Japan 0 (8)
Holtz did not pitch.
Recap:
Lauren Bay is staking her claim as Canada's most valuable player at the Olympic women's softball tournament in Athens.
The Trail, B.C., native pitched her second consecutive shutout to lead Canada to a 1-0 victory over medal-contending Japan in eight innings on Tuesday.
Bay, 23, went the distance. She allowed three hits, walked five and struck out seven.
Bay threw a complete-game (seven innings) four-hit shutout in Canada's 2-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Saturday.
Jackie Lance scored the winning run Tuesday, trotting home when Japanese first baseman Kazue Ito couldn't handle Erin White's hot shot.
Bay made it stand up in the bottom of the eighth inning, fanning Haruka Saito and Noriko Yamaji to end the game with Emi Naito at third base.
With the win, Canada (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak, while second-ranked Japan fell to 1-3 in the eight-team tourney.
Japan, which took silver at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, is coming off a victory at the 2004 Canada Cup.
Canada meets the United States (4-0) on Wednesday at 10:00 AM EST. The game will be televised live on MSNBC. Game 3
China 4, Canada 2 Holtz did not pitch. Recap:
Canada lost to China 4-2 Aug. 16 at the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Canada was leading the game until the top of the 6th when China stoll what was going to be a great victory for Canada.
"We came out strong, ready to play and focused," stated first base and Olympic Veteran Erin White. "However, things went wrong and everything started to happen. We are just focusing on getting ready for the next game."
After a tough loss to the Greeks last night, Canada was determined and put themselves on the score board first in this morning's game. Canada went up 2-0 in the 4th inning. Rachel Schill was hit by a pitch, Angela Lichty singled and Alison Bradley singled to load the bases. Jackie Lance then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Schill for Canada's first run. Erin Cumpstone then stepped up to the plate and hit a suicide squeeze (runner at 3rd and bunted) to score Lichty. Everything was going great for Team Canada until the top of the 6th inning when Canada made an error which cost them the tying and winning runs. China made it on base on a ground ball to short and was safe because of an overthrow to first base which scored runs tying the game 2-2. China also made a suicide squeeze and put themselves in the lead 3-2. China then singled but the strong wind took the ball and dropped in the middle of third and short and both third base Cindy Eadie and short stop Angela Lichty were not able to catch the ball and China scored their fourth run. After the 4th run, Auburn Sigurdson went to the mound to shut the door.
The losing Pitcher was Canada's Lauren Bay who pitched 6 innings, gave up 4 runs on 4 hits, 3 strikeouts and gave up 4 walks. Canada's Auburn Sigurdson faced 5 batters and had 2 strikeouts.
Canada will play Japan Tuesday at 5:00am ET. Japan is the defending Olympic Silver Medallist. Game 2
Greece 2, Canada 0 Holtz pitched four innings giving up two unearned runs on two hits and two walks. Canada made four errors in the field behind Holtz. Canada will next play China on Monday at 2:30 AM EST.
Recap:
Canada lost to hostGreece in Day 2 of softball competition at the Olympic Games. After a great win against Chinese Taipei in the opening day of softball competition, Canada suffereda disappointing loss.
"It was a tough loss for us tonight," stated Olympic Veteran Jackie Lance. "We had lots of opportunities but couldn't stir the bats together to put us on the board." Lance said:"Greece capitalized on their opportunities and went ahead of the game. With this game behind us, we will show our resilience byplaying our game against China tomorrow morning."
It was Greece that put themselves on the scoreboard first in the2nd inning. They hit asingle and made it to base onan error followed by ahit by pitch to load the bases. Greece then hit a single to score their first run. Canada was close to responding inthe 4th inning but couldn't capitalize.With Kristy Odamura on 3rd, who made it to base on a single and Angela Lichty on 1st who made it to base on a single,and with 2 outs, Canada attempted to run home. Lichty was attempting to steal second but the Greek players were too quick and threw Odamura out at home while she was trying to take advantage of the steal at second. In the 5th inning, Canada made anerror throwing to first, then Greece had a walk, and Canada made another error to load up the bases again. Sigurdson struck out a batter and afterafielder's choice, Greecehit a single to score their second and last run. Game 1
Canada 2, Chinese Taipei 0
Holtz did not pitch.
Recap:
Pitcher Lauren Bay led the Canadian women's softball team to a 2-0 tournament-opening win over Chinese Taipei Saturday at the Athens Olympics.
Canada's ace pitcher tossed a complete-game (seven innings) four-hit shutout on Saturday, while shortstop Jackie Lance accounted for all the scoring with a two-run double.
Bay, who scattered four hits and struck out five, caught a break in the fifth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Tzu Hui of Tapei charged for home plate and took out the legs of Canadian catcher Erin Cumpstone, who was unable to complete the double play with a throw to first base.
The umpire ruled both the batter and Tzu Hui out as the latter interfered with Cumpstone making the double play.
In the bottom of the fourth, Lance ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Rachel Schill and Angela Lichty.
Wu Chia Yen (0-1) took the loss for Taipei, which fell 7-5 to Canada just over a week ago in the championship game at the Prague Softball Cup.
Canada (1-0) faces host Greece on Sunday at 12:30 PM EST (7:30 PM local time).