Maple Ridge’s Jaycee Affeldt and Larissa Franklin helped lead the Canadian Women’s Junior Softball team to a 5-0 record at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championships in Surrey on Wednesday.
After winning four straight games on the mercy rule to open the tournament, the Canadian juniors needed the full seven innings to defeat the Washington Lake Breeze by a score of 4-2.
Washington surprised Canada by taking a quick 2-0 lead, but the red and white responded with three runs in the third inning and one in the fifth and held on for the victory.
After a quick first inning, Washington opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second on an RBI triple and two errors.
Canada looked to even the score in the bottom of the frame thanks in part to a single by Affeldt. However, the Junior National Team hit a pair of fly outs on the infield to end the inning.
Canada was finally able to push a few runs in to score in the bottom of the third, taking a 3-2 lead.
Neither team was able to get much going in the fourth, but Canada was able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Carey-Leigh Thomas.
Canada was able to hold on the rest of the way to earn the tight win.
Both Affeldt and Franklin played a major role in a 12-0 win for Team Canada over the Okanagan Elite Gold 94.
Franklin hit a two-run single against the Elite, before scoring on a double steal. In the pitcher’s circle, Affeldt was dominant, throwing four innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out eight batters.
When not playing for the national squad, Franklin plays for the White Rock Renegades 91.
Affeldt will be heading to Troy University in Alabama to play NCAA Division I softball in September.