21U Women’s Invitational: Québec claims gold!
Quebec claimed the gold medal at the 21U Women's Invitational Championships in Stonewall, Man. Photo Credit: Daryl Gershman
By Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
For the second time in three years Québec are gold medal winners at the 21U Women’s Invitational Championships.
Québec earned the gold medal in Stonewall, Man., on the strength of a 9-1 win over 2017 winners Ontario in the championship contest.
Québec starting pitcher Noémie Lapointe turned in a solid performance on the mound tossing 5 2/3 innings where she allowed just one run on five hits and five walks. Sophy Gagné came on for the final inning and a third and recorded two strikeouts.
Québec built a four-run lead after two and scored five runs over the final two frames getting a 4-for-5 performance from Elyane Guevremont and a 3-for-5 performance from leadoff hitter Catherine Labelle who tripled and drove in two runs.
Ontario’s Miya Waldron had three hits in the loss.
In the bronze medal match-up, Nova Scotia shook off a tough semi-final loss and handed host Manitoba a 14-4 defeat.
Katie Hagen doubled as part of a 3-for-4 game at the plate with one RBI while Jenna Jackson drove in three with a 2-for-3 day.
Nova Scotia had 13 hits with five players recording multi-hit games and got a strong performance on the mound from Carly Jackson who allowed just one earned run.
For Nova Scotia, the bronze medal is the province’s second consecutive at the 21U Women’s event.