Time Flies!

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Hey Everyone!

I can't believe it is already Saturday!!!

Saturday marks the beginning of the medal round for the event!  After a 12-5 loss against the US (we were up 5-0 after the first inning) and a big 6-1 win against the Dominican Republic, we have snatched a third place standing for the playoffs.  These playoffs are different than any other tournament I have been in.  Basically, only the top four of eight move on, and the third and fourth seeds play one another as do the first and second seeds.  Today at 4PM we are playing Venezuela.  Following our game, the US will take on Cuba.  If all goes according to plan, we should play Cuba tomorrow (loser getting bronze) and then play the US for the Gold medal.  It is single elimination, so if we lose today against Venezuela, we would get fourth and will leave Guadalajara empty handed.

Yesterday’s game versus the Dominican was a huge game for us.  We considered it to be our first playoff game, for we had to win it to clench the third place seeding.  We had finished warming up earlier than we had planned for and went to watch the end of the game before ours.  Out of nowhere, about thirty guys decked out in Canadian team apparel walked up to our seats.  They were the Canadian baseball team!  Staying over two hours away from our Village and stadium, the boys had the day off and decided to spend it cheering us on from the stands.  Boy, were they crazy!  Jocelyn pitched and whenever there were two strikes on a batter, they would begin a chant “strike him out” in Spanish (not knowing how to say “strike her out”) and soon the entire stadium was chanting with them, even the home crowd. 

Overall, we are in a great place heading into the playoff rounds.  Our team is prepared and excited for what is ahead.  We have played Venezuela many times throughout the summer and know exactly how to play against them.  Now we just have to beat them once more, to secure ourselves a medal.

It is hard to believe that I have been here for almost two weeks now and we head home day after tomorrow.  There is a lot for us to accomplish before then, so heading home is the last thing on my mind.

Go Canada!!!

Love,

Victoria

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