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(Make sure you say the title sympathetically)
By: Jimmy Smith
With all of the dominant baseball playing countries in the World Baseball Classic, the competition should be easy. Countries like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan, Venezuela, and the United States, should see success. I mean the U.S. has A-Rod and that’s enough to scare any team.
Not Canada though. No one in your office pool had Canada going past the first round and now they are 2-0. They have scored 19 runs in 2 games with guys named Sebastien and Stubby.
You would expect dominance in sports like curling or hockey but baseball is not something Canada hangs its hat on. Nonetheless, baseball greats like Larry Walker and the new guy Jason Bay are exports from the great white north. And you can’t hate Canada; Pamela Anderson is from there. Thank you Canada, thank you.
Going into the WBC, Canada was the laughing stock of the International sports scene. Because of their flop in the Olympics and lack of overall baseball talent as a country, the Canadian people just hoped that no one got hurt.
After nearly losing to South Africa less than 24 hours earlier, going into Wednesday’s game against the U.S., Canada was hopeful just to score some runs as to better their chances on moving to the next round of play.
"I know for a fact that we don't have the depth that other countries have but we do have a lot of heart and that's why I enjoy managing this team," Canadian manager Ernie Whitt said.
Canada started preparing for the game in normal baseball fashion. A little batting practice, some infield practice, and some slap shots. I saw a clip of a Canadian player with a hockey stick in the dugout. Why you may ask? Good luck perhaps?
It had to have some luck because when they took the field against the U.S. they came out swinging. Canada scored in each of their first 5 at bats. Their lead ballooned to 8-0. The last hitter in the lineup for Canada, Adam Stern, tripled in 1 run, singled in 2 more, and then topped it all off with an inside-the-park home run in the 5th.
Canada beat up on Dontrelle Willis in his first start in the WBC. Willis gave way to another beating of a Major Leaguer. That Major Leaguer was Al Leiter.
The United States made a slight comeback in the bottom of the fifth. A 6 run inning was highlighted by a grand slam by Jason Varitek. The homer, which came off Canadian Pitcher Eric Cyr, brought USA to within 8-6.
Well the sun is shinning again Canada because baseball just maybe your sport. Adam Stern, Centerfielder for team Canada is tied for the lead in the WBC in hits with 5. Stern is second in Batting Average with .714, trailing Yulieski Gourriel’s .750 for the Cuban team.
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