Pan Am newsmaker of the day: Weird baseball rule

Following a 6-5 comeback victory against Cuba Saturday, the United States’ baseball team reached their fourth consecutive gold medal bout in the Pan American Games before coming up short against Canada Sunday evening.

After holding off the United States for most of the first half of the 2015 Pan American Games, the host Canadians slipped behind their archrivals in the gold medal standings for the first time.

Cochrane also won the 400-metre freestyle on Friday.

Buchanan made two or three critical clears in the first half, Labbe was sure-handed and alert in the net and Lawrence helped put Canada in position to score a couple of times.

Meanwhile, on the water, Calgary’s Haley Daniels won a bronze in the women’s C-1 competition, part of a four-medal day for Canada’s kayak/canoe team. “For us, this is like our little Olympics because squash isn’t an Olympic sport. To come here and actually swim a decent time, I think was what our goal was”, said Cochrane. Canada went 6-1 to win the tournament that is full of baseball powerhouses.

Canada brought all its top swimmers to the Pan Ams, while the USA did not send their world championship team. That experience proved important as Francis appeared unfazed when the US jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when – with a strong wind blowing out – designated hitter Patrick Kievlehan sent a hanging curveball over the fence in right field.

“Incredible, it’s an unbelievable feeling, our game tonight was fantastic, we played great on all cylinders, everybody on the team contributed”, said Kia Nurse of Hamilton.

Canadian freestyle wrestlers added three medals on Saturday.

Sullivan also won gold in the women’s team pursuit and keirin.

The semifinals are Sunday, and the medal games are scheduled for Monday before the men’s tournament gets underway Tuesday.

It really isn’t clear what happened to the ball between the point where it got away from the first baseman to the catcher receiving it. Thankfully, Melissa Couto from The Canadian Press was in attendance.

LOCAL NOTES … Drayton Valley’s Shane Dawson captured a gold medal as part of Team Canada’s baseball squad which beat the United States 7-6 in 10 innings …

Erin Hartwell, the head coach of Canada’s track sprint program, had said prior to the Games the team’s goal was to win six gold medals.

“I want to become the best world-class gymnast that I can become”, said Zeng, who won a bronze in the individual all-around at last year’s Youth Olympic Games.