Character win for young Canadians
Remade national team tops Cuba as Asay’s bat provides the last word
The Canadian women’s baseball team built a 4-0 lead over Cuba after three innings Tuesday, but needed a two-run double from pinch-hitter Amanda Asay in the seventh and final inning for a come-from-behind 7-5 win in the World Cup qualifying tournament.
And the self-created adversity might have been exactly the preparation the young Canadian team needed ahead of a highly anticipated game against the United States on Wednesday.
“It was really good to see everyone on our team — especially with such a young team — show some character, show some grit, not fall apart when we went down to a team that we were hoping to get a win against,” Asay said over the phone from Aguascalientes, Mexico, where Canada has three wins in three days.
Asay, a 31-year-old pitcher and first baseman, has represented Canada in seven of the eight previous World Cups but the average age of the current squad is 20. Canada lost nine players, including seven starters, after taking bronze at last year’s World Cup.
After dominant wins over the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in their first two games, Canada fell behind Cuba 5-4 in the sixth inning Tuesday.
“We were getting a little bit nervous over in that dugout,” Asay said, “but we were able to do what it took.”
Asay admits to being surprised by the talent, versatility and calmness displayed by her junior teammates. She misses the women they’re replacing but enjoys knowing the show has gone on.
“It’s really cool to see sort of a next generation and to have the success that we’ve had so far, to know that the program is in good hands,” she said.
Asay loves talking baseball and strategy, which has helped her take on a natural leadership role within the squad.
“I feel a little bit old, I don’t get all the jokes,” she said. “But it’s really good, the team has been excellent. We feel like a pretty inclusive group, everyone seems to be getting along quite well, which is always good to see, especially with a little bit of a divide.”
Her leadership will be vital when the Canadians, ranked second in the world, take on the fourth-ranked Americans, who are also undefeated. Canada lost to the Americans last Friday in a pre-tournament exhibition game. The two teams are expected to meet again in Sunday’s final.
Asay will be on the mound for Canada in Wednesday’s game. She also started for the Canadians when they beat the U.S. for bronze last August.
“I expect them to come out swinging the bats and probably to look for my fastball, so I want to try and keep them off balance and see what I can do,” she said. “They’re a good hitting team … I think if I can keep them to weak contact and not give them too many free passes, then I think it’ll be successful.”
More than anything, Asay thinks the North American rivalry will provide another lesson about what Canada has on its side of the field. The U.S. games, she says, usually feel like “there’s a little bit more than just a baseball game on the line.”
“It’s almost always a great baseball game to be a part of.”