Canadian notebook: Dion takes shooting bronze, softball gold in sight
A look at some Canadian performances Friday at the Pan Am Games:
SHOOTING: Veteran shooter Michel Dion won bronze Friday in men’s 50-metre rifle prone. It was Canada’s fourth medal in shooting, which continues until Sunday in Innisfil, south of Barrie.
The 56-year-old two-time Olympian from Pont-Rouge, Que., scored 183.8 points in the eight-man final, which featured a sixth-place finish by Gale Stewart of Quebec.
“I should have been able to shoot a little better but of course it is the Pan Am Games and there is a little more at stake,” said Dion. “Maybe there were a couple of shots where there was some tension and they did not go where they were supposed to be, but overall I am happy. But you always want to do more.”
SOFTBALL: Canada will play for gold in men’s softball Saturday.
The Canadian men beat Argentina 2-0 on Friday on the strength of pitcher Sean Cleary’s third win of the tournament.
Cleary allowed one hit over seven innings, striking out seven.
Third baseman Derek Mayson went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Brandon Horn went 2-for-3 and knocked in the other run.
Canada will play at 3 p.m. in Ajax against the winner of the noon game, featuring Argentina and Venezuela.
GOLF: Canada’s Austin Connelly sits in fourth place, three strokes off the lead, in men’s golf at Angus Glen Golf Course. Connelly, 18, shot a threeunder 69 Friday after a two-under 70 Thursday to sit at 139, three strokes behind Chile’s Felipe Aguilar. The American-born Connelly is a dual citizen and competes for Canada.
“I’m not playing for a silver medal, and I don’t think anyone here is, and if you are you probably shouldn’t be here,” said Connelly. “I go into every event trying to win; it’s just another golf tournament with a couple of really neat things on the side.”
Elmira’s Garrett Rank sat in 20th after shooting par 72 for a two-day total of 151. Lorie Kane of Charlottetown sat in 20th among the 31 female golfers after an 83-163.
“My game is built on tempo and my timing has been off for the last few days,” said Kane. “No excuses. My hip is a little sore but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I’m just not seeing the shape I’m trying to hit.”
The three Canadians sit 11th in the team event.
SAILING: Sailing will enjoy its first medal ceremonies Saturday with Canada’s best hope going into the day being Lee Parkhill, who is third overall in men’s laster. Zac Plavsic sits fifth of seven racers in men’s Windsurfing RXH.
Overall, Canadians are involved in four of the day’s five finals. Brenda Bowskill sits eighth in women’s laser. Erin Rafuse and Dannie Boyd are last of six teams in women 49erFX.