White Sox third in Canada

Pitcher Jennifer Feret-brear slugged five home runs as the New Zealand White Sox women’s softball team finished third at the Canada Cup tournament.

The New Zealanders picked up the bronze medal after losing 7-2 to the Triple Crown Colorado team last weekend following an earlier 7-2 defeat to the Canadian national team, who went on to win the title.

White Sox coach Kevin Gettins said it was a useful warmup tournament before the world championship which starts in Chiba, Japan, on August 3.

He said Feret-brear had ‘‘an outstanding batting tournament and she pitched an exceptional game when we beat Triple Crown [3-0 earlier in the tournament’’.

‘‘It was her first real ball since coming back from a year-long battle with a knee injury.’’

Feret-brear – who was in the White Sox batting lineup as a designated player (DP) when not on the pitching mound – made the top All-star tournament as a DP.

Gettins said that captain Ellie Cooper found her best batting form near the end of the tournament, smashing a ‘‘big, high, long home run’’ and a single against Canada’s top pitchers Jenna Caira and Danielle Lawrie.

‘‘Hailey Breakwell had a very good week with bat and ball [at shortstop] and Lara Andrews also hit well. We also got some good consistency from Mereana Makea and Mikayla Werahiko.’’

Gettins said the White Sox used the tournament as a development exercise with many of the players coming straight from a New Zealand winter.

‘‘It was good to play Canada, the No 3 team in the world. We were down 4-2 in the seventh inning until it blew out to 7-2, but we felt confident in that game, so that’s a really good indication.’’