National team wins opening match at WBSC Softball Men’s World Cup Group B

Canada opened its WBSC Softball Men’s World Cup campaign with a convincing win over Hong Kong, China on Wednesday.

Canada won 7-1, with starting pitcher Justin Schofield retiring 13 of 16 batters and allowing just one hit in five innings.

Canada extended its lead in the fourth inning on a groundout by Mitchell’s Tyler Pauli, moving Jeff Lyons to third, who would eventually score on a play in which Kitchener’s Dallas Kipfer reached third on an error.

Pauli didn’t have a hit in the game, but the strategic groundout in the fourth inning created a key scoring opportunity for Canada.

Canada plays a doubleheader on Thursday, July 11: at 6 p.m. ET against Singapore, followed by a match against Argentina at 9 p.m.