The Australian national softball team posted a 4-4 record at the recently completed Canadian Open Fastpitch International Tournament. Hawai`i senior pitcher Kaia Parnaby saw action in three games, but went 0-2 in the tournamnet with one start.

The Aussie Spirit team will conclude their North American tour at the ISF XIII Women's World Fastpitch Championship, July 13-22 in Yukon, Canada. Australia is in the "Section B" pool with Canada, Chinese Taipei, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. "Section A" includes Argentina, China, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela. Australia will open the tournament against Japan on July 13 at 2:30 pm (PT).

2012 ISF XIII Women's World Fastpitch Championship
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
July 13-22, 2012

Australia Schedule
July 13  - 2:30 pm -  Japan 
July 14 - 11:30 am - Italy
July 15 -  11:30 am - Mexico
July 16 - 4:00 pm - New Zealand
July 17 - 4:30 pm - Chinese Taipei
July 18 - 7:00 pm - Canada
July 19 - 1:30 pm - Great Britain
July 20 - TBA
July 21 - TBA
July 22 - TBA


Canadian Open Fastpitch International Tournament
Surrey, British Columbia
July 4-9, 2012

Monday, July 9
Australia 7, Canada 0
Box Score

Sunday, July 8
USA 2, Australia 0
Box Score

Saturday, July 7
Australia 6, Venezuela 2
Box Score

Australia 7, New Zealand 0
Box Score

Friday, July 6
Canada 5, Australia 3
Box Score

Thursday, July 5
USA 7, Australia 0
Box Score

Japan 7, Australia 2
Box Score

Wednesday, July 4
Australia 13, Puerto Rico 0 (4 innings)
Box Score

Team Australia began playing in the Canadian Open Fastpitch International tournament on Wednesday, July 4 and it runs through July 9 in Surrey, British Columbia. Australia opened the tournament with a 13-0 thrashing over Puerto Rico in four innings. Both Hawai'i alumnae Stacey Porter and Clare Warwick helped fuel the offense. Porter was 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks while Warwick was also 10for-2 with two runs and three RBI. However, the Aussies dropped their second game of the tourney on Thursday, a  7-2 loss to Team Japan. UH pitcher Kaia Parnaby got the start and suffered the loss, lasting just 1.2 innings. She gave up six runs on four hits with two walks and a strike out. 


Monday, July 2
USA 3, Australia 0 - Box Score
The Australian national softball team fell to the United States of America, 3-0 in the World Cup of Softball championship game at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Aussies were held to just one hit over seven innings and were shut out by a trio of American pitchers. Both current UH pitcher Kaia Parnaby and former UH pitcher Justine Smethurst did not see action in the championship game, but both third baseman Stacey Porter and shortstop Clare Warwick started for the Spirit, but were a combined 0-for-5 at the plate.

Sunday, July 1
Australia 4, Netherlands 0 - Box Score
Saturday, June 30 
Australia 6, Puerto Rico 2 - Box Score

The Australian national softball team advanced to the World Cup of Softball Championship Game after knocking off Puerto Rico, 6-2 on Saturday and shutting out the Netherlands, 4-0 on Sunday at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. After seeing action in the first three games, UH senior pitcher Kaia Parnaby did not make an appearance in the games against Puerto Rico or the Netherlands. However, Hawai`i alumnae Stacey Porter, Justine Smethurst and Clare Warwick all helped propel the Aussies into the title game on Monday, July 2. The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 8:00 p.m. (CT).


Friday, June 29
USA 3, Australia 1 - Box Score

University of Hawai`i softball pitcher Kaia Parnaby suffered her first loss of the World Cup of Softball in a 3-1 decision to Team USA. Parnaby kept the US National Team in check through the first three innings, but in the bottom of the fourth the Americans broke through with two runs causing Parnaby to leave the game. She threw a total of 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with a pair of walks and six strike outs. Parnaby's record in the World Cup fell to 2-1 after earning the win over Canada earlier on Friday at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Parnaby started the game and tossed the first 3.1 innings but gave up a solo home run with one out in the fourth. She proceeded to walk the next batter and then was lifted in favor of Zara Mee. Later, UH alum Justine Smethurst came into the game in relief of Mee in the fifth inning, but lasted just 0.2 innings. Parnaby then came in again to close the game, throwing the final 1.1 innings. Smethurst gave up one run on one hit with two walks and a strike out.

UH alumnae Stacey Porter and Clare Warwick combined to score Australia's only run of the game. Warwick drew a walk to start the fifth inning and later was driven in by Porter. 

Australia concludes its pool play with Puerto Rico on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. (CT)

Friday, June 29
Australia 7, Canada 6 - Box Score -
University of Hawai'i softball pitcher Kaia Parnaby earned her second win of the World Cup of Softball in a clutch relief performance that helped Australia defeat Canada, 7-6.Parnaby entered with the game tied at 6-6 and two outs in the seventh inning. She struck out the one batter she faced to retire the side to eventually earn the victory at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.  

Parnaby struck out the one batter she faced--former Georgia Tech standout and Canada's clean-up hitter Jennifer Yee--to help lift Australia a 2-0 record in the World Cup. Former UH pitcher Justine Smethurst started the game for the Aussies, and lasted 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on four hits with three walks and five strike outs. Zara Mee then came in to throw the next 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits before she was lifted for Parnaby who closed the game.

Things were looking bleak for Australia who trailed Canada 5-1 before mounting a furious, five run rally in the bottom of the sixth to leap-frog to a 6-5 lead. Rainbow Wahine alum Stacey Porter got the first RBI of the sixth inning with an RBI single and later fellow UH alumna Clare Warwick capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to give Australia the lead going into the final frame. 

Team Canada came back to tie the game at 6-6 on an RBI double before Parnaby came in to snuff out the rally in the top of the seventh inning.

Porter went 1-for-2 in the game with two runs scored and two walks while fellow UH alum Clare Warwick was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly.

Australia concludes Day 2 of the World Cup with its second game of their doubleheader against the United States of America at 6:00 pm (CT). The game will be televised on ESPN live.


Thursday, June 28
Australia 11, Brazil 1 - Box Score 
 University of Hawai'i softball pitcher Kaia Parnaby earned the victory for the Australian national team in their opening game of the World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. Australia defeated Brazil, 11-1 in six innings.
 
Parnaby fired four innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and three strike outs. She is now 1-0 this summer for the Aussies.
 
UH alumna Stacey Porter led Australia on offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run, a double, a walk and three runs scored. Porter serves as the team's lead-off hitter and is playing at third base. Also starting for Australia was catcher Clare Warwick who went 0-for-4 at the plate on Thursday. Pitcher Justine Smethurst is also on the Australian team and will pitch later in the tournament.
 
Up next for Australia is a doubleheader, first against Canada on Friday at 11:30 am (CT)  then Team USA  at 6:00 CT with the game being broadcast on ESPN.  (For complete World Cup schedule click here.) Also competing at the 2012 World Cup are Canada, the Netherlands, and Puerto Rico.
 
Parnaby just completed her junior season with the Rainbow Wahine with a 16-3 record and 1.47 ERA in 124.0 innings pitched. She earned second team all-WAC honors this past season.

World Cup of Softball - Results for Australia

Date	Visiting Team	Home Team	Score
June 28	Australia	Brazil	AUS, 11-1
June 29	Canada	Australia	AUS, 7-6
June 29	Australia	USA	USA, 3-1
June 30	Australia	Puerto Rico	AUS, 6-2
June 31	Netherlands	Australia	AUS, 4-0
July 1	Australia	USA	USA, 3-0