Canada sweep Puerto Rico, advance to WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026
World No. 3 Canada swept No. 9 Puerto Rico in a best-of-five playoff series to become the 11th team qualified for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026. Canada outscored Puerto Rico 32-3.
The Results
April 30 Puerto Rico-Canada 0-14
May 1 Canada-Puerto Rico 8-3
May 1 Puerto Rico- Canada 0-10
Inclement weather postponed game one and moved it to Falardo.
Raine Pedgham allowed Puerto Rico only one hit and a walk over five innings, while striking out seven. Canada made the most of a leadoff fielding error against starter Angelis Rivera with an RBI double by Mia Valcke, an RBI single by Zilzée Gélinas, and Cassie Matlock's sacrifice fly, and they broke the score open with a six-run top of the second, highlighted by Andréanne Leblanc's three-run homer off reliever Mirelys Adorno.
The series went back to Carolina for a Friday, May 1, double header.
Michelle Roche pitched five scoreless innings, allowing Puerto Rico only two hits and left with a comfortable 7-0 lead.
The hosts got to relievers Elisabeth Gilder and Mikael Fields, scoring three runs on three hits and three walks, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Canada's offence combined for ten hits, with shortstop Mia Valcke going 3-for-3, with a triple and four runs scored. Second base Madison Willan had three RBIs
The Women's Baseball World Cup Group Stage 2026
Canada will join No. 2 USA, No. 6 Mexico, No. 8 Hong Kong-China, No. 10 Australia and No. 12 Korea in Group Rockford (Illinois, USA) from July 22 to 27.
Tainan (TPE) will host the other group from August 23 to 27. Five of the six participants have qualified: No. 1 Japan, No. 5 Venezuela, No. 6 Chinese Taipei, No. 7 Cuba, and No. 28 Great Britain. The WBSC will announce a Wild Card to the sixth team on Tuesday, May 5.
Finals 2027
The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Finals, which Rockford will host from July 19 to 25, 2027.