Richmond’s Bryan Abrey added to his collection of world championship men’s softball medals this week, although he would have preferred a different colour this time around.
Abrey and Team Canada picked up a bronze medal at the 15th Men’s Softball World Championships in Whitehorse after losing to Australia 7-3 in Sunday’s bronze medal game. Australia ended up with silver after losing 6-4 to New Zealand in the gold medal final.
“Of course we wanted to win it, but winning a medal is a proud accomplishment,” Abrey said.
Abrey battled an injury at the start of the tournament and managed to get in 12 at-bats with three hits, including a home run. He scored twice and drove in four runs finishing with a .250 batting average.
Canada finished atop its pool with a 7-0 record and beat Japan 2-0 in its first playoff game Saturday setting up a show down with New Zealand Saturday night with the winner advancing to Sunday’s gold medal final.
The game was played in heavy rain and terrible conditions with Canada jumping out to a seemingly insurmountable 9-2 advantage after three innings, but New Zealand rallied with a huge eight-run fourth to reclaim the lead. Canada tied things up at 10-10 after five, but the Black Sox scored two in the sixth to take the lead for the final time. Canada plated one in the seventh, but lost 12-11 putting them in the bronze medal game.
Abrey, a 30-year-old catcher/utility player, last suited up for Canada at the 2015 worlds in Saskatoon where Canada toppled New Zealand to win gold.
He played baseball at the collegiate level at Lewis-Clark State in Idaho before focusing back on his softball career. He has been a member of the full men’s national team since 2015.
“There is nothing prouder than wearing red and white and having the Maple Leaf across your chest,” he said.
