Softball: Cherokee Trail grad Izzy Becker helps Canada to International Challenge runner-up finish
Former Cherokee Trail softball standout Izzy Becker helped the 18U Canadian team to a runner-up finish at the International Challenge hosted by Triple Crown Sports.
Becker, a multi-sport standout at Cherokee Trail and the Centennial League’s softball player of the year last fall, played in the outfield for Canada, which finished 4-1 at the International Challenge in the 18U bracket that featured a total off 22 teams.
Coach Rob Hamilton’s Canada team went 3-0 in pool play with wins over Native America, Dominican Republic and Great Britain to win its pool — with a run differential of a whopping 20 runs — and then rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Ireland 4-3 and make it to a semifinal match with USA.
Becker played in left field, but did not hit, for Canada in its power-filled 11-3 victory that qualified it for a matchup with Mexico for the Gold Division championship.
Canada fell behind Mexico by three runs after one inning, but couldn’t rally this time in a 9-1 defeat to finish as runners-up. Becker came on again to play left field and handled her lone chance cleanly.
The International Challenge event began in 2021 and allows 16U and 18U players who were born in the United States to represent a country that she or her family has ties to.
As opposed to true national teams — which are put together by a country’s governing body — teams in the International Challenge allow players who meet one of the following criteria to participate: born in the country she wants to represent, has a parent, grandparent or great grandparent who was born in the country she wants to represent and for Israel only, it is based on Jewish faith.
The event also helps players be seen by those countries and some have gone to play with national teams.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
Read more Chevrolet Bolt vs. Nissan Leaf, an Edmunds $30,000 EV comparison
Read more After helping the US win the Cold War, the all-you-can-eat buffet is fading. Thanks, COVID
