Stern Helps Canada Remain Undefeated

ATHENS - Former Husker Adam Stern continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, as Canada improved to 3-0 during the preliminary round with a 7-0 win over the Netherlands on Tuesday. Stern, who also stole a base in the win, helped Canada remain one of only two undefeated teams during the first three days of competition. The Canadians, who are making their first Olympic baseball appearance, will square off with Japan, the other 3-0 team in the tournament, on Thursday.

Peter Orr (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Pierre-Luc Laforest (Hull, Que.) and Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) each homered to pace Canada offensively, while right-hander Shawn Hill (Mississauga, Ont.) tossed five shutout innings to pick up the win.

Orr, who drove in four runs overall today, got the offence going for Canada in the second inning when he drove a pitch over the center field wall to bring home Todd Betts (East York, Ont.) and Stern (London, Ont.) and give the Canadians a 3-0 lead.

"I feel good," Orr said about his hitting after the game. "We could still get better. We don't want to peak too early but we're playing well and consistently."

Laforest followed with a solo homer to lead off the top of the third inning. Clapp highlighted a three-run fourth inning with a solo home run to right field, his second hit of the afternoon.

Including an RBI-single in the fourth, Laforest has now driven in eight runs in Canada's three games thus far in the Olympics.

Hill gave up just three hits in earning the win for Canada, while four relievers combined to preserve the shutout victory.

Canada has now outscored its opposition by a total margin of 23-3 including a pair of shutout wins heading into tomorrow's contest against Greece. Left-hander Paul Spoljaric (Kelowna, B.C.) is expected to start for Canada against the host country.

Following tomorrow's game, Canada will enjoy an off-day Aug. 19 before facing Japan, Cuba and Australia in the final three games of round-robin play.