Canada Places Fourth in Baseball at Olympic Games

ATHENS ? The Canadian National Baseball team concluded play at the 2004 Olympics on Wednesday, falling to Japan, 11-2, in the bronze medal game.

The Canadians, making their first Olympic appearance, finished fourth in the eight-team tournament after losses to Cuba and Japan the last two days of tournament action. Canada finished with a 5-4 record after placing third in the round-robin portion of the tournament earlier in the week.

After going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs in Tuesday’s loss to Cuba, Stern was held hitless in four at-bats in the bronze medal contest, finishing the tournament with a .258 average. He struggled against Japan, going a combined 1-for-7 in the two losses.

"While we did not accomplish our goal of winning a medal at these Olympics, our players and entire staff should feel very proud of themselves for their performance here in Athens, as they represented Baseball Canada and their country with grace and honor," said Ray Carter, Baseball Canada's president.

Canada starter Mike Johnson gave up six runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout in 2.1 innings pitched to take the loss for Canada, which managed just five hits while allowing 13.

Jeremy Ware provided one of the lone offensive highlights, belting a solo homer in the fifth, as Canada closed to with 7-2 before Japan scored four times in the eighth to seal the bronze medal.

-- Huskers --