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Canada saved its biggest moment for the biggest game.
Kelsey Harshman delivered the biggest swing of the game, launching a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning as Canada rallied to defeat China 7-3 and capture the 2026 Canada Cup Women’s International Softball Championship in Surrey, B.C.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect week for Canada, which went unbeaten through the tournament with a 9-0 record.
It was a tight game for most of the afternoon, with both teams getting strong pitching, keeping the offence quiet through the first two innings.
Kelsey Harshman’s three-run home run in the seventh inning was the difference, as Canada beat China 7-3 to win the Canada Cup International Softball Championship in Surrey, B.C.
Finally in the third inning, China broke through, getting on the scoreboard first after Xintian Li doubled and Xiaoyan He followed with an RBI single. Jiaxin Xie added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Canada’s offence didn’t need long to respond as it came alive in the fourth inning. After Kianna Jones and CC Wong set the table with back-to-back singles, Emma Entzminger gave Canada the clutch hit it was looking for. With two outs and runners in scoring position, she lined a triple into right field to bring both runners home, turning a two-run deficit into a brand-new ball game at 2-2.
China had an answer in the sixth inning when Min Ren launched a solo home run to put the hosts back in front 3-2, sending Canada into the final inning needing a response, and once again the Canadians answered the call.
Entzminger got things started in the seventh by drawing a walk, and after Erika Polidori reached on an error, Harshman stepped to the plate with a chance to flip the game. She did exactly that, crushing a three-run home run to right field to give Canada its first lead of the afternoon at 5-3.
Canada added two more insurance runs later in the inning. Messmer doubled, Larissa Franklin moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, and Wong’s sacrifice fly — along with a throwing error — allowed two more runs to score putting the Canadians ahead by four.
China couldn’t mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as Morgan Reimer shut the door, retiring the side to secure the championship for Canada.
Harshman powered the offence in the final, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Entzminger continued her standout tournament with two hits, including a triple, while driving in two runs and drawing a walk. Messmer added two doubles, and Jones scored twice.
Canada used three pitchers throughout the championship game, with Sara Groenewegen, Dawn Bodrug and Reimer combining to limit China’s offence to just three runs.
From start to finish, Canada was the team to beat. The Canadians outscored their opponents 90-17 across nine games and finished the tournament with three straight playoff wins, including back-to-back victories over China to claim the championship.
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