Team Canada was on a winning streak this weekend at the Menʼs Worlds Softball Championship.

The returning champs and hosts started off this yearʼs championship strong, remaining undefeated after the first three days of competition in Whitehorse.

Facing off against South Africa Friday night they won 10-2 and went on to win 8:3 against Argentina the following evening.

Sunday nightʼs game was a nail biter against Team U.S.A. with Canada starting off slow and ending with a resounding finish.

Cloudy skies didnʼt deter Canadian fans from catching the game, packing the stands, cheering and waving flags. Some broke out in a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and the wave even managed to make its way all the way around the field.

Team U.S.A. took the lead early on, scoring their first run of the game in the first inning with an RBI from Erick Ochoa. U.S.A maintained the one-nothing lead for most of the game.

It looked like Canada might have their first run of the game in the fifth inning with an out of the park hit by Brandon Horn from Waterloo, Ont.. But in a game highlight, U.S.A. centre fielder Matt Ratliff leapt into the air to nab the pop fly. He managed to hold onto the ball as he flipped over the back fence.

Canadian player Kris Walushka from Victoria, B.C. tagged up at second base and made it home. But in a controversial decision, the umpires sent him back to third base, much to the chagrin of Canadian fans.

Heading into the sixth inning, it seemed as though Canada would lose their weekend winning streak.

But they tied up the game with a bases-loaded walk, gaining the lead with a second walk.

After five consecutive walks, Team U.S.A. made a pitching change from Tony Mancha to Duane Weiler, opening the floodgates to a round of hits by the Canadian team.

Ryan Bolan from St. Johnʼs, N.L. hit a bases-clearing double, putting Canada at a 5-1 lead. They finished off the inning with another two runs.

While Devon McCullough from Saskatoon pitched a strong game, it was Sean Cleary from Harbour Main, N.L. that pitched the final inning. It was three up three down as he struck out two U.S.A. players at bat with a third getting out at first base after an infield right grounder.

Canada finished the night with a 7-1 win to rounds of cheers and applause from the stands.

Team U.S.A. coach Denny Bruckert spoke to the Star after the game.

“Theyʼre a very good ball team over there,” he said of Team Canada. “We got out of a few scrapes.”

He noted they played against strong teams all weekend and said that sometimes you have to give up a game for the sake of the longer tournament. Team U.S.A. lost 5-1 against Argentina on Friday and won 2-1 to Australia on Saturday.

“We had them right where we wanted, two innings to get out of it, things went awry right there,” Bruckert said of last nightʼs game. “We just couldnʼt find the strikes there in the sixth inning.”

Team Canada Head Coach John Stuart from Langley, B.C. attributed Sunday nightʼs win to patience at bat, something he said the team has been working on. He told the Star that Team Canada players are aggressive and are able to play multiple positions.

He said their bench is just as strong as their first string and said it was important to pick players that get along and put the team ahead of themselves.

Team Canada will face off against Hong Kong today at 4:30.

Also undefeated this past weekend were Japan, Dominican Republic and New Zealand. Sixteen teams are vying for gold in the 15th edition of the championship which kicked off last Friday morning at the Pepsi Softball Centre.

The final gold winning game is set for 4:00 p.m. on July 16.