Brasil Helps Markham To Bronze Medal At Canadian Nationals
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 11, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate standout softball player Kim Brasil helped lead the Markham Jaguars to the Bronze Medal at the 2008 Canadian National Championships in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.
Markham entered the Canadian Nationals having won four straight National Championships and were going for five in a row, including three straight playing in the Midget Girls classification.
Things started well for Markham as the Jaguars won their first four games of the tournament. Brasil was 1-for-4 in Markham's 3-2 win over the Edmonton `89 Warriors in the opening game. She was 1-for-2 with a run in the 8-0 victory over the Rebelles `89 squad in the Jags' second game of the tournament. She scored a run in 5-0 victory over the NB Vitos in the third game of the championships. Markham crushed the PEI Gators, 10-0, in the fourth game of the tourney, though Brasil did not play.
Despite the strong start, Markham ran into a buzz saw in form of the Surrey Storm in the fifth game of the tournament and the contest would be an indication of what was to come for the Jags the rest of the tournament. The Storm took a 2-1 win to deliver the Jags their first loss of the tournament.
Markham got back on track with a 1-0 victory over the Manitoba Angels in the next game and claimed a 5-1 win over the Cole Harbour Comets with Brasil scoring a run in game No. 7 of the tournament. The win allowed Markham to move into the championship round of the tournament.
Markham opened the championship round of the tournament against a familiar for, the Whitby Eagles. Both teams are from Ontario and see each other throughout the summer. The game lived up to its billing with Markham squeaking out a 2-1 win in 11 innings.
Brasil scored a run in Markham's next game, but Markham could not hold down the Whiterock Renegades as the Jags fell, 5-4, to move into the elimination portion of the championship round. Markham faced the Surrey Storm in the next game and the Storm again limited Markham's offensive production and took a 2-0 win to move into the championship final. Surrey went on to win the Canadian National Championship. Brasil finished the tournament with four runs scored and did not commit an error playing both right field and catcher for the Jaguars.
Brasil was a key member of the Upstate softball program in 2008, helping lead the Spartans to a share of the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship and a 34-15 overall record. Brasil was an A-Sun All-Freshman team selection after hitting .314 with eight doubles and five triples for Upstate. She split time at left field and catcher last season for the Spartans and is expected to spend the majority of her time at catcher in 2009 for Upstate.
