Above, East's Alysha Hoover slides into home, safe, just missing the tag by Canada's Kelly Carr in Monday's game. Below, East pitcher Amy Neitz winds up for a screamer. Bottom, some Canada fans watch the game under some shade. Photos by RUSLANA LAMBERT

“We beat ourselves today,” said Canada’s manager, Kevin Carr.

The East scored four runs on errors, two on past-pitches, one on a sacrifice fly and four more on eight hits.

Three Canadian errors and a RBI standup double by catcher Jordan Fredrick gave the East a 3-0 lead to start the game. Canada settled and worked a silent second and third inning, despite two errors. But the East would capitalize over the next three innings.

Centerfielder Kelly Pfleegor belted in Fredrick on a RBI single to left-center field, to give the East a 4-0 lead and then Canada’s sixth error scored third baseman Alysha Hoover following a play at the plate.

Shortstop and relief pitcher Larissa Luu plated Pfleegor on a RBI sacrifice bunt and starting pitcher Nicole Smith scored two pitches later on a past ball before right fielder grounded out to third to end the top of the fourth inning.

Canada rallied in their half of the inning to load the bases on a trio of one-out singles by Alex Passa, Sabrina Phillips and Jessica Kipping, but Luu was able to get Morgan Belanger to ground out for the 1-2 force out at home plate and ended the inning on a three-pitch called strikeout.

Smith pitched four strong innings in their 6-1 opening round win over District III (Seaford, Del.) striking out four and allowing only two base runners (a single and a walk), only to start again against Canada.

She worked three three-up, three-down innings, striking out four before making way for Luu.

Despite giving up three consecutive hits in the fourth, Luu dug deep to strike out four and allowed only one more hit over the next two innings to preserve the win.

Entering the sixth inning, Kevin Carr replaced his Canadian-team starting pitcher, Kelly Carr, with first baseman Morgan Belanger — but the game went on as it had.

Luu and Smith sandwiched a pair of one-out RBI singles between a past pitch that scored Hoover to give the East the 10-0 mercy-rule mark and added one more run on their 10th and final error of the game.

“It’s instinct. They know what to do when that happens,” East manager Mike Balliet said of errors and past pitches.