22/02/2020 - 01/03/2020

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U-18 Men's Softball World Cup 2020 - Official Payoff

Australia 13-0 Guatemala: Garland, Molander lead Australia to impressive win

Australia 13-0 Guatemala: Garland, Molander lead Australia to impressive win
27/02/2020
Australia's 13-0 win over Guatemala saw them keep pace with world No. 1 Japan with their sixth straight win of the tournament.

Jeremy Garland’s home run and four RBIs and Kynan Molander’s three RBIs embellished the final score as they paced Australia to a 13-0 three-inning Super Round victory over Guatemala on Thursday, keeping their winning streak going at the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Colquhoun Park in Palmerston North City in New Zealand.

It's their sixth win from as many games and the 2018 champions have now won nine games in a row in this age group after last losing to Japan 3-2 in the last Opening Round game in 2018 before going onto claim the title.

Garland fired from all cylinders in the win after tallying four RBIs, two runs and 12 strikeouts in four innings, while Joshua Routledge contributed two more runs.

Australia played a seamless game, starting with Garland’s homer to deep centre field that opened up a seven-run binge in the bottom of the first inning. The Australian batters were on target as Riley James, Caleb Van De Griendt fired RBIs, then Hayden Shaw scored another RBI off Molander’s triple to right centre.

Molander and Ethan Field also contributed with two more RBIs after Joshua Routledge hit a single to the middle, and eventually scored his own RBI as Garland returned to bat for the second time in the inning.

Guatemala pitcher was able to keep Australia scoreless in the second inning, but Garland hit a single to allow Joshua Banks and Routledge fire two RBIs to increase the lead to 9-0. Garland got another RBI that started another run for Australia, putting Kelly to third base and scoring a run after a sacrifice fly.

When Samuel Seach and Boston Lowe reached third base and second base, respectively, Molander’s single to centre field guaranteed the two to hit the home plate and conclude the game with a 13-0 triumph.