Australia 21-1 South Africa: Banks and Besgrove score four for Australian domination

The reigning juniors champions Australia put up a masterclass as they fired from all cylinders to beat South Africa 21-1 on Wednesday ahead of the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup Super Round. Australia closed out the opening round with an immaculate 5:0 win:loss record.

Jack Besgrove and Joshua Banks were the stars as they chipped in four runs apiece in their dominating win and also credited for four and two RBIs, respectively. Kyle Weideman scored South Africa’s solitary run with Matthew Parkinson credited for an RBI.

Australia immediately surged to a 6-0 lead with an RBI double by Riley James and back-to-back RBI singles by Banks and Ethan Field, before consecutive wild pitches from Ketumile Nkune conceded two more runs.

Besgrove produced two more with a single in the second inning before a grounder off Samuel Seach’s bat sent Besgrove to the plate. Then Field reached home off a triple from Nicholas Murphy to pull away further 10-0.

The string of runs continued in the third for Australia with three triples to mount an 11-run surge in the top of the frame.

Parkinson sacrificed to take Weideman home to finally put South Africa on the board but the run was too late as Australia walked off with the 21-1 victory.