Canada 6-1 South Africa: Major hit takes Canada to victory

Canada scored their opening victory at the expense of South Africa, 6-1, at the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Max Major hit the first home run of the tournament, before Brooks Connor’s triple in the top of the fifth struck the final nail in the coffin as they never gave their opposition a chance to come back.

Canada got on the board first in the first inning with an RBI single off the bat of Jackson Pegelo. Both teams went on to a sluggish 3rd and 4th frame, before Canada went on to a 4-0 run in the 4th off an illegal pitch capped off by a Becker single and with Major hitting a homer to the deep right field.

Van Boekel hit yet another RBI single in the 5th to give Canada the 5-0 lead. South Africa tried to rally in the 6th frame behind Kyle Weideman but it proved to be too late.

Nathan Running pitched 5 innings to allow his team tally 3 hits while Brody Fraser pitched 2 for a hit and a run. Jaco Bloem led South Africa (4 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 0 SO).