- Argentina were 3-1 down in the first after three home runs, and 5-1 down in the seventh before scoring four to tie the game at 5-5 and then scoring six in the ninth innings.
- Czech Republic beat five-time champions USA for the first time in a World Cup. George Harris pulls of a stunning catch.
- Canada and Australia win to book Super Round spots
- Japan and Cuba also victorious
- Six games per day over two fields
- 12 teams split into two groups. Top three teams from each group advance to the Super Round
- Seven time champions New Zealand, title holders Argentina and five-time winners USA in Group A
- Five of the top-11 teams in Group B
- Tournament Website
- Watch Live on GameTime.Sport
Day 3 Results
Canada 11-0 South Africa Box Score and Photos
USA 3-6 Czech Republic Box Score and Photos
Cuba 3-1 Philippines Box Score and Photos
Venezuela 0-6 Australia Box Score and Photos
Denmark 0-3 Japan Box Score and Photos
Argentina 11-5 New Zealand Box Score and Photos
Group A Standings: Argentina 3-0; USA 2-1; Cuba 2-1; New Zealand 1-2; Czech Republic 1-2; Philippines 0-3
Group B Standings: Canada 3-0; Australia 3-0; Japan 2-1; Venezuela 1-2; Denmark 0-3; South Africa 0-3
The WBSC
Men’s Softball World Cup provided more drama on day three with defending
champions Argentina pulling off a remarkable 11-5 come-from-behind victory
against hosts New Zealand in the last game of the day, while Canada and Australia
confirmed their spots in the Super Round with a third win from as many games.
That
followed an historic 6-3 win for the Czech Republic over USA, their first win in
a World Cup over the five-time champions.
Tuesday’s
schedule continues to excite with Cuba and USA facing off at midday followed by
a Group B top-of-the-table clash between undefeated Canada and Australia: A win
for Argentina against the Czech Republic at 16:30 will also confirm a spot for the
world No. 1 in the Super Round.
Argentina v New Zealand
Wow, first pitch from Daniel Chapman and Alan Peker homers over centre field. But cometh the man, cometh the hour. Black Sox skipper Cole Evans replies with his first swing to tie the game up at 1-1. Thomas Enoka then also repeated the feat to score his brother Ben who was previously walked to stretch the lead to 3-1 putting star Argentinian pitcher Huemul Mata under pressure.
Into the fifth inning only three hits in the game - three home runs.
Kiwi fans had their hearts in their mouths when Gonzalo Ojeda connected in the bottom of the sixth but Reilly Makea stretched to the make a superb leaping catch in right field to keep the score at 3-1.
And it wasn't long before the Black Sox scored themselves. Following a strategic pitching change with Roman Godoy on for Mata, Thomas Enoka batted in Ben Enoka on a misfield at first base before Beau Bishop singled to right field to bring in Thomas Enoka to give New Zealand a 5-1 lead.
Federico Eder scored in the seventh, forcing a Black Sox pitching change, with Pita Rona replacing Daniel Chapman who looked back to his best. But just like three years ago at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2019 in Prague where Argentina came from behind to score five runs in the last two innings before winning the game, Rona, with bases loaded, conceded a Manuel Godoy triple for Juan Zara, Gian Scialacomo, Ladislao Malarczuk to score and tie the game at 5-5.
Into the bottom of the seventh and Argentina called super pitcher Mata back into the game. Rhys Evans tripled to right field before Argentina internationally walked Tane Mumu and Cole Evans to load the bases. They got the two outs they wanted before Thomas Enoka was struck out on a full count.
Into extra innings and two fly outs later and the Black Sox were again with three on base and a full count but Conor Pedan struck out.
Top of the ninth and Argentina go ahead on a Mata single to score Juan Zara. With another single from Teo Migliavacca scoring Mata and Peker, Argentina were ahead 8-5.
With bases loaded, time for the Black Sox to make a pitching change with Josh Pettet on for Rona. First pitch though was latched onto by Santiago Carril, who celebrated on his way round the bases as his homer flew out of the ground. Argentina up 11-5 with six runs scored in the innings and New Zealand couldn't muster a response.
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Japan v Denmark
Things were looking ominous for Denmark with Kaisuke Kitazawa and Ryoyu Une scoring off a Yusuke Morita single to right field in the first innings. But Demark dug in and fought toe to toe with the world No. 2. It was only in the fifth innings when Yusuke Sakuraba scored after a triple to left centre.
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Venezuela v Australia
Coming off the back of a tight 3-2 loss to four-time champions Canada and a 12-1 win over South Africa, world No. 9 Venezuela were expected to give Australia a good contest.
World No. 4 were on a high after a sensational come-from-behind 6-5 win over Japan in extra innings on Sunday and a 7-0 win over Denmark on day one, and they started superbly with three runs in the bottom of the third forcing a pitching change for Venezuela - Eudomar Toyo replacing Erick Urbaneja.
Toyo seemed to have tightened things up but soon got rattled, loading the bases on a wild pitch with a full count. Marshall Kronk then singled to right centre, scoring Julian Jemmott and Callum Beashel to put Australia up 5-0 in the bottom of the second.
Jemmott batted in Hayden Mathews to take the lead to 6-0, a lead which Australia kept thanks to a no hitter Jack Besgrove.
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Cuba v Philippines
After a close defeat to Argentina and a win over the Czech Republic, world No. 12 Cuba were expected to be too good for the winless Philippines, ranked 21st in the world, however the first three innings proved very cagey.
It took a Yesander Rodriquez homer to centre field to score Anibal Vaillant to put Cuba 2-0 ahead in the top of the third inning and with Alain Roman on fire on the mound, having given up no hits and striking out eight batters across four innings, it looked like Cuba was taking the ascendency.
But the Philippines, who lost this game 11-2 at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2019, fought their way back into the game, celebrating their first run of the tournament with Julius Diaz, who had stolen second base, stealing home on a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth.
Rodriquez scored again in the top of the sixth to give new pitcher Guber Plutin a further insurance run before Cuba closed it out for their second win of the tournament.
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USA v Czech Republic
Solid start from Czech Republic's Michael Holobradek with one hit in the first inning before Mikulas Klas scored for Czech Republic on a Vojtech Buchner single un the middle. Marek Maly tried to get home as well from second but was tagged out at home. Czech Republic up 1-0.
Centre fielder then homers over centre field to put the world No. 5 up 2-0 over the five-time champs. That called for a pitching change with Jon Gwizdala, who opened for USA against New Zealand on Sunday, coming in for Jerlin Rutt.
Some sloppy fielding from USA saw Czech Republic extend the lead to two. Lukas Kubat singled to shortstop but then made it to second after there was no one on second base. The next play, Marek Volf tripled to right field scoring Kubat. Czech Republic up 3-0.
Czech Republic playing on fire, a superb diving catch in centre field from George Harris in the top of the third kept the score at 3-0.
Ron Hackett called another pitching change, bringing in USA's hero against New Zealand Bradley Kilpatrick but that didn't change the Czech Republic's momentum.
A Tomas Klein homer which hit the top of the right field fence scored Martin Magula and Mikulas Klas for the Czech Republic in the bottom of the fourth to put them insight of their first ever win over the US at a World Cup. The two countries have played four times previously with USA prevailing in 2013 (at Rosedale Park), 2004, 2000 and 1996.
Jonathan Lynch pulled one back with a homer over centre field before Yusef Davis singled for Zachary Shaw to get home and suddenly the Czech Republic's lead was cut to 6-2. Erick Ochoa scored in the seventh on a Matt Palazzo double but the Europeans were soon celebrating after Jonathan Lynch flew out for a famous victory. A victory where pitcher Michal Holobradek went the distance, allowing eight hits, three runs and three walks.
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South Africa v Canada
Rosedale Park was bathed in lovely sunshine as South Africa, ranked 11th in the world, took on four time champions Canada on Field 2. Canada, who won this contest 10-4 at the 2019 Men's Softball World Cup, were up 1-0 in the first before Colin Walsh hit his second homer of the tournament, just out of reach of left fielder Mandla Matswenyane in the top of the second.
Cory Jones and Tyler Pauli also scored in the second innings to give the world No. 3 a 4-0 lead after two. Ty Sebastian was on fire on the mound, keeping the South African batters quiet with no hits, six strikeouts and one walk across two innings.
Canada scored two more in the third with Colin Walsh scoring a second and Ryan Boland also crossing.
A right field line drive from Justin Laskowski scored Pauli and Boland in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 9-0. Derek Mayson then singled to deep left field to score Quinten Bruce and Laskowski to put Canada ahead 11-0.
Sebastian continued his great form, completing a no hitter, with 12 strikeouts as Canada wrapped up the win 11-0 via the run-ahead-rule in the fifth.
Stunning day's play on Sunday with plenty of drama throughout. Rain delays, lead changes, massive home runs and record scores was the order of Sunday. Looking forward to more of the same on Monday.
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Day 2 Results
Cuba beat Czech Republic 7-0 Box Score and Photos
Denmark beat Canada 10-0 Box Score and Photos
Venezuela beat South Africa 12-1 Box Score and Photos
USA beat New Zealand 7-0 Box Score and Photos
Argentina beat Philippines 6-0 Box Score and Photos
Australia 6-5 Japan Box Score and Photos
