Men’s Softball World Cup 2022 - Day 1: Cuba close to Argentina upset, New Zealand wow home crowd, Australia, USA, Canada and Japan pick up impressive wins
- Stunning cultural Opening Ceremony sets up the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup superbly
- Japan too good for South Africa winning 11-0, USA beat Philippines 1-0
- Defending champions Argentina fight back to beat Cuba 3-1, Australia beat Denmark 7-0
- Hosts New Zealand beat the Czech Republic 3-1 in the opening game, Canada hold on against Venezuela to win 3-2
- 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 1 Schedule-Results
New Zealand beat Czech Republic 3-1 Box Score and Photos
Canada beat Venezuela 3-2 Box Score and Photos
Australia beat Denmark 7-0 Box Score and Photos
Argentina beat Cuba 3-1 Box Score and Photos
Japan beat South Africa 11-0 Box Score and Photos
USA beat Philippines 1-0 Box Score and Photos
World No. 12 Cuba went close to pulling off the upset of the tournament after a Reynaldo Lamote bomb over centre field gave Cuba a 1-0 lead of world champions Argentina in the bottom of the fifth.
The boilover almost happened when Cuba, who had a disrupted preparation for the tournament, led 1-0 going into the seventh and final inning before Alan Peker scored the tying run and Federico Eder and Lucio Retamar then got home on the back of a Juan Yara double to left field to give the world No. 1 Argentinians the win.
"To face Cuba, you need to play smart," said Argentina coach Julio Gamarci. "We also have an athletic team, but what counts is taking advantage of the opportunities, this is the difference between two elite teams. We had three opportunities in the game, and in the last inning we could take make the most of it to score three runs and take the win."
Host New Zealand welcomed the world before beating Czech Republic
A booming home run by Ben Enoka set-up an important 3-1 victory for New Zealand over the Czech Republic on the opening day of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup in Auckland.
The seven-time champions Black Sox beat the Czech team 9-0 in the opening game of the Softball World Cup in Prague in 2019, but their European opponents, now ranked fifth in the world, have much improved. That included a win over the Black Sox in the lead-up event in Palmerston North last week.
Hutt Valley’s Joel Evans scored the first run after a Czech miss field off a Cole Evans hit before fellow Hutt player Tane Mumu scored to put the Black Sox 2-0 up in the top of the third inning. Tomas Klein replied for the Czech Republic, getting home on a wild pitch to cut the lead in the bottom of the third. However, Auckland’s Ben Enoka hit the first home run of the tournament to put the Black Sox 3-1 up in the top of the fifth, and they held the lead from that point at Rosedale Park in Albany.
Australia looked impressive in their 7-0 victory over Denmark while Japan (11-0 over South Africa), USA (1-0 over the Philippines) and Canada (3-2 over Venezuela) also recorded solid wins.
Philippines 0-1 USA
Nicholas Mullins scores on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third to put USA ahead 1-0 in a tight encounter. And that would be the only run of the game.
Japan 11-0 South Africa
Hamamoto scored for Japan in the bottom of the first to give the 2019 silver medallists a 1-0 lead before adding four more in the second.
World No. 2 Japan continued their hot batting form in the third with six more runs including the biggest home run of the day from Hikaru Matsuda through centre field to make it 11-0.
Takuro Kawano replaced Hikaru Matsuda on the mound for the final innings and struck out two batters as Japan wrapped up the game 11-0 on the runs ahead rule after four innings.
Argentina 3-1 Cuba
Cuba kept pace with the world champions throughout, even a close call at home plate in the fourth inning saw the call come out in Cuba's favour.
And then up steps Reynaldo Lamote with a home run to deep centre field, which put Cuba up 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going and Argentina used their get out of jail card at their last turn at bat. With pitcher Alain Roman struggling for consistency, Alan Peker scored the tying run before Federico Eder and Lucio Retamar got home on the back of Juan Yara's double to left field.
Argentina coach Julio Gamarci rung the changes with Bruno Moltroni replacing Juan Zara as catcher and Manuel Godoy on for Huemul Mata on the mound. And that combination protected the lead, not without a few nervous moments with runners on base and closed out the game 3-1.
Denmark 0-7 Australia
Australia made a superb start with three runs at the first turn at bat. Scott Patterson, Callum Beashel and Marshall Kronk scored with only one hit in the inning.
Brendon O'Byrne scored in the bottom of the second thanks to a Nick Shailes fly out to put Australia up 4-0. Shailes' single to centre field in the bottom of the fourth scored O'Bryrne and Callum Beachel, putting Australia 6-0 up before a Callum Beashel double to left centre field scored O'Byrne for Australia to wrap up the run-ahead win.
New Zealand 3-1 Czech Republic
Hosts New Zealand, ranked sixth in the world, took on the Czech Republic on Field 1. Seven time champions New Zealand, who beat the world No. five 9-0 in the opening game of the Men's Softball World Cup in Prague in 2019, unveiled a new haka.
New Zealand were also coming off a 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic at the Invitational International Tournament in Palmerston North last weekend.
Joel Evans scored the first run for New Zealand after a Czech miss field off Cole Evans' hit before Tane Mumu scored as well to put the Black Sox 2-0 up in the top of the third inning. Tomas Klein replied for the Czech Republic getting home on a wild pitch to cut the lead by 1 in the bottom of the third.
Ben Enoka hit the first home run of the tournament to put NZ 3-1 up in the top of the fifth.
Czech Republic had two on base in the bottom of the sixth but New Zealand pitcher Daniel Chapman managed to strike out Vojtech Forman and end the inning, much to the delight of home fans.
Rhys Evans's triple to deep left centre saw it bounce back off the fence but with the crowd cheering him on, Evans tried to run home but was tagged out to keep the score at 3-1 in the top of the seventh.
Josh Pettet then came on in the bottom of the inning and made it three up and three down to give New Zealand an opening win.
Venezuela 2-3 Canada
On field 2, Venezuela, a dark horse for this tournament, took on four-time champions Canada.
Shane Boland scores the first run of the tournament after being brought home by Brad Ezekiel to put Canada up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Mathieu Roy scored soon after from a single from Quintan Bruce before Brad Ezekiel also scored on a Bryan Abrey single. Canada lead 3-0 after the first innings.
Venezuela, who finished second to New Zealand in 2013 at this venue, started a comeback in the top of the third with Edinson Marrero and Carlos Villegas coming home to make it 3-2 before an arm wrestle with Justin Schofield and Eudomar Toyo soon followed. Canada's Schofield struck out seven over the last three innings while gave up only six hots over six innings.
Earlier, the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup opening ceremony was stunning with a performance from Maori performing arts group Angitu before WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low opened the tournament.
The Opening Ceremony plenty of VIP guests including New Zealand Olympic Committee President Liz Dawson and a number of country ambassadors including Cuba's Edgardo Valdes.
The head coaches of the teams were in fine form on Friday, giving their thoughts on the tournament ahead. Japan in particular are looking to make up for a disappointing loss to Argentina three years ago in the final of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2019.
Check out the tournament preview here while there are also a lot of records on the line.
