Men’s Softball World Cup Day 4: Argentina, USA confirm Super Round spot, Venezuela beat Japan in crucial Group B game while South Africa claims first win
- Argentina confirms spot in Super Round after beating the Czech Republic. The result also confirmed USA's spot in the next round.
- USA beat Cuba 8-4 in first ever Men's World Cup game between the two sides
- In top of the table Group B clash, Canada proved too good for Australia, both teams already through to Super Round.
- South Africa claimed first win of tournament beating Denmark
- Hosts New Zealand beat the Philippines to keep Super Round chances alive
- 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 4 Results
USA beat Cuba 8-4 Box Score and Photos
Canada beat Australia 6-0 Box Score and Photos
South Africa beat Denmark 5-3 Box Score and Photos
Czech Republic 1-8 Argentina Box Score and Photos
Japan 1-3 Venezuela Box Score and Photos
Philippines 1-8 New Zealand Box Score and Photos
Group A Standings: Argentina 4-0; USA 3-1; Cuba 2-2; New Zealand 2-2; Czech Republic 1-3; Philippines 0-4
Group B Standings: Canada 4-0; Australia 3-1; Japan 2-2; Venezuela 2-2; South Africa 1-3; Denmark 0-4;
Another full day of drama in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup at Rosedale Park, in Auckland, New Zealand as Argentina and USA confirmed their places in the Super Round alongside Canada and Australia with one day left in the Opening Round.
Unbeaten Argentina and USA secured spots in Group A for the Super Round after beating the Czech Republic and Cuba respectively on Tuesday, with the Black Sox, who beat the Philippines, to take on Cuba on Wednesday in a winner-take-all game for the last Super Round spot.
Canada, who have won four from four this week, and Australia had already qualified on Monday in Group B and played off for valuable Super Rounds points on Tuesday. Venezuela and Japan will fight it out for the remaining spot on Wednesday with the two sides locked in a share of third place with a two win-two loss record. The South Americans take on the winless Denmark on Wednesday while Japan face a mountain to climb in group leader, Canada.
Philippines v New Zealand
A must-win game for New Zealand if they are to keep their Super Round chances alive while the Philippines are looking for their first win of the tournament and things didn't go according to plan for the hosts as Michael Pagkaliwagan's double scored Mark Janzen in the top of the first.
Living up to their favourites tag, the Black Sox replied immediately with Reilly Makea hitting his first homer of the tournament, scoring Joel and Cole Evens in the process to give world No. 6 New Zealand a 3-1 lead.
The Black Sox increased the lead in the third with Joel Evans scoring off his brother's Cole single to centre field before Jerome Raemaki also hit a ground ball to centre field scoring Ben Enoka and Reilly Makea. Thomas Enoka also scored on a sacrifice fly by Connor Peden for NZ to lead 7-1.
It was left for Thomas Enoka to single to right field and score Reilly Makea for New Zealand to win 8-1 by the run-ahead-rule.
Japan v Venezuela
A crucial game to see who will take a big step towards joining Canada and Australia from Group B in the Super Round.
It was tight all the way until Engelbert Herrera got home from first on a Edinson Marrro single to blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Erwin Diaz then hit a stand up double to score Rogelio Sequera and Angel Adames to make it 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
Some great defence from Venezuela put the squeeze on Japan however in their last turn at bat, Taiyo Kataoka tripled up the centre before scoring off a Kazuya Toriyama single to out the pressure back on pitcher Eudomar Toyo. But the 34-year-old was up to the task, taking the next three outs to put world No. 9 Venezuela in the driver's seat for the third and final Super Round spot with one Opening Round game remaining.
Czech Republic v Argentina
After Monday night's heroics, all eyes were on world champions Argentina to see if they would stumble against the Czech Republic, who are ranked fifth in the world, four places behind Argentina.
Czech Republic, who recorded a first ever win over USA on Monday, need the win against Argentina, who they lost to 6-3 in Prague three years ago, to stay in Super Round contention.
They started the best possible way with Martin Magula scoring in the first inning on a George Harris single but Argentina struck back in the second and third innings - Gian Scialacomo and Francisco Lombardo getting home in the second while Ladislao Malarczuk and Teo Migliavacca scored on a Santiago Carril double down the left field line before Carril scored on Scialacomo's hit down they same line.
Argentina then added some key runs with Francisco Lombardo, Lucio Retamar and Ladislao Malarczuk scoring in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win by the run-ahead-rule and a spot in the Super Round.
South Africa v Denmark
Both sides looking for their first win of the tournament in Group B action on Field 2.
Denmark scored first with a Oscar Anderson single scoring Martin Simonson in the bottom of the third but South Africa responded next inning with Phomolo Phaladi scoring on a Mankomoro Chepape single before a Tyler Croft homer scored Chepape and Mogau Thupudi.
Anton Larsen pulled one back for Denmark on a Daniel Julenon double and Daniel Julenon scored on a walk with loaded bases in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-3 before Rowan Ebersohn scored again for South Africa in the sixth to put the score out to 5-3.
The pressure was on in the final innings and Kim Hansen kept the South Africa batters quiet in the seventh but Grant Oliver did the same to wrap up the win, South Africa's first of the tournament and first since beating the Netherlands at the Men's Softball World Cup 2019 where they had lost to Denmark 7-0.
Canada v Australia
A heavyweight clash in the second game of the day between two unbeaten sides from Group B with world No. 3 Canada taking on Australia, ranked fourth in the world, looking for an important win, which could prove crucial for the Super Round later on.
Sean Cleary started as pitcher for Canada and it was a simple three up, three down in the top of the first. After his no-hitter performance against Venezuela on Monday, Jack Besgrove was back on the mound against Canada, but this time Derek Mayson took to him for his first homer and third run of the tournament.
Derek Mayson's double scored Bradley Ezekiel in the top of the third to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Pitching change for Australia in the top of the fifth with Marshall Kronk on for Besgrove and one inning later Derek Mayson homered to make it 3-0 before a Bryan Abrey triple scored Quinten Bruce with Abrey scoring later on a Justin Laskowski single.
Roy Mathieu scored in the seventh on an Abrey single to make it 6-0 in an impressive victory, which will be taken through to the Super Round later in the tournament.
Cuba v USA
In the first ever WBSC Men's Softball World Cup encounter between USA and Cuba, the five-time champions opened the scoring in their first turn at bat to open a quick two run lead with Blaine Milheim and Erick Ochoa scoring before Cuba, ranked 12th in the world, responded in the third with two runs of their own with a Yesander Rodriquez double to right field, his sixth hit of the tournament, scoring Luis Dominguez before Rodriquez scored his third run this week to tie the game at 2-2
World No. 7 USA responded straight away in the bottom of third with Milheim scoring on a fielding error before Ochoa scored after Cameron Schiller was walked with loaded bases. A Zachary Shaw single to centre field also scored Matt Palazzo and Jonathan Lynch for USA to lead 6-2.
Lynch was on the board again with a huge bomb over centre field to score Ochoa and give USA a 8-2 lead.
Osvaldo Perez pulled one back with his first hit of the game, putting it over the centre field fence in the top of the sixth before Rodriquez scored for a second time in the game with Cuba making a late charge. But it was too little too late, and USA claimed the win 8-4 to take a big step towards the Super Round depending on the result of the Argentina-Czech Republic game later in the day.
Epic Argentina win over New Zealand captivates superb audience on Tuesday
If you missed last night's epic game between Argentina and New Zealand, check out the highlights here.
“Success is built on a lot of little moments and the game was won and lost on little moments. We showed a lot of fight but we will need to regroup and push on tomorrow,” said New Zealand coach Mark Sorenson.
“This is the magic of this game," added Argentina coach Julio Gamarci. "There are no time limits. This why I am in love this game since I was a kid. You have the chance to turn it around. It was for any team and both teams played really well."
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
