Aussies finish round robin perfect at 8-0

01/07/2005

SUMMERSIDE, PEI, Canada – Australia finished round robin play with an unblemished 8-0 (won-lost) record thanks to an offensive explosion against young Denmark 24-0 on day eight of the ISF VII Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship (19-and-under) at Queen Elizabeth Park’s VIV Field in Summerside, Prince Edward Island (Canada).

SUMMERSIDE, PEI, Canada – Australia finished round robin play with an unblemished 8-0 (won-lost) record thanks to an offensive explosion against young Denmark 24-0 on day eight of the ISF VII Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship (19-and-under) at Queen Elizabeth Park’s VIV Field in Summerside, Prince Edward Island (Canada).

The Aussies used alternate players who would normally be on the bench to give them some playing time, and they came through against an inexperienced and outmatched Dane squad.

Leading the attack was first baseman Garon Clough (finished 3-for-3 at the plate, with two home runs, six RBI, three runs scored), catcher Andrew Ratten (4-for-4, four runs scored, three RBI, double, triple), Jamie Sheehan (1-for-2, three runs scored, three RBI, home run), Ashton Edwards (3-for-4, two runs scored, RBI, two doubles), shortstop Michael Munro (3-for-4, RBI, three runs scored, double), Damien Nairn (3-for-4, two runs scored, three RBI, double, triple), Nic Green (2-for-2, double, three runs scored, three RBI), and pitcher James Brooks (2-for-4, three runs scored, RBI).

For Denmark, Tahir Dalagar (1-for-1) and shortstop Camilo Frederiksen (1-for-1) were tops.

Brooks went three innings, striking out seven en route to the win. Losing pitcher Valdemar Terkelsen went two innings, allowing 19 runs on 17 hits, walking three and striking out one. Robin Frederiksen went an inning in relief, allowing five runs on four hits while walking one.

The day had begun with Japan downing USA, 5-1, to eliminate the Americans from playoff contention. The defeat left Team USA with a 4-4 won-lost record.

The USA took an early 1-0 lead when Jason Loe crushed a home run over the left field scoreboard.

Japan tied the game in the fourth inning when Masayuki Shimoto hit a shot up the middle to score Takuto Tsutsui who reached on a walk.

The U.S. had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning after Brandon Huerta was hit by a pitch and Loe & Camden Decker reached on walks, but could not capitalize.

Once again the sixth inning and walks proved to be the Achilles heel for the U.S. With one out, Tsutsui walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. A stand-up double by Norihiko Aoyama drove in the go-ahead run to give Japan a 2-1 lead.

Following a pitching change that saw Zach Warne enter the game for starter John Kelly, Shimoto walked to put runners on first and second. Shinji Kawamura made the U.S. pay, crushing a Warne pitch over the center field fence to give his team a 5-1 advantage.

Kelly, who had carried the U.S. pitching staff through the championship pitching all but 13 innings, went 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits and walked four. Warne pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief allowing two runs on one hit.

Loe was the bright spot offensively for the U.S. going 1-for-2 with a solo home run, while Kevin Castillo contributed the only other hit for the red, white and blue in the game.

In Game 2 today, Argentina blanked the Czech Republic, 3-0, for the third straight victory.

Leading the charge was Federico Eder (triple, stolen base, two runs scored), Gaston Wilsen (RBI, stolen base), Manuel Mata Carabajal (1-for-3), German Sacks (1-for-3) and Francisco Perez Regoli (1-for-2).

For the Czech Republic, Michal Pyszko (1-for-3, stolen base), Michal Hudec (1-for-2),

Jiri Pospisil (1-for-2), and Bohumir Adamec (1-for-3, stolen base) led the way.

Winning pitcher Mauricio Boss went two innings, giving up one hit, walking two, and fanning one. Nelson Ruiz Diaz went three and two third innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven. Sacks went one and one third innings, giving up three hits and fanning one. The losing pitcher was Jaroslav Muller.

The Czech Republic finished 1-7 at the championship while the Eduardo and Francisco Sabate-coached Argentina team finished 3-5.

In other action, the New Zealand Junior Black Sox found some strong hitting with a 7-0 victory over the host Canadian team.

It was a morale-boosting win for the Kiwis, who went into the game on the back of two losses. Victory over Canada today on Prince Edward Island came on the back of powerful hitting, which the home side had no answer to despite using three pitchers in the game.

The game sparked into life for the Kiwis in the bottom of the second inning when Tristram Lupo-Samoa smashed the ball out of the park with Penese Iosefo on base to score the opening two runs of the game for the Junior Black Sox.

Runs came again for the Junior Black Sox in the bottom of the third inning with both Michael Crowley and Tyson Byrne scoring. Bernard Hale scored in the fifth inning for the Kiwis on an error before the Junior Black Sox ended the game in emphatic fashion with two more runs when first Daniel Lamb-Hunt hit a home run, followed by Crowley coming home on a hit by Rongo Rapaea.

With the Junior Black Sox leading 7-0, the game ended in the sixth inning with the run-ahead rule invoked. The Kiwis were on fire with the bat, picking up 12 hits in the game compared to the home side’s three.

Defensively it was also a tight effort from the Kiwis. Pitcher Penese Iosefo started the game on the mound, notching six strikeouts while giving up just one hit. Aiden Cocker came into the game in relief in the fifth inning, recording three strikeouts while giving up two hits and one walk.

Today’s win on Prince Edward Island sees the Kiwis qualify third for the top four playoffs which start tomorrow. In the opening playoff game the Junior Black Sox will take on Canada again in a winner-take-all game. The winner of tomorrow’s showdown will continue on in the quest for the title while the loser will drop out of the title race.