Canada remains undefeated as rain stops play early at WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship
Post date: Jul 17, 2017 3:30:32 AM
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Canada – Intermittent rain turned into hard rain at the Pepsi Softball Centre on Day 4 of the WBSC Men’s Softball Championship, causing the final two games to be postponed.
No. 1 New Zealand vs No. 2 Japan was in the top of the third inning with Japan ahead 1-0 when the umpiring crew stop the game.
Shortly into the rain delay, the Organising Committee postponed the remainder of the day’s games. However, six games were able to get played as Canada finished the day undefeated on their quest to back-to-back World titles.
Pool B
No. 7 Venezuela (3-1) v No. 13 Denmark (2-2)
6-3
Even though teams entered the game with the same record, Venezuela left with the win as they defeated Denmark 6-3 in an even matched game.
In the first inning, Martin Simonsen reached base on a walk for the game’s first base-runner. But with one-out, he was thrown out at second. Then, on a play that should have been a strike-out to end the inning, Simonsen was caught leaving the bag early to keep Valdemar Terkensen alive at the plate. He took advantage of the extra pitches, hitting deep in the hole for a single with two outs. But Daniel Julenon ended the inning for Denmark on a strike-out, with no runs coming home.
Venezuela got things going in the second when Rafael Flores drew a lead-off walk. Luiger Pinto hit a single through the infield to advance Flores into scoring position. A double for Carlos Carreno drove Flores home. Batting next, John Zambrano hit a sky-high sac-fly to bring in the second run of the game. Then with two-outs, Edwin Linares hit to right-field scoring Carreno, before he left the bag early to end the inning with a 3-0 lead.
In the third, an error by shortstop Dennis Nielsen allowed Ivan Paez to reach base with one out. The next batter, Julenon made a great grab on the Yeider Chirinos ground-out to prevent Paez from scoring. Denmark had another opportunity to get on the scoreboard but left two on in the bottom of the inning, squandering an opportunity to tie the game up.
Venezuela would add to their lead in the fourth as Jorge Lima got a sac-bunt to advance Pinto. Relief pitcher Terkelsen then walked Carreno. Bases were loaded with one out when Zambrano reached on a fielder’s choice but a bad throw allowed all the runners to advance. Denmark tried to get out of the jam, striking out Linares. But a wild pitch brought Pinto across the plate for the 4-0 lead.
Paez stole second in the fifth after drawing a lead-off walk to get into scoring position with no outs, before a RBI single from Flores scored Paez.
But in the bottom of the inning, one swing of the bat got Denmark back into the game with an Anton Brown deep ball over the outfield fence to score three.
Venezuela, not happy with the close 5-3 score, hit a RBI single by Chirinos to score Herwins Querales to give Venezuela the 6-3 advantage.
Down by three in the bottom of the seventh, Marc Nihoj singled and tried to extend it into a double. But Linares threw a bullet for the easy tag out. That was all the offense for Denmark as a strike-out and grounder ended the game.
Win: Carlos Ucero
Loss: Kim Hansen
Next Up:
Venezuela – 11 July at 3:00pm against New Zealand
Denmark – 11 July at 11:30am against Turkey
Pool A
No. 6 USA (2-2) v India (0-4)
11-0 (4 innings)
Despite putting up good defense throughout the game, USA’s hitting overpowered India’s pitching for an 11-0 loss in four innings.
USA wasted no time scoring four runs in the first inning, including a two-run shot by Tyler Dudley.
Batting for the second time in the game, Marcus Tan singled to shortstop Rajan Vineeth to score Patrick Sagdal.
In the fourth, USA unloaded scoring six runs, including a grand slam by Jeffrey Nowaczyk and a 2-run double by Erick Ochoa to bring the score to 11-0.
Win: Mervin Weiler
Loss: Mahanand Kishan
Next Up:
USA – 11 July at 5:30pm against Dominican Republic
India – 11 July at 2:00pm against Argentina
Pool B
No. 19 Botswana (2-2) v Turkey (0-4)
21-0 (3 innings)
Botswana earned another win at this year’s men’s softball championship, defeating newcomers Turkey in four innings. With the win, Botswana evens their record to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Botswana had the bats going early, scoring four runs on three hits, including a triple by Eric Simwanza.
The game was put out of reach in the second inning as Botswana scored eight runs, including an inside-the-park home run in the center-field gap by Brian Dekoker for a 10-0 game.
Botswana closed the game out in the third tacking on another five runs.
Win: Odirile Legau
Loss: Cansin Etgu
Next Up:
Botswana – 11 July at 12:30pm against Czech Republic
Turkey – 11 July at 11:30am against Denmark
Pool A
No. 3 Argentina (3-1) v No. 14 South Africa (0-4)
6-1
Argentina earned another win but not before South Africa prevented a shut-out, scoring its only run in the bottom of the seventh.
South Africa starter Francois Steyn served up back-to-back home runs, followed by a single in the first inning before Tidima Barnat Kekana was called into the game. He did not have time to get into any sort of rhythm as Bruno Motroni hit a two-run shot for a quick 4-0 lead.
In the third, Argentina’s Federico Eder drew a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Two batters later, he was batted in for a 5-0 game.
In the fourth, Argentina added another run with a lead-off solo shot by Motroni – his second of the day.
South Africa tried to get something going at its at bat as Cristopher Bann and Sehlabi Molokoane both singled for runners on the corner. After a strike-out, Molokoane was called out for leaving base early, before a ground-out ended the inning in Argentina’s favor.
In the bottom of the seventh, Huemul Mata got in a little trouble allowing the two lead-off batters to get on. Mata then struck two out before he hit Javier Frost to load the bases. Brandon Bouillon then broke up the shut-out scoring on a wild pitch before Mata struck out the final batter for a 6-1 victory.
Win: Maximiliano Montero
Loss: Francois Steyn
Save: Huemul Mata
Next Up:
Argentina – 11 July at 2:00pm against India
South Africa – 11 July at 10:00am against Hong Kong
Pool B
No. 8 Czech Republic (2-2) v No. 10 Great Britain (0-4)
9-0 (5 innings)
Czech Republic improved to .500, while Great Britain is still in search of its first run in a 9-0 shut-out.
To open the game, Václav Svoboda singled to drive in David Mertl. Then with the bases loaded, Kyle Linton walked a run across the plate. But Linton struck out the last two hitters, leaving the bases full with Czech Republic ahead 2-0.
In the second, Patrik Kolkus hit a single to score two. But an error by the left-fielder scored Kolkus before Great Britain got out of the inning, down 5-0.
In the top of the fourth, a wild pitch and single to left-field put two more runs on the board for Czech Republic to go ahead 7-0.
Jiri Korcak hit a two-run single to give Czech Republic the 9-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
With Great Britain’s back against the wall with two outs, Kevin Stockford looked to make something happen with runners on first and second, but he struck out to end the game.
Win: Jaroslav Brenik
Loss: Kyle Linton
Next Up:
Czech Republic – 11 July at 12:30pm against Botswana
Great Britain – 11 July at 4:30pm against Japan
Pool A
No. 4 Canada (4-0) v Hong Kong (1-3)
14-1 (6 innings)
Canada easily handled Hong Kong for a 14-1 win to keep their winning streak alive.
Canada got to work early when Mathieu Roy led the game off with a triple. That rattled Hong Kong, who allowed Roy to score with the weather affecting their play. Three more walks and a wild pitch scored Brandon Horn. A monster two-run homer in the second by Andrew Skelton to deep center made the game 4-0.
Hong Kong got out of a jam in the third after three straight walks loaded the bases with one out. But two straight ground-outs ended things with no damage. Justin Schofield then tossed his tenth strike-out of the game to end the third and hold Canada’s 4-0 lead.
In the fifth, Shane Boland scored on a single by Kristopher Walushka before Hong Kong got on board. Pang Kam Man reached on a bunt single then stole second only to be driven in on a single by Oshima Den.
Canada struck big in the sixth to put the game out of reach scoring ten runs, including a two-run homer by Andrew Skelton – his second of the night – and a solo shot by Bryan Abrey.
Win: Justin Schofield
Loss: Wong Wai Hung
Next Up:
Canada – 11 July at 7:00pm against Australia
Hong Kong – 11 July at 10:00am against South Africa
Pool B
No. 1 New Zealand (3-0) v No. 2 Japan (3-0)
Rain Delay, Top of third
No. 1 New Zealand and No. 2 Japan went to battle tied for first in Pool B. But the game could not be completed due to rain just as Japan got on the board in the third inning.
Joshua Pettett started things off in the pitcher’s circle for New Zealand to strike out Yusuke Morita. A flare to left field got Yusuke Tokoi on base before being stranded. New Zealand also reached base in the bottom half as Nathan Nukunuku would walk. But a stop by shortstop Ryo Koshikiya closed out the inning.
Naoaki Kawada reached base in the second but a fly-out and strike-out sat Japan back down.
With the rain coming down quite hard in the third, Yusuke Itose got on base on a throwing error and stole second putting him in scoring position. A solid hit from pinch-hitter Kota Mera to the left allowed Itose to cross over the plate for Japan’s first run of the game.
But the rain took its toll on the field and the game had to be postponed. Play will resume tomorrow, 10 July at 9:00am local time.
Pool A
No. 11 Dominican Republic (3-0) v No. 5 Australia (2-1)
Game postponed. Play will resume tomorrow, 10 July at 9:00am local time.