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Post date: Jul 10, 2017 3:57:26 AM
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Canada – The 2017 WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship kicked off today as sixteen nations from around the globe went to battle For the Title of World Champion.
Pool B
No. 19 Botswana (1-0) v No. 10 Great Britain (0-1)
1-0 (8 innings)
The men’s softball flagship event started with an extra inning one-run no hitter between Great Britain and Botswana.
This was a pitcher’s duel between Kagiso Mogale and Kyle Linton from the start. Both pitched complete games, but Mogale came away with the win and a no-hitter. It was an unfortunate loss for Linton, who struck out 18 in the game.
Both teams could not put the bat on the ball as the first hit of the day did not come until the top of the fourth. With two outs, Eric Simwanza hit a single up the middle. However, he left base early on the next pitch to end the inning.
A scary moment in the bottom of the seventh when Josh Peat was hit by a pitch in the face with one out. With Amit Aswani entering the game as a runner, Great Britain placed their first runner on base. But Luke Peters hit into a double play to force the game into extra innings in the scoreless ballgame.
In the top of the eighth, Moses Kgosimore was placed on second base as outlined by the international tie-breaker rule. Jury Manaka then laid down a bunt in the best of locations to put runners on the corner with no outs. A sac fly by Morulaganyi Moalosi allowed Kgosimore to score for the game’s only run.
Win: Kagiso Mogale
Loss: Kyle Linton
Next Up:
Botswana – 8 July at 2:00pm against Japan
Great Britain – 8 July at 3:00pm against Denmark
Pool B
No. 1 New Zealand (1-0) v Turkey (0-1)
22-0 (3 innings)
As the No. 1 ranked team in the world, New Zealand is looking to earn their seventh Gold medal while Turkey is playing in their first WBSC world championship game ever. New Zealand’s power and experience manhandled Turkey, winning 22-0 in three innings.
In the first inning, New Zealand scored six runs off five hits, followed by 16 runs in the second in the shortened game. Tyron Bartorillo all hitters with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Brad Rona playing in his 93rd game for New Zealand and Nathan Nukunuku in his 92nd equaled the record for appearances at a WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship. Rona and Nukunuku will go down in history, along with pitching legend Kevin Herlihy, with six World Championships to their names.
In a show of great sportsmanship, New Zealand gave a mini practice after the game to all the Turkey players for approximately 20-30 minutes. Each player matched up with another from the opposite team and worked on fielding in their respective positions.
Win: Joshua Pettett
Loss: Mehmet Saki Yildirim
Next Up:
New Zealand – 8 July at 5:30pm against Czech Republic
Turkey – 8 July at 11:30am against Venezuela
Pool A
No. 11 Dominican Republic (1-0) v Hong Kong (0-1)
21-0 (3 innings)
Dominican Republic set a goal for this world championship of improving their country’s World Ranking. They are well on their way as they defeated Hong Kong in a lopsided 21-0 three-inning game.
Dominican Republic had the bats going, scoring 15 runs in the first inning and six runs in the second on a combined 17 hits. Pablo Figuereo, Joel de Moto, and Wilton Villafana all hit home runs in the game.
Hong Kong’s Chun Kin Chan broke up the no-hitter for Yennier Perez with a single to right field in the third inning.
Win: Yennier Perez
Loss: Chung Ming Tang
Next Up:
Dominican Republic – 8 July at 10:00am against South Africa
Hong Kong – 8 July at 12:30pm against India
Pool B
No. 8 Czech Republic (1-0) v No. 13 Denmark (0-1)
3-2
As continental rivals, the Czech Republic and Denmark know each other well. But it took both teams the first inning to settle down and get into their groove.
Czech Republic – as the away team – struck first. Petr Vácha was hit by a pitch to get on base. After advancing into scoring position from a wild throw, Václav Svoboda singled to score Vácha. But during Denmark’s at-bat, a close play at the plate allowed Anton Brown to tie the game up 1-1 as catcher David Mertl could not handle the throw from center.
The game remained even through the fourth until Patrik Kolkus hit a solo home run to center for a 2-1 Czech Republic lead.
Czech Republic extended their lead in the sixth when Vácha singled to right field to score Mertl. But Denmark looked to answer back. Daniel Julenon was hit by a pitch to get on base. A tough bounce in right center gave Anders Jorgensen the RBI double. A bunt by Lukas Lohmann then pushed Jorgensen to third, representing the tying run, but a strike out and fly ball to center ended the inning.
Entering the bottom of the seventh, Denmark put the tying run on base again as Brown doubled with two outs. But Denmark was unable to capitalize as Martin Simonsen grounded out to third giving Czech Republic the win.
Win: Ondrej Malecek
Loss: Kim Hansen
Save: Jaroslav Brenik
Next Up:
Czech Republic – 8 July at 5:30pm against New Zealand
Denmark – 8 July at 3:00pm against Great Britain
Pool A
No. 5 Australia (1-0) v India (0-1)
16-0 (4 innings)
Australia thrashed India 16-0 in India’s debut at a men’s softball world championship. Known for their pitching strength, Australia did not disappoint as Adam Folkard and Harrison Peters combined to strike out nine in the no-hitter.
The Steelers put on a hitting clinic, scoring 16 runs on 11 hits in the four-inning game. Joshua White led all batters in the game going 2-3 with one home run and four RBIs.
Win: Harrison Peters
Loss: Mahanad Kishan
Next Up:
Australia – 8 July at 4:30pm against USA
India – 8 July at 12:30pm against Hong Kong
Pool B
No. 2 Japan (1-0) v No. 7 Venezuela (0-1)
7-0
Venezuela encountered travel delays and were unable to play on opening day. Japan received the 7-0 win by default.
Next Up:
Japan – 8 July at 2:00pm against Botswana
Venezuela – 8 July at 11:30am against Turkey
Pool A
No. 4 Canada (1-0) v No. 14 South Africa (0-1)
10-2
Immediately following Opening Ceremony, South Africa gave the reigning world champions, Canada, a scare as the game jumped to a 2-2 tie after the first inning. But Canada settled down to win 10-2.
Kristopher Walushka was hit by a pitch to lead the game off, while Mark Johnson singled to right field before stealing second to give Canada two runners in scoring position. Stephen Mullaley then hit a sac fly to score Walushka. The next batter, Derek Mayson, singled to center scoring Johnson for a 2-0 lead. But South Africa’s Phomolo Phaladi led off their at-bats with a triple and was later batted in by Cristopher Bann. With two runners on following a fielder’s choice, Brandon Bouillon hit a single to tie the game up.
Canada pulled away in the third scoring four runs. Blake Hunter hit a three-run homer, while Mayson scored on a passed ball to make it 6-2.
In the fourth inning, one more run crossed the plate as Mullaley walked and later score on another passed ball.
Canada scored the last of their eight unanswered runs in the seventh inning. Johnson and Hunter hit back-to-back home runs. With the bases loaded and no outs, Ryan Boland flied scoring Mayson for his second run of the game. Justin Schofield sat South Africa down in order to give Canada the 10-2 victory.
Win: Justin Schofield
Loss: Tidima Barnat Kekana
Next Up:
Canada – 8 July at 7:00pm against Argentina
South Africa – 8 July at 10:00am against Dominican Republic
Pool A
No. 3 Argentina (1-0) v No. 6 USA (0-1)
5-1
In the final game of Day 1, Argentina showed why they are the No. 3 men’s national team in the world. Scoring in four different innings, the South American nation defeated USA 5-1.
Erick Ochoa hit a two-out single to center to drive in Matt Palazzo for a quick start for USA. But in the bottom of the inning, Juan Ladislao Malarczuk hit a solo home run with two outs to tie the game at 1 run apiece.
After a quiet second inning, Gonzalo Augsto Ojeda hit a lead-off home run to center in the third to pull Argentina ahead 2-1.
In the fourth, Gustavo Oscar Godoy and Juan Cruz Zara reached base on singles. Then with two outs, Argentina extended their lead following the double by Francisco Lombardo to make it 4-1.
After continuing to shut down USA, Bruno Motroni hit a solo home run in the fifth for the game’s final run and Argentina’s eventual win.
Win: Tony Mancha
Loss: Maximiliano Montero
Next Up:
USA – 8 July at 4:30pm against Australia
Argentina – 8 July at 7:00pm against Canada
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