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The USA Jr. Men played tough against many of the top finishing teams in the tournament, losing a number of one-run ballgames. Their low point was the 12-2 loss to 9th place South Africa. The high points were the a 7-6 extra inning win over Mexico (which came at the end of a day that saw them lose a tough 7am game to New Zealand, 3-2, and and another to Argentina, 5-4) and a hard fought 1-0 loss in 8 innings to Team Canada in the final game of the round robin portion of the tournament. In that final game, USA Jr. Men’s pitcher BJ Hunhoff shut out the silver medalists through regulation, striking out 9 and surrending but 2 hits.

USA Jr. Men against the top finishers:

Austrailia, gold medalists: USA lost 9-0
Canada, silver medalists: USA lost 1-0 in 8 innings
Japan, bronze medalists, USA lost 4-2
New Zealand, 4th place: USA lost 3-2

Argentina, 5th place, USA lost, 5-4
Venezuela, 6th place, USA won, 12-4
Mexico, 7th place: USA won 7-6

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Press Release from ASA/USA Softball:

For Immediate Release: 6/28/08

USA Jr. Men finish 8th at World Championships with 5-6 overall record

WHITEHORSE, Yukon — The USA Softball Junior Men’s National team completed their final day of competition on Friday at th 2008 World Championships with a 9-4 victory over the Czech Republic in the afternoon before a heartbreaking 1-0 eight-inning loss to host Canada in the evening session.

With 5-6 overall record, the U.S. finished eighth in the standings as the top four team move on to Saturday’s semifinal action. The U.S. scored 61 runs to their opponents 48 during the week.

USA 9 Czech Republic 5

(Photo: James Hartman, from USA Softball website)

The U.S. exploded for nine runs on 12 hits on Friday afternoon with a 9-5 triumph over the Czech Republic (1-10). James Hartman (Hartford, S.D.) earned the win in the circle tossing seven innings allowing three earned runs, eight hits and recording five strikeouts.

Both teams were quiet in the first inning before a six-run inning boosted the U.S. for a comfortable lead. The Czech Republic mustered two runs in the top of the third inning, but the U.S. came right back with two runs as well for the 8-2 lead. Another two-run inning came from the Czech Republic in the fifth as they closed the gap to 8-4, but the U.S. prevailed with each team scoring in the sixth for the eventual 9-5 final.

(Photo: Tony Viger, from USA Softball website; photo of Nick Cole not available)

Leading the offense for the Red, White and Blue was Tony Viger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who was 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run and two RBI. Right behind him was outfielder Nicholas Cole (Sacramento, Calif.) who was 2-for-2 with a single, a home run and a team-leading four RBI. JT Weststeyn (Baldwin, Mo.) was also 2-for-3 with two singles.

Canada 1 USA 0 (eight innings)

The featured match-up of the evening, it was a pitcher’s duel with goose eggs on the scoreboard until the top of the eighth inning when Canada scored one run to capture the 1-0 victory.

(Photo: BJ Hunhoff, from USA Softball website)

USA starting pitcher B.J. Hunhoff (Harrisburg, S.D.) pitched an incredible game against the hot-hitting Canadian bats. He tallied all eight innings facing 29 batters and allowed just three hits while also recording nine strikeouts.

Canadian pitcher Dustin Keshane no-hit the U.S. in the victory retiring 16 U.S. batters via the strikeout.

Final Standings through Round Robin Play

1 Australia 10-1
2 Japan 9-2
3 Canada 9-2
4 New Zealand 8-3
5 Argentina 6-5
6 Venezuela 6-5
7 Mexico 6-5
8 United States 5-6
9 South Africa 4-7
10 Denmark 2-9
11 Czech Republic 1-10
12 Botswana 0-11

(more…)

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Australia rallied for two runs in the bottom half of the 8th inning, for a 2-1 victory over Canada to win the gold medal at the 8th ISF Jr. Men’s World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Sunday afternoon.

The game was tied at 0-0 through the regulation seven innings, with the game shifting to the international tie breaker. Canada, the visiting team, scored one run in the top half of the 8th inning, when Canada’s first baseman Cory Jones singled home Jessin Potskin for the game’s first run.

Australia’s Heath Wells singled with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning, putting runners at the corners for Australia. Wells stole second uncontested, putting runners at second and third. Canada’s pitcher Drew McCullough managed to get the second out on a tapper the mound. Australia pinch hitter Drew Faulkner then singled sharply up the middle, scoring both runners, with Wells coming home with the game — and gold medal winner.

Medals:

Gold – Australia
Silver – Canada
Bronze – Japan

Saturday, June 28, 2008

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Eight days of round robin play concluded Friday night in the dramatic, 1-0 extra inning win by Canada over the USA. The top four teams advance to the medal rounds, to be held over the final weekend of the ten day tournament, with the final standings as follows:

1. Australia (10-1)
2. Japan (9-2)
3. Canada (9-2) *
4. New Zealand (8-3)
*Japan 2nd place, by virtue of head-to-head win over Canada.

Saturday’s schedule is as follows:

Game Time Field Team Team

67 – P1 3:00pm I Third Place (Canada) vs. Fourth Place (New Zealand)
68 – P2 5:30pm I First Place (Australia) vs. Second Place (Japan)

All game times are PDT, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada time. Adjust for your time zone accordingly.

Game Ending Triple Play by Argentina over New Zealand Marks Day of Excitement


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Thursday, June 26, 2008

From the official ISF tournament website:

Bring on the Semi Finals!

The final day of round robin play at the World Junior Fast Pitch Championships saved some of the best competition for last as the semi final match-ups are set for Saturday afternoon.

Several games with playoff implications were staged in front of the once again packed Takhini Softball Centre. Japan sewed up their hold on the second place seed and ensured a meeting with top seed Australia following a 19-2 win over the Czech Republic.

Canada and the United States played into extra innings as both team’s pitchers baffled hitters until Canada was able to come away with a hard-fought 1-0 win and some valuable momentum going into their semi final match-up with New Zealand.

The Kiwis locked up the last spot in the semis despite a heartbreaking loss to Argentina in perhaps the most competitive game of the tournament thus far. Trailing by two runs going into the final inning, Argentina was able to take the lead and then shut down New Zealand on an amazing triple play – much to the delight of the boisterous crowd.

The stage is set for a truly great final weekend of fast pitch!

Goose Eggs and Goose Bumps

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The USA Men’s team lost their final game of the 2008 ISF Jr. Men’s World Championships at Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, but played valiantly, holding the 2005 Bronze medalists, Canada scoreless through regulation. Pitcher BJ Hunhoff of South Dakota tossed a gem, shutting out Canada on three hits, (2 through 7)while striking out 8. Canada won the game in the 8th inning, with the international tie breaker in effect, on an infield single by Jovaan Graham of Canada. Canada’s pitcher, Devin Keshane was brilliant, tossing a no-hitter, while striking out 16, on the strength of an outstanding rise-ball.

The game was broadcast around the world, live on ballparkradio.com and played in front of a packed house estimated at several thousand, which cheered loudly for their respective teams, in one of the most exciting games in the tournament.

Team USA finished 8th in the tournament with a 5-6 record:

Wins over: Mexico, Venezuela, Czech Republic, Denmark and Botswana.

Losses to: Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa.