Aussies head of the field at Junior Softball Worlds Canada to face Kiwi’s in third-fourth game, rematch of Friday’s contest
SUMMERSIDE – Teams went into Friday’s play at the ISF 2005 Junior Men’s World Softball Championship not knowing who would make it to the playoffs. Shortly before 2 p.m., that was all figured out when Japan crushed the U.S. 5-1 to seal United States’ fate and ste in stone the four teams that would make the top four. Those teams are the perfect Australians, New Zealand, Canada and Japan. The Aussies will face Japan Saturday in the 8 p.m. game while Canada takes on the Kiwi’s at 6 p.m. in a rematch of the championship’s final round robin game Friday night. Friday’s action saw Japan elimiate the U.S. 5-1; Argentina picked up their third win in a row 3-0 over the Czech Republic; Australia toppled Denmark 24-0 and the Kiwi’s got by Canada 7-0 in six innings.
The win gives New Zealand third place while Canada will place fourth and play the Kiwi’s at 6 p.m. Saturday night in a win or your done game. On Friday, New Zealand was led by Penese Iosefo and Aiden Cocker as they combined to allow three hits, one walk and striking out nine batters in the six innings they pitched. The Kiwi’s scored two runs in the second, third and sixth while adding one run in the fifth to earn the win and finish the 19 and under tournament at 6-2. Leading the run attack was pitcher-designated hitter Iosefo (3-3, run scored, double), Daniel Lamb (2-3, run scored, RBI, home run), Tyson Byrne (1-4, RBI, triple, run scored), Bernard Hale (1-2, RBI), and right fielder Rongo Rapaea (2-2, two runs scored, RBI, double). For Canada, Bryan Abrey of Richmond, B.C. (1-2), Nate Bauman of Elmira, Ont. (1-2) and Lee Lucas of Nanaimo, B.C. (1-1) was all the offence the Kelly McGiffin coached squad could manage. Both teams didn’t have their best in their lineup in the meaningless game, played before about 1600 fans.
The Spinney Brothers then performed for two hours following the game as part of the tournament’s Canaday Day Celebration concert. Losing pitcher was Jonathan Kane of Conception Bay South, NL who went two innings giving up two runs on three hits while striking out one. Jordan MacDonald of Napanee, Ont. went two innings scattering two runs on three hits and one strikeout. Cory Avery of Larry’s River, N.S. went one and two third innings allowing three runs on five hits and two strikeouts in mop up duty.
In the Aussie-Denmark game, first baseman Garon Clough (3-3, tqwo home runs, six RBI, three runs scored), catcher Andrew Ratten (4-4, four runs scored, three RBI, double, triple), Jamie Sheehan (1-2, three runs scored, three RBI, home run), Ashton Edwards (3-4, two runs scored, RBI, two doubles), short stop Michal Munro (3-4, RBI, three runs scored, double), Damien Nairn (3-4, two runs scored, three RBI, double, triple), Nic Green (2-2, double, three runs scored, three RBI) and pitcher James Brooks (2-4, three runs scored, RBI) led Australia.
For the Danes, Tahir Dalagar (1-1) and shortstop Camilo Frederiksen (1-1) were tops. Brooks went three innings striking out seven en route to the win. Losing pitcher Valdemar Brask 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.
With a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic, Argentina showed that they were contenders, their winning just was a week off from the start of the tournament as they started at 0-5 before winning their last three straight games. Leading the charge was Federico Alejandro Ederet (3-2, triple, stolen base, two runs scored), Gaston Wilsen (0-3, RBI, stolen base), Manuel Mata Carabajal (1-3), German Sacks (1-3) and Francisco Perez Regolli (1-2). For Czech Republic, Michal Pyszko (1-3, stolen base), Michal Hudec (1-2), Jiri Pospisil (1-2) and Bohumir Adamec (1-3, stolen base). Winning pitcher Mauricio Emmanuel Boss went two innings giving up one hit walking two and fanning one. Nelson Gonzaleo Ruiz Diaz went three and two third innings allowing one hit and striking out seven. German Sacks went one and one third innings giving up three hits and fanning one. Losing pitcher was Jaroslav Muller.
Shinji Kawamura capped of a four run sixth inning with a three-run blast as Japan put the finishing touches on the playoff scenario with a 5-1 win over the United States. Japan trailed 1-0 until the third inning when Masayuki Shimoto (2-2) drove home Takuto Tsutsui (0-0, three walks, two runs scored) to tie the game 1-1. U.S. pitcher Zach Warne issued a free pass to Shimoto to load the bases as Norihiko Aoyama (1-3, double) was on the base. Then came Kawamura who made Warne and the U.S. pay, blasting the ball to the Coors Light inflatable in centerfield. For the U.S., Jason Loe (1-2, runscored, RBI, home run) hit a solo blast in the third to break the scoreless tie. Kevin Castillo (1-2) also managed a hit as Japan’s Hayami Takahashi and Toshyuki Sakamoto combined to shut down the U.S. and allow just two hits. Takahashi went two and one thir innings allowing a run on two hits while walking one and striking out two. Sakamoto went four and two third innings walking three and fanning eight. Losing pitcher Kelly went five and one third innings allowing three runs on three hits, walking four and sitting down two. Warne went one and two third innings allowing two runs on one hit while walking one in relief.
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ISF 2005 JR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS