Matt Palazzo comes up big with home run and 3 RBI
(Matt Palazzo)
Team USA jumped out to a 7-3 lead against Great Britain tonight, and hung on for the 7-6 victory. Coach Pete Turner used three pitchers to stem the tide of British offense, starting with Paul Koert, then Terry Luster, and finished with Travis Price.
The game was a pivotal one in Pool A, and gives the USA a lock on 2nd place – and with it, the coveted “double life”. Great Britain drops to 3-3 and will finish up tomorrow against Botswana. Despite being winless, Botswana has been very competitive, narrowly losing to the USA, 2-1 just yesterday.
Meanwhile the USA will finish up Thursday against Mexico in a game that will not affect the team’s playoff spot or seeeding, but one important nonetheless, to continue the momentum building since the opening night drubbing by New Zealand. New Zealand earned the other “double life” for Pool A.
Three teams in Pool A will vie for 3rd and 4th place, and the remaining playoff spots.
Japan (4-2), will face New Zealand
Great Britain (3-3), will play Botswana
Philippines (3-3), will play Denmark
* Should all three win, Japan would be 5-2 and go as the third place team; Philippines would go as the 4th place team, as they beat Great Britain. Same result if all three lose.
* Should Japan lose but Great Britain and Philippines win, it’s a 3 way tie. Consult the tie breaker.
If two teams tie, head to head as follows:
* Philippines over Great Britain
* Great Britain over Japan
* Japan over Philippins
*