Home run by Goolagong lifts Australia to shock win over unbeaten New Zealand
By Kathryn Willms, The StarPhoenix
Jeff Goolagong (centre) of Australia questions the call after plate umpire Bob Henning rules him out in a playoff showdown against New Zealand on Friday
Photograph by: SP Photo by Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix
New Zealand 000 000 x–0 1 6
Australia 010 024 x–7 7 1
– – –
Saskatoon played host Friday to another episode in a long and lively rivalry one could call the Battle of Down Under.
Jeff Goolagong of Australia took to the plate with two runners on base and got the idea to not only beat the dominant New Zealand side, but to do it in six innings, an inning short of regulation. He returned a Jeremy Manley pitch over the wall at Bob Van Impe Stadium, scoring three runs to end the game 7-0 for Australia in a playoff game at the International Softball Federation men’s world championship.
“We definitely thought we were going to win this one,” said Goolagong, who went 2-for-3, with one walk and three RBIs. “Six innings is just a bonus. Seeing the way these Aussie guys played tonight, we wanted it more.”
It was a feat all the more impressive because all week New Zealand had knocked around the competition, outscoring the opponents 81-5 in the preliminary round with a battery at the plate.
But Australia came into Friday’s game knowing it had an answer for New Zealand’s bats.
TOP HITTERS SILENCED
Pitching wunderkids Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkard had allowed only five earned runs this while striking out 61 between them.
The stage was set, and with hundreds of Kiwi and Aussie fans decked out in flags, stickers and questionable looking hats, the drama began. Not since debates raged about the origins of pavlova or the heritage of Rachel Hunter has an outcome been more anticipated or less certain.
When the dust cleared, the umpires had been yelled at and voices everywhere were hoarse from passion, Australia had defeated the invincible and racked up a series of tournament firsts along the way.
Australia is the only team to have led New Zealand, the only team to quiet the bats of some of the best hitters in the world and the only team to claim victory against the three-time defending world champions.
More importantly, the Aussies got into the New Zealanders’ heads, forcing errors and erasing a signature pride and cockiness that fans had adored all week. It was this victory, as much as any, that the pro-Aussie crowd relished Friday night, screaming Oy! Oy! Oy! at the end.
The New Zealand defence didn’t look like itself from the outset. Usually the model of precision and power, the Kiwis endured a Maori meltdown, racking up six errors.
Australia’s Tyron Bartorillo reached third after Thomas Makea dropped a long fly ball and stole home on another throwing error to make it 1-0.
FOLKARD THROWS ONE-HITTER
Folkard made quick work of the Kiwis who dared to crowd the plate, striking out six and allowing only a single hit. Rhys Casley hit a double in the fifth to destroy the no-hitter.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s defensive sloppiness continued. In the fifth, Josh Davison drove in Zenon Winters and Nick Shailes, who got aboard on errors.
In the bottom of the sixth, Michael Tanner scored. Then Goolagong uncorked his blast to end the game.
“We probably save our worst game in a couple of years for probably one of the most important games of the tournament,” said New Zealand Black Sox head coach Ed Kohlhase.
“Can’t take anything away from Australia. They moved the ball. They made good contact. Good luck to them.
“We just have to regroup and regather.”
New Zealand gets a second chance in the playoffs, playing Japan at 1 p.m. today. Australia plays tonight at 6:30 p.m.
kwillms@sp.canwest.com
PLAYOFFS TODAY
l C5 Japan vs. New Zealand,
1 p.m. BVI
l C6 Venezuela vs. U.S.,
3:30 p.m. BVI
l C7 Australia vs. Canada,
6:30 p.m. BVI, winner to final,
loser to semifinal
l C8 Winner C5 vs. winner C6,
8:30 p.m. BVI, winner to semifinal
PLAYOFFS SUNDAY
l Semifinal, 12 noon BVI
l Final, 3 p.m. BVI
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