Japan run-rules USA 12-2 in opening game of playoffs at ISF Men’s World Cup
PRAGUE, CZ—Japan advanced to the championship game of the ISF
WorldCup with a resounding 12-2 five inning win over the USA
Men’s NationalTeam on Saturday evening before a crowd of more
than 1,200 people.
Japanwhich had lost earlier to the United Statesin round robin,
rocked two USApitchers for 12 runs and 11 hits, including five
infield singles, to advance toSunday’s championship round.
The USA, meanwhile, collected only five hits off two Japanese
pitchers and will face Venezuela Sunday at 2 p.m. with the winner advancing
to face Japanin the championship final. Venezuela(8-1) shutout
DeMo EHS (5-4) of the Netherlands, 8-0 in the earlier playoff
game to advance.
Japan pounded USA pitchers TravisPrice (Santa Ana, Calif.and Sonny
Perkins (St. Michael’s, Ariz.for 11 hits. Price hurled the first
three innings, allowing seven runs and seven hits in the third
inning. Perkins entered the game in the fourth inning and allowed
five runs on four hits.
The seven run Japan third included a solo homer by shortstop Ryuji
Hazeyama. Left fielder Kiensakus Nishio also had a single in the
inning and scored a run.
Japanused two pitchers to limit the USAto a run in the third
inning on an RBI single by catcher Frank DeGroat (Ringwood, N.J.)
and asolo homer to right center by Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph,
Mo.in the fifth inning.
Miljavac, who had a single in the third inning and was the only
USA player with at least two hits, hit his firsthomer of the
World Cup off Japanhurler Tatsuya Hamaguchi, who entered the
game for starter Kazutaka Murasato inthe fifth inning. Murasato
hurled the first four innings allowing one run on fourhits. Hamaguchi
hurled the last inning and surrendered one hit and the second
USArun.
Prague, June 23rd 2007
Venezuela beat Decos EHS in semi finals 8-0 and Japan beats USA
12-2 in a mercy rule 5 inning game.Decos EHS finishes fourth and finishes as the top European Team
beating Czech Republic, Denmark, Tenerife, Zaragoza and Prague
Stars.Japan is in in the final beating USA 12-2 and USA and Venezuela
will play for the second spot in the final.More game info to follow on Sunday.
Norm
Norman Ames
Decos EHS Fastpitch, Haarlem, The Netherlands
www.demo-ehs.nl