Click here to view PDF version of “Champs Chatterâ€, the official Newsletter of the ISF XII Men’s World Championship – Day 6 – July 22, 2009
Text version after the jump.
Excitement abounds at the ISF XII World Men’s Softball Championship. Yesterday we had four thrilling, one run ball games, all of which will go a long way to determining the playoff picture. The one thing that seems certain is we will not know who is going to the playoffs until the very last pitch is thrown in each pool. Things are just that close! Many Canadian fans were wondering at the end of the fifth inning, what would have happened if had Canada lost. If three teams are tied, the tie breaking criteria is points against in the games amongst each other. If the teams would have won the rest of their games then Australia’s 7-0 win over Venezuela would have likely put them in first place with Canada second and Venezuela third.
Canada’s fundamentals, speed, management victimize Venezuela
A potent combination of speed, execution of fundamentals and sound management decisions all contributed to the success of Canada’s come-from-behind 5-4 win over an equally competitive and well-oiled Venezuelan machine. After two scoreless innings, featuring strong mound performances by Canada’s Sean Whitten and Venezuela’s John Garcia, Canada’s OF Jeff Ellsworth lined a single to right and was advanced by a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt by C Sean O’Brien. With two out, Canada struck like prairie lighting as CF Ryan Wolfe lined a hard shot to the right of SS Elis Ugueto who fielded the ball cleanly, but Wolfe’s gazelle-like speed beat the strong throw by half-a-step. Ellsworth scored from third. 2B Keith MacKintosh followed with a single up the middle, Wolfe streaking to third. SS Ian Fehrman followed suit with a grounder between first and second base, scoring Wolfe. Canada led 2-0. Fans were still ecstatic from the Canucks output, but the audience buzz subsided just as quickly. Venezuela’s “rapido rabbit†OF Carlos Ojeda beat out an infield single, and C Rafael Flores launched a Whitten offering into the centre field stands. Score knotted at 2 after three full innings.
Yogi Berra would describe the T5 as “déjà vu all over again†– a replication for Canada as Wolfe’s wheels beat out a higher hopper, MacKintosh followed with a Texas league blooper that OF Jean Melendez almost snared when he dove, and finally Fehrman delivered an identical gapper between the right-side infielders. The speedy Wolfe scampered home uncontested. With DR Kevin Schellenberg running for the popular ‘Tosh, and new Venezuelan pitcher Erick Urbanejas providing a wild pitch, Shelley advances to third. DH Colin Abbott hits a ground ball to Urbanejas as Schellenberg breaks for home. C Flores thoroughly blocked 100% of the plate, providing absolutely no opportunity for the diminutive runner to score – another significant play in a game that kept the fans in the edge of their seats. With Canada up a run, field manager Mark Smith makes a pitching change, handing the ball to Todd Martin. In B5, Martin’s first pitch is greeted by 2B Jean Melendez with a long foul ball and then a single. On the next pitch to Ojeda, Martin is called for an illegal pitch, moving Melendez to 2B and Ojeda singles up the middle to tie the game. Flores (HR last time) provides a third straight single up the middle, and Smith has seen enough. Canada’s pitching depth is in town to be accessed, and to great fan applause, home towner Trevor Ethier takes the mound. Playing aggressively and sensing a potential big inning, Venezuela’s Flores attempts to steal 2nd, only to have C Sean O’Brien’s quick release throw converted by 2B Ian Fehrman who acrobatically tags Flores for a HUGE out. Ethier is pumped and fans two, to end the inning. After five complete, Venezuela leads 4-3.
In T6, OF Steven Mullaley ignites the Canada rally with a single and Ellsworth delivers a text-book bunt to move Mullaley another 60 feet. Back-to-back line drive flares by O’Brien and pinch-hitter Dale Levy provide the tying and go-ahead runs. Not surprisingly, Venezuela is not done. DH Joe Vilchez, he of a rather rotund frame, mesmerized the partisan crowd with a lead-off single to left that he legged out, in every sense of the word, into a head-slide two-bagger. Following an illegal pitch, moving the runner to 3B, the angst of the fans was evident. Ethier, comfortable in his role, was not fazed. Melendez’s difficult ground ball to 1B Derek Mayson was smoothly back-handed, and keeping his composure in “looking†the runner back to third, Mayson tagged Melendez who creatively tried to slide into 1B. With 3B Craig Crawford’s encouragement, the home-town foot-stompers noisily encouraged Ethier who retired the next 4 batters to end the inning and the game. Canada (5-0) meets a fading South Africa (1-4) while Venezuela (3-2) is matched with Latino neighbor Puerto Rico (2-3)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Canada 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 5 10 0
Venezuela 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 4 6 1
WP: Trevor Ethier LP: Erick Urbanejas
PLAYER PROFILES
Ryan Wolfe #77
Team Canada
Ryan is a strong leader of the Canadian team as he was named captain in 2009. Wolfe has been with the Senior Men’s National Team since 2000, playing in the 2000 and 2004 ISF Men’s World Championship, and the 2002 and 2006 Pan American Qualifiers. At the National level, Ryan has played in five Canadian Championships, winning back-to-back Gold medals in 2005 and 2006, a Silver medal in 2003 and a Bronze in 1999. He is a three-time Canadian Championship All-Star Outfielder and won the Most Valuable Player award in 2005. He is a 3 time ISC World champion and 6 time ISC all world outfielder. Ryan is a native of Melbourne and he is currently living in London, Ontario. A high school teacher, Ryan also enjoys playing hockey, golfing, woodworking and reading. He is married (wife Megan) with two daughters (Emma and Allie). He said he had a lot of good coaches over the years and wouldn’t want to single any one out as special because it would diminish the others. The important thing as a player is to listen, he said. “I tried to learn something from all of my coaches.”
Jody Eidt #22
Team Canada
This is Jody’s sixth year with the National Team after joining in 2004 and helping Canada secure a Silver medal at the ISF Men’s World Championships. Although that was Jody’s first taste of Senior Men’s National Team action, he was no stranger to representing his country as he played in the 1993 ISF IV Junior Men’s World Championship, when Canada won the Gold medal. His Canadian Championship experience includes a Gold medal (2003) and two Bronze medals (2005 and 2007). After obtaining a History degree at Colby College (Maine) in 1997, Jody is now a Home Mortgage Consultant and Branch Manager. His hobbies include hockey, playing cards and reading. The person who most influenced Jody’s softball career is his uncle Doug, who gave him the opportunity to play junior ball when he was 16. Playing with an older age group allowed Jody the opportunity to get better as a player and mature as a person.
TEAM CANADA AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Team Canada will have an autograph signing session today following their 3:30 game against South Africa. Kids of all ages can bring their programs, hats, gloves or balls to the Media Tent in the right field sideline to have them signed by their favorite Team Canada star
SALUTE TO OUR SPONSORS
On behalf of softball fans throughout the world the organizers would like to say a special thank-you to our 62 sponsors. Their support varied from Triple level to double, single, bronze, team and even super fan level sponsorship. Your support has been vital in making this championship a success and has gone a long way to making Saskatoon, the softball event hosting capital of Canada.
Runless Indonesia throttled by Steelers
It was another day of frustration for the gamers from Indonesia. Like lambs to the slaughter, the end was quick, if not painless. Taking a page from the Black Sox playbook, Australia enjoyed a bat-around 1st inning, scoring six times en route to a 5 inning 10-0 trouncing. The pair of Adams, Folkard as a starter (7 Ks) and Humble as the closer allowed only two base-runners, a hit and a walk. OF John Davison 2×2 with 3 RBI and Zenon Winters 2×3 led the balanced attack. For Indonesia, starter Reza Chustriawan could only muster a single out before six runs had scored, and Teuku Ridwa was better in relief, allowing 4 runs in 3.2 innings. Australia (4-1) hopes to guarantee double-life with a win over the back-sliding Czech Republic (2-3) while Indonesia (0-5) seeks to score its first run against the steadily improving Argentina (3-2).
1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
Australia 6 0 3 1 x 10 9 0
WP: Adam Folkard LP: Reza Chustriawan
Argentina “Czech-mates†the Republic
A pair of superb pitching performances punctuated a classic softball matchup as Argentina played the calibre of ball that many fans had been waiting for, and doubled the Czech Republic 2-1. Argentina’s Lucas Mata locked horns with the Czech’s Lubomir Vrbensky, with each going the distance in the 7 inning cliff-hanger. Both hurlers had excellent control, neither walking an opponent. Mata surrendered only four hits, while striking out 10, while Vrbensky allowed six. Two of the six were home runs off the bats of Gustavo Guerrinieri and Beuno Motroni, sufficient for the win. Argentina (3-2) ends Day #5 in the 4th playoff position, and has a good chance to advance by winning one of its two remaining games, starting early today against the spirited, but frustrated Indonesia (0-5). The Czech Republic (2-3) is now in a challenging “must win†scenario against Australia (4-1).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Argentina 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 6 1
Czech 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0
WP: Lucas Mata LP: Lubomir Vrbensky
Danes demolished by Black Sox
Black Sox batters continued to fatten their batting averages as the Kiwi Krush again scored in the double figures, 16-0, in a mercy-shortened game with Denmark. In typical champions style, New Zealand wasted absolutely no time in putting the game out of reach, scoring eleven times (yep, count ‘em – 11 times) in the T1. Donny Hale took a turn as the one-many wrecking crew, with 3 hits, including a grand slammer and five RBI, while two hit performances were provided by CF Thomas Makea, SS Nathan Nukunuku and 2B Travis Wilson. Danish pitchers Jesper Panduro, Henrik Brask and Thomas Bonde each responded to the unenviable calling to the mound to face the onslaught. The eleven first-inning runs is not a record this week, as the Black Sox scored an even dozen in inning #1 vs USA on opening night. New Zealand pitcher Jeremy Manley effectively handcuffed the Danes, limiting them to a single hit by Daniel Julenon. New Zealand (5-0) continues to uncontested march, rolling along without being legitimately tested, and faces Mexico (1-4) today, while Denmark (2-3) will need to bounce back to provide credible opposition to Japan.
1 2 3 4 R H E
New Zealand 11 0 5 0 16 12 1
Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 1 5
WP: Jeremy Manley LP: Henrik Brask
Puerto Rico romps past South Africa
In a field manager’s free-wheeling nightmare, South Africa scored 6 runs in the 4th, but were still mercied 16-7 in an outing in which the pitchers were rarely challenging, and seldom fooling, the batters. Puerto Rico kept its slim playoff hopes alive as the team responded to a much-needed wake-up call as both teams entered the match with identical records of mediocrity. ERAs exploded as South African starter Monte Sadler gave up 8 earned runs in 4 innings, and Carlos Vara for Puerto Rico eventually succumbed as well, allowing 6. Moses Molaba was also touched up for 8 earned runs while Tidima Kidema provided .1 inning of relief. For Puerto Rico, Luis Vega and Leonardo Roman shared the mound chores in the final inning. Five Puerto Rican islanders enjoyed multiple hit games, with Feliz Cruz leading the way 3×4 and 4 RBI. Jorge Aranzamendi, Eduardo Galarza, Antonio Rivera and Abner Arroyo each had two hits. For South Africa, Neil Green was 2×3 and Barrett Bradley garnered one timely count, and collected 4 RBI. Puerto Rico (2-3) will need its “A†game today duelling Venezuela in a Latino hook-up, while South Africa (1-4) may not see the win column again, as they finish the round robin with Canada today and Venezuela on Thursday.
1 2 3 4 5 R H E
South Africa 0 0 0 6 1 7 5 2
Puerto Rico 2 4 5 5 x 16 16 0
WP: Carlos Lara LP: Monte Sadler
USA dodges disaster – squeaks past Botswana
Botswana, winless in four games, brought an optimistic attitude to the ball yard and narrowly missed pulling a rabbit out of the hat and making softball history. Their opponents, the U.S. of Eh! entered the game as huge favorites, but the bats were silenced and starting pitcher Travis Price was not provided with the much-anticipated run cushion. In B2, with one out, SS Don Garvey singled and after a 2nd out, back-to-back free passes by Botswana pitcher Tony Moyo to C Nate Devine and 3B Daryn Miller, and the bases were drunk. Huge opportunity for US to break it open. An alert Garvey stole home, but Moyo calmly shut the door on a strikeout. In T3, Botswana brought the crowd to life as a series of infield grounders by Moalusi Morulciganyi, Eric Semuwanza and Jury Manaka were mis-played resulting in Botswanians perched on all bases with no-one out. Following deliberations on an erroneous batting order listing, Price assumed personal control, fanning two and inducing a pop-up to maintain the shutout. In B5, the States scored another one, but in T6, Botswana replies. Gomolemo Tshelametsi singles and scores on a double by Obusitswe Lekgothu. Price is sharp again, and coupled with sound defence, retires the side. Lefty Paul Koert replaces Price, who had 9 Ks, in the 7th and Botswana makes it interesting with the tying run at 2B and one out before Koert retires the side. For Botswana, Moyo limits the US offence to two hits, striking out five, but was in trouble at times issuing 5 walks. Garogwe Witness provides 1.2 innings of closing hitless relief.
US dodges a magnum-sized bullet and remains in the hunt for the coveted 2nd place in Pool “Aâ€. Botswana team members’ smiles, always evident following a game – win or lose – were beaming that much more brightly after a great outing and a flirtation with orchestrating a major upset. United States (4-1) will try to make it five in a row when it meets Great Britain, who are on a roll of their own when they clash in this evening’s night-cap at 8:30, while Botswana (0-5) continues to seek a notch in the winner’s column, in its game with Philippines.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Botswana 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 2
United States 0 1 0 0 1 0 x 2 2 2
WP: Travis Price LP: Tony Moyo Save: Paul Koert
Day #6 – TODAY’S FEATURE GAME
United States and Great Britain have fought battles on North American soil over the past two centuries and today’s American –English softball showdown (8:30pm at BVI is a crucial test for playoff positioning. USA has aspirations of the #2 spot in Pool A and Great Britain is seeking to qualify for the playoff round
Britannia rules over Mexico
A thriller that went down to the final swing of the bat, a solid line drive by Mexican OF Jorge Corfillo that landed securely into the inviting glove of Great Britain CF Patrick Morgan, provided a key win for the English squad’s playoff chances. The see-saw game had the lead change five times, with Britain rallying from 2 runs down with six outs to give. A single run in the 5th halved the deficit, setting the plate for dramatic 7th inning. Trailing by one, OF Pat Walsh started the Brit’s rally, while 2B Brandon Horn’s bunt single resulted in runners at 2nd and 3rd. 3B James Chalmers singled, scoring both in the 7-6 win. Earlier, Great Britain P James Darby helped his own cause with a first-pitch swing that propelled the ball to the netherland behind the centre field bleachers.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Great Britain 1 0 0 2 1 1 2 7 10 2
Mexico 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 6 6 0
WP: Richard Haldane LP: Yuri Loya,
Philippines shaded by Rising Sun
In the All-Asian night-cap. The style of play made the
teams looked like replicas of each other but one proved
to be the real deal. Japan beat rival Philippines in a finely
executed match. It was far from a friendly affair
however, as the umpire gave both teams a bean ball
warning and Japan’s #8 Hiroshi Ishumira was ejected
for an intent to injure on a play at second base Japan (3-
2) meets Denmark (2-3) while Philippines (2-3) should
notch a win against Botswana (0-5).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Japan 0 2 1 0 2 0 x 5 12 0
WP: Tatsuya Hamaguchi LP: Leo Barredo
PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY
(Wednesday July 22)
WINNERS IN UPPERCASE BOLD (Record to date 33-7)
11:30 am ARGENTINA vs Indonesia
1:00 pm PHILIPPINES vs Botswana
1:30 pm AUSTRALIA vs Czech Republic
3:00 pm JAPAN vs Denmark
3:30 pm CANADA vs South Africa
5:30 pm VENEZUELA vs Puerto Rico
6:30 pm NEW ZEALAND vs Mexico
8:30 pm UNITED STATES vs Great Britain
POOL STANDINGS
POOL A GAMES RUNS
TEAM PLAYED WON LOST FOR AGAINST
NEW ZEALAND 5 5 0 63 1
UNITED STATES 5 4 1 21 20
JAPAN 5 3 2 27 15
GREAT BRITAIN 5 3 2 21 27
DENMARK 5 2 3 10 35
PHILIPPINES 5 2 3 16 29
MEXICO 5 1 4 25 30
BOTSWANA 5 0 5 6 32
POOL B PLAYED WON LOST FOR AGAINST
CANADA 5 5 0 40 13
AUSTRALIA 5 4 1 44 11
VENEZUELA 5 3 2 42 14
ARGENTINA 5 3 2 19 26
CZECH REPUBLIC 5 2 3 24 30
PUERTO RICO 5 2 3 35 36
SOUTH AFRICA 5 1 4 22 43
INDONESIA 5 0 5 0 53
LEADING HITTERS AP AB H 2B 3B HR W K OB% Sac SB R RBI SA BA
Rafael Flores Venezuela 10 10 8 1 0 3 0 1 80 0 0 5 8 1800 800
Carlos Ojeda Venezuela 9 8 5 0 0 2 1 1 67 0 0 4 5 1375 625
Travis Wilson New Zealand 16 13 8 0 0 4 3 1 69 0 0 7 10 1538 615
Brad Rona New Zealand 17 13 8 3 0 1 4 1 76 0 2 8 5 1077 615
Gustavo Guerrinieri Argentina 14 9 5 3 0 1 4 2 71 0 1 4 4 1222 556
Thomas Makea New Zealand 14 9 5 2 0 2 2 1 77 1 0 7 6 1444 556