[Alsfastball] White Sox hit hard in opening Canada Cup game

[Al Doran]

Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 17:20:09 +1200
From: SNZ Web-master <snz-webm at ihug.co.nz>
Subject: White Sox hit hard in opening Canada Cup game


White Sox hit hard in opening Canada Cup game

Sunday July 4th

The New Zealand women's softball team the White Sox have shown strong 
hitting form in their opening game at the international Canada Cup 
tournament in Surrey, British Columbia today.

While the Kiwi side may be playing out of season and have only had a week 
of warm up games there was no stopping them when they took on American club 
side the Bloomington Lady Hearts. The White Sox took out the victory 9-2 in 
just five innings with the mercy rule invoked.

In the bottom of the first inning the Kiwis showed they meant business with 
the bat when lead off hitter Kiri Shaw from Wellington smashed an 
impressive home run to give her side the early lead.

The runs kept flowing in the bottom of the second inning when Togi Lote, 
Angela Stubbs and Api Stone O'Kane all scored on errors in the American 
sides fielding to put the White Sox ahead 4-0 after just two innings.

Talilotu Tonu'u of Wellington put the Kiwis further ahead in the bottom of 
the third when after getting on base with a double she scored on a hit from 
captain Fiona Timu.

The fight back from the Bloomington Lady Hearts side came in the top of the 
fourth inning as they picked up two runs via a combination of errors in the 
Kiwi field and strong hitting.

Young Hutt Valley pitcher Jessica Hau started the game on the mound for the 
White Sox and while she took some punishment in the fourth inning and was 
replaced by Cynthia Fallowfield she had a strong game. Hau faced 22 batters 
taking four strikeouts and giving up three hits and two walks.

The final blow for the White Sox came in the bottom of the fifth inning 
when Timu, Togi Lote, Angela Stubbs and Karlene Louden all scored to give 
the Kiwis a seven run cushion to enforce the mercy rule.

Relief pitcher Cynthia Followfield had one inning on the mound for the 
White Sox facing five batters and conceding two hits.

For the opening game of the tournament the consistent hitting from the 
White Sox would have been an encouraging sign for coach Mike Walsh. The 
White Sox picked up a total of 11 hits in the game with every New Zealand 
batter getting on base at least once.

Stand out performers with the bat were Fiona Timu and Togi Lote who both 
picked up two hits from three at bats. While the lead off home run from 
Kiri Shaw at the start of the game was an emphatic sign from the White Sox 
that they were ready to attack.

Hits were harder to come by later in the day when the White Sox played 
their second game of the tournament against the Japanese Elite team who 
were all power as they took out the match 7-0 in six innings.

Ali Arnold had a tough day on the mound for New Zealand pitching six 
innings and facing 25 batters taking three strike outs and giving up 11 
hits and two walks. With the bat New Zealand managed three hits in the game.

The Kiwi side will be looking to bounce back tomorrow in British Columbia 
on day two of the Canada Cup tournament as they take on American club side 
the Buffalo Bison's. The White Sox are looking to finish in the top four of 
their eight team pool as they try to qualify to the top eight championship 
round.


By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
*  mailto:kelly.mitchell at xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
* mailto:snz at softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
*  mailto:snz-webm at ihug.co.nz


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