[Alsfastball] Samoa upset Black Sox

[Al Doran]

2/5/05 5:42:29 AM 
From:  SNZ Web-master <snz-webm at vanf-graphics.co.nz> 
 
Subject:  Samoa upset Black Sox  
  

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Samoa upset Black Sox 
Saturday February 5th 2005, 11:45pm

Samoa has claimed their first ever victory over the New Zealand
CommunityTrust Black Sox late tonight at Rotorua International
Stadium with a 2-1upset of the world champions.
 
The victory for Samoa sees then qualify for the top three playoffs
in theEvodrive Series and they will take on Japan tomorrow at
12.15pm with thewinner of that game going on to play the Black
Sox in the 3pmfinal.

Tonight’s game against the Black Sox was a must win for Samoa,
if theyhad lost against New Zealand they would have dropped to
fourth and theirtitle chances would have been over. Instead Australia
and the All Starswill now be in the position of playing off for
fourth and fifthtomorrow.

Despite the loss tonight the Black Sox have won direct entry
through tothe final given their six win one loss record in the
tournament.

The victory for Samoa came via tight pitching from Heinie Shannon
andconsistent hitting. The Black Sox opened the scoring in the
bottom of thefirst inning when Thomas Makea scored on a sacrifice
fly by Donny Hale.

Samoa drew the scores level in the top of the second when captain
GusLeger came home on a double by Gene Lutton and then they went
ahead inthe top of the third courtesy of the home run over the
left field fenceoff the bat of Michael Niu.

Pitcher Heinie Shannon deserves a lot of the credit for Samoa’s
victoryas he kept under wraps the normally lethal Black Sox batting
line up. Hefaced 21 batters giving up five hits while taking
two strikeouts.

For the Black Sox it was a game where the bats just didn’t click
hitsthat would normally would go over the fence or find the gap
were insteadfinding the gloves of the Samoan fielders. 

Pitching for New Zealand Michael Gaiger started the game on the
moundfacing 11 batters and giving up three hits and two runs
while taking twostrikeouts before being replaced in the third
innings. Tane Richardsoncame on in relief facing six batters
for three strikeouts and one walk.

The results were not all bad for the Black Sox today as earlier
resultssaw them pick up three victories with wins over Japan,
Australia and theAll Stars.
On the back of the loss to Samoa tonight the Black Sox will have
a pointto prove tomorrow in the final as they take pride in their
successfulrecord and any loss doesn’t sit well.
   
Results Day 3 
New Zealand 8 Japan 3, Australia 9 All Stars 3 (tie breaker),
Samoa 4Japan 0, All Stars 1 Samoa 0, Japan 4 Australia 3, New
Zealand 3Australia 0, New Zealand 4 All Stars 0, Samoa 6 Australia
0, Japan 2 AllStars 0, Samoa 2 New Zealand 1. 

Finals will be broadcast live on TV2 12pm to 5pm 6th Feb as well
assimulcast live over the Internet. - NZ Time


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 vanf-graphics.co.nz 

 

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