Three wins for Black Sox - One game still to play

[Al Doran]

Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 14:52:38 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Three wins for Black Sox - One game still to play




Two wins for Black Sox in contrasting games
Saturday December 3rd 2005

Power hitting has seen the New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox take two 
wins today over Samoa at Norana Avenue Ballpark, Auckland.

In contrasting fixtures the opening game of the series went the way of the 
Black Sox 13-2 in five innings. But the second game was a whole lot closer 
with the game going down to the bottom of the seventh inning before the 
Black Sox could score the winning run to take the game 6-5.

Home run hitting was a feature of game one as the Black Sox took the lead 
in the second inning via an automatic over the centre field fence by 
Patrick Shannon. This was followed up in the next inning when Daniel Milne 
repeated the dose smashing the ball over the left field fence.

The defining moment of the game came in the fourth inning as the Black Sox 
displayed their true hitting power scoring 11 runs. Features of the hitting 
were two consecutive home runs by returning Black Sox Travis Wilson, a 
second automatic of the game to Patrick Shannon while outfielder Stacy 
McLean also collected an automatic over the right field fence.

Samoa replied with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth innings 
but it wasn’t enough and the game ended in the fifth inning with the mercy 
rule invoked as the Black Sox held an 11 run advantage.

On the mound Black Sox captain Jarrad Martin had control of the game he 
faced 19 batters giving up three hits and one walk while taking two 
strikeouts. Samoa used three pitchers on the mound as they tried to stop 
the flow of runs.

Heinie Shannon started the game, he faced 21 batters conceding eight hits 
and one walk while taking five strikeouts. Gerard Long came into the game 
in the fourth inning but he couldn’t contain the Black Sox hitters as the 
first batter he faced was Patrick Shannon and he hit the ball out of the 
park. David Gollan relieved Long of the mound to close out the fourth inning.

Game two of the double header was a much tighter affair as the world 
champion Black Sox had to come from behind to take the victory. Samoa took 
the early advantage in the third inning when Tony Niu, Bradley Annandale 
and Kurt Allan all crossed home plate.

The Black Sox replied with interest in the fourth inning when lead off 
hitter Lyndon Andrew singled and then came home on an automatic by Gus 
Leger. This was followed by another automatic this time off the bat of 
Black Sox debutant Corey Matakatea to level up the scores.

The Kiwis hit the lead for the first time in the game when Travis Wilson 
continued his fine hitting form again smashing the ball over the fence this 
time with Thomas Makea on base to give the Black Sox a two run advantage.

Down but not out the Samoan team struck straight back scoring two runs of 
their own in the fifth inning to level up the scores again. That is how 
things stayed until the bottom of the seventh inning when with two down 
Lyndon Andrew picked up a walk and then scored on a hit by Gus Leger to 
centre field.

Given the tight nature of the game Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase was 
forced to dig deep into his pitching reserves using three hurlers in the game.

Tane Richardson started the game and faced 15 batters taking two strikeouts 
while giving up five hits. Thomas Cameron was introduced into the game in 
the third inning and he pitched two innings facing eight batters and giving 
up two hits. Veteran Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant closed out the game 
after being introduced to the mound in the sixth inning. He faced seven 
batters picking up two strikeouts while giving up one hit.

For Samoa teenage pitcher Penese Iosefo started the game and he held the 
Black Sox hitters during the early innings. He faced 17 batters giving up 
five hits and two runs. David Gollan came into the game as relief pitcher 
for Samoa in the fourth inning and he faced 17 batters giving up three 
walks and two hits while taking two strikeouts.

While the games may have been contrasting Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase 
was happy with the performance of his side as they scored 19 runs in two 
games with the only concern being the conceding of five runs in the second 
game.

“During the series we are looking to field four different teams over the 
four games and it is all about combinations. I am pretty happy, we have got 
a little bit to work on in terms of our pitcher/catcher combinations but we 
scored 19 runs today and you have got to be happy with that,” said Kohlhase.

With two wins today in the four game series Kohlhase says the team will be 
looking to repeat the effort tomorrow at Rosedale Park, North Harbour and 
make it a clean sweep of the series.

New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox v Samoa Series results:
Game 1 – NZCT Black Sox 13 Samoa 2 (five innings).
Game 2 – NZCT Black Sox 6 Samoa 5.

Black Sox send the ball out of the park
Sunday December 4th

Samoa needed fielders outside of the diamond in game three of the series 
against the New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox at Rosedale Park, North 
Harbour this morning.

The Black Sox claimed their third win of the series with a 7-1 victory over 
Samoa. Of the seven runs six came courtesy of home runs.

Black Sox lead off hitter Thomas Makea set the tone for the game in the 
bottom of the first inning when he sent the third pitch he faced over the 
centre field fence. In the bottom of the second inning Lyndon Andrew 
repeated the effort of Makea with the second home run of the game.

Travis Wilson continued the home run hitting in the bottom of the third 
inning with a shot over the centre field fence before Daniel Milne added 
another in the next inning. The home run hitting dried up in the fifth 
inning when designated player Corey Matakatea singled and then scored on a 
hit by Fabian Makea.

The Black Sox weren’t done with the home run hitting though with the bats 
back in action in the sixth inning as Travis Wilson smashed his second home 
run of the game this time with Thomas Makea on base.

Samoa could only manage to pull one run back in the sixth inning when Kurt 
Allan scored on a double by Duane Gerard.

As his batters were doing the damage with the bat Black Sox pitcher Thomas 
Cameron kept a lid on the Samoan hitters. Cameron faced 27 batters taking 
five strikeouts while giving up three hits and three walks.

For Samoa pitcher Heinie Shannon started the game and did a good job but he 
could not contain the home run hitting power of the Black Sox. Shannon 
faced 16 batters giving up four hits, one intentional walk and three runs 
while taking two strikeouts.

Jerome Smith was introduced into the game in the fourth inning relieving 
Shannon on the mound but he couldn’t stop the flow of runs. Smith faced 16 
batters giving up seven hits, two walks and four runs.
The Black Sox and Samoa meet again in the final game of the series at 
1.30pm with the world champion Black Sox looking to make it a clean sweep.

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:vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz

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