Australia wins their first game at the Commonwealth Men's Fastpitch Championship

[Al Doran]

Subject: Australia wins their first game at the Commonwealth Men's 
Fastpitch Championship
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:34:07 +1100
From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au>


Media Release
26 January 2006

Australia wins their first game at the Commonwealth Men's Fastpitch 
Championship

Australia has won their first game of the championship defeating South 
Africa with a run-ahead rule in the bottom of the fifth on day two of the 
Commonwealth Men's Fastpitch Championship.

South Africa started well with a two run home run by Mark Olivier. 
Australia took to the plate and got a lucky run thanks to a wild throw to 
second followed by an error in the South African outfield.

In the bottom of the second, Australia tied up the game thanks to a long 
ball over the rightfield fence from David Newsome.

A combination of South African fielding errors and aggressive batting 
helped Australia score another three runs for a 5-2 lead.

In the third inning, David Newsome crossed the plate on Michael Gibson's 
hit to centrefield. A pitching change for South Africa did not help with 
Australia extending their lead when Joel Southam hit a three run home run 
for a 9-2 lead.

Adam Folkard in his third game for Australia, shut down South Africa's 
batting with seven strike-outs and forcing the run-ahead rule.

Australia's next game is against the New Zealand Black Sox at 6.30pm (ADET).

In an earlier game, Tanifa Samoa held out to beat South Africa in a 
tie-breaker 16-10.

Battling the heat, Tanifa Samoa led early on with Wayne Laulu scoring a 
three run home run which helped Tanifa Samoa to score six runs in the 
second inning.

South Africa managed to shut out Tanifa Samoa in the fourth scoring 4 runs 
bringing themselves back in to the game. It was another shut out innings in 
the fifth by South Africa and then a home run by Jonathan
Viljoen scoring two runs to bring the game to a 10 all ball game.

Both teams were scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings forcing the game 
to a tie-break.

Tanifa Samoa proved too strong with the bat and overpowered South Africa to 
win the game by six runs in the eighth.

For interviews and photo opportunities, please contact DiAnne Lilburn on 
0405 509 674.


____________________________________
DiAnne Lilburn
National Communications Coordinator
Softball Australia
Suite 4, Ground Floor
38-40 Prospect Street
Box Hill, Victoria 3128

T: +61 3 9890 8200
F: +61 3 9890 8295
M: +61 (0) 405 509 674

For more information visit www.softball.org.au <http://www.softball.org.au/>

_____________________________________________________________________________
Did you know that Australia is the world's number one softball nation?
World number two - Open Women's team (Aussie Spirit), Silver Medallist 
(Athens, 2004), Bronze Medallists (Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996).
World number one - Under 19 Men's team (Aussie Colts), three consecutive 
World Championship titles.
World number three - Open Men's team (Aussie Steelers) and Under 19 Women's 
team (Aussie Pride).

From: "DiAnne Lilburn" <dianne.lilburn(at)softball.org.au>



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