Black Sox fight back and show their class

[Al Doran]

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 23:45:29 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Black Sox fight back and show their class



Black Sox fight back and show their class
Thursday January 26th 2006

Under pressure and with time running out the New Zealand Community Trust 
Black Sox have come from behind on day two of the Commonwealth Championship 
in Melbourne with an 8-5 victory over the home side Australia tonight.

Going into the bottom of the sixth inning the world champion NZCT Black Sox 
were in the unusual position of being behind on the scoreboard. However 
with consistent hitting the Kiwi side managed to turn around a two run 
deficit into a three run advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth inning lead off hitter for the NZCT Black Sox 
Travis Wilson set the tone for the inning powering the ball over the right 
field fence. Following that captain Jarrad Martin maintained the momentum 
with a single to left field before being brought home by a Bran Rona home 
run out of the park to give the NZCT Black Sox the lead.

The NZCT Black Sox extended the lead further when first outfielder Daniel 
Milne scored on a fielding error and Stacy McLean came home on a hit by 
Stephen Ratu.

Down by three runs going into the final inning the home side had no more 
magic in the bag allowing the NZCT Black Sox to take the 8-5 victory.

Australia opened the scoring in their first at bat courtesy of the home run 
over the fence from second baseman Joel Southam. Not to be out done though 
the world champion NZCT Black Sox hit straight back with interest in the 
bottom of the first inning when Travis Wilson fired the ball over the 
centre field fence with Stephen Ratu on base.

The NZCT Black Sox took the lead for the first time in the game in the 
bottom of the third inning when lead off hitter Thomas Makea tripled to 
right centre field and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wilson.

However the home side refused to lie down against the NZCT Black Sox and 
wrestled the lead back in the fourth inning scoring three runs off five 
hits to give the Australians a one run advantage.

In a move to counter the Australian hitting Jarrad Martin was replaced on 
the mound in the fourth inning by Jeremy Manley. Martin started the game 
for the NZCT Black Sox and faced 17 batters giving up seven hits and two 
walks while taking one strikeout.

 From the time Manley came onto the mound he had control of the game as he 
held strong to deny the Aussie hitters. Manley faced 13 batters taking four 
strikeouts while giving up just one hit.

While Manley was strong on the mound with the bat Travis Wilson was the 
stand out performer for the NZCT Black Sox. From four trips to the plate 
Wilson picked up two home runs and a sacrifice fly for four RBI's in the game.

The NZCT Black Sox will be back on the diamond tonight taking on Samoa the 
only other unbeaten team in the championship at 11.45pm (NZ time).

Looking ahead to tomorrow the New Zealand team have another two games they 
play South Africa at 2pm (NZ time) and then face Australia at 9.30pm (NZ 
time). During the championship all teams will play each other twice before 
the finals playoffs on Saturday and Sunday.

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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