Black Sox bat their way to Commonwealth Championship title

[Al Doran]

Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 21:04:37 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Black Sox bat their way to Commonwealth Championship title
Envelope-To: fastball(at)pmihrm.com




Black Sox bat their way to Commonwealth Championship title
Sunday January 29th 2006

Awesome batting power and strong defence from the New Zealand Community 
Trust Black Sox has taken the team to victory this afternoon in the final 
of the Commonwealth Championship in Melbourne.

The world champion NZCT Black Sox defeated Australia in the final 5-3 as 
they came from two runs down in the third inning to claim the title.

We are very happy, to win any international tournament is always an honour. 
The team played very very well said NZCT Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase.

Throughout the five day tournament the NZCT Black Sox have had the hitting 
power to get themselves out of trouble and again today it proved valuable.

The NZCT Black Sox started strongly picking up one run in their first at 
bat when Nathan Nukunuku came home on a hit by Jarrad Martin.

In the second inning though the game deviated from the NZCT Black Sox game 
plan as good pressure hitting saw the home side Australia score three runs 
courtesy of four hits and one fielding error.

However down on the scoreboard the class of the NZCT Black Sox hitters 
showed through. In the top of the third inning power hitter Travis Wilson 
smashed the ball over the left field fence for his fourth home run of the 
championship.

Not to be out done in the top of the fourth inning Brad Rona repeated the 
dose for the NZCT Black Sox as he fired one out of the park this time with 
Jarrad Martin on base to add another two runs.

The NZCT Black Sox added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning 
when lead off hitter Patrick Shannon doubled to left field and then scored 
on a hit by Brad Rona.

On the mound for the NZCT Black Sox was Marty Grant and after the second 
inning onslaught from the Aussie hitters he took control of the game. Grant 
pitched the full game facing 28 batters giving up six hits and three walks 
while taking two strikeouts.

Looking back on the results coach Eddie Kohlhase believes it was a 
combination of strong defence and good hitting that won his team the title.

It came down to hitting and good defence, Marty Grant started well then he 
gave up a couple of runs but he finished very strongly. He was backed up by 
some outstanding defence and the outfield of Thomas Makea, Gus Leger and 
Daniel Milne made some outstanding outs said Kohlhase.

To make the final the NZCT Black Sox defeated Samoa 6-1 in the semi final 
on Saturday night. While Australia took the long route to the championship 
game defeating South Africa 5-4 and then beating Samoa today 3-1.

The NZCT Black Sox went through the five day tournament unbeaten and were 
deserved winners in the final. Along will claiming the title the New 
Zealand team also made a sweep of the individual awards. Power hitter 
Travis Wilson was named tournament MVP, Wellington's Thomas Makea picked up 
the award for top batter and Marty Grant was named top pitcher.

The NZCT Black Sox team along with the spoils of victory will return home 
tomorrow afternoon. Next on the international programme for the title 
winning team is the Pacific Cup in Japan in May.

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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