The Aussie Colts have finished the ISF IX Junior Men’s World Championships today with the same fighting spirit they started with four years ago, going down to Japan in a thrilling 10 innings game 5 runs to 4. The Aussie Colts were undefeated during the round robin play, however came up against a tough Japanese side today, who they lost to in the first playoff game on Friday. After the whole day of play was washed out on Saturday, the Aussie Colts were faced with the mammoth task needing to win four games on the final day to be once again crowned World Champions.
Head Coach, Gary Butler stressed the importance of the Aussie Colts to have mental toughness over the last 9 days of play and today would be the ultimate test for the Aussie Colts. The team showed great character and mental toughness to come from behind in all three games, but just falling short against Japan.
The Aussie Colts first needed to beat traditional rivals New Zealand before they could look ahead. The New Zealand program is an outstanding program and the Aussie Colts needed to be firing to overcome their arch rivals.
Game 1:
Australia 2 defeated New Zealand 1
Australia triumphed over New Zealand in a tight well-matched game at Nafaldo Cargnel Stadium. Both teams restricted the runs, with New Zealand putting the pressure on the Colts in the field with some hard plays. The game delivered five double plays. But it was Joshua Wagner who played the key role for the Colts – both at third base with some sensational fielding, but more importanly, when he powered the ball deep over the centrefield fence to score both Ryan Sinclair and himself to put Aussie Colts up 2-1 in the bottom 6th. The top of the 7th saw NZ challenge with a hit, but Nathan Dickinson collected a K2 and had the final fielded play for the Colts win.
Game 2:
Australia 3 defeated Canada 2
After Canada eliminated the USA earlier they were up against a tough Canadian side. The Aussie Colts scored in the 1st innings after Jesse Taws reached base on an error, was moved to 3rd after a pass ball and then sacrifice bunt before Marshall Kronk’s hit to shortstop scored Taws.
The Canadian team took the lead 2-1 before the Aussie Colts tied the game in the 6th innings. Marshall Kronk was given a base on balls, Butler brings Mason Rossi on to run for Kronk and a throwing error by the Canadian pitcher scores the run for Australia.
The Aussie Colts struck again in the top of the 7th innings when Taws singled to left field, two pass balls allowed Taws to get to 3rd base. Nick O’Shea hit a double to left field to score Taws and give Australia a 3-2 lead. Great pitching by Marshall Kronk and solid defence by the team shut Canada down to get the win and eliminate Canada.
Game 3:
Japan 5 defeated Australia 4
The Aussie Colts were guaranteed of a medal going in the next game courtesy of their victory against Canada. Japan was disposed of quite easily in their earlier match, losing to Argentina 12-2 in just four innings of play. By comparison, the Aussie Colts had already played 14 innings. After Japan scored in the 1st innings, it was great pitching and defence by both sides that kept the score at 1-0. Aussie Colts tied the game 1 run all in the 5th innings, after Sam Kassianou gets hit by the pitch and Liam O’Leary hits safely to score Kassianou.
The Japanese team proved that they are a force to be reckoned with and scored in the top of the 7th innings to lead the game 2-1. The Aussie Colts never say die attitude once again rose to the fore as they levelled the game (2-2) in the bottom of the 7th to send the game into extra innings. Pitcher, Nathan Dickinson who did such a great job on the mound, hit a single to lead off the innings and was scored on some clutch hitting once again by Liam O’Leary.
The international tie breaker rule came into effect in the 8th innings, and both pitchers dominated to keep the 8th innings scoreless. In the 9th innings, the Japanese bats lit up and two doubles resulted in two runs to the Japan to give them a 4-2 lead. Going into the bottom of the 7th, two runs behind, Dickinson again proves why he is a class player, hitting a triple to score the run and cut the Japanese lead in half. Liam O’Leary again stepped up and hit in a runner for the Colts to tie the game. That was O’Leary’s third RBI for the game.
However it was in the 10th innings that Japan scored a run to give them the lead and ultimately the win 5 runs to 4.
The Aussie Colts ended their World Championship campaign finishing with a Bronze Medal. The boys fought so hard and never gave up. The Aussie Colts played 24 innings of World Championship play on the final day which showed a real strength of character and mental toughness. The boys did themselves, their parents and their country proud.
For one final time, GO COLTS. We are proud of you.
Argentina has just won the Gold Medal, defeating Japan in the final 5-0. Final placings:
Argentina
Japan
Australia
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