Canada, N Zealand advance in world softball

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand —Defending champion New Zealand and Canada fashioned out contrasting wins at the start of the double-page playoff Friday in the XI men’s world softball championship at the Smokefree Ballpark here.

The Black Sox bounced back from their loss to former champ Canada at the close of the elims by handing erstwhile unbeaten United States a 9-0 thrashing and the fourth-ranked Canada overcame world No. 2 Japan, 2-1, in the duels of top ranked teams in the top eight quarterfinals.

That sent Canada into a clash with New Zealand Saturday while the Americans and the Japanese go down in the losers bracket to face Samoa and Australia, respectively.

Samoa, which booted out the Philippine Blu Boys in a do-or-die contest a day earlier, eliminated Czech Republic, 5-0, and Australia, sending out the 6-foot-6 teener Andrew Kirkpatrick, limited Argentina to three hits in a 7-0 decision in five innings.

Canada’s lead-off batter Ryan Wolfe hit to left field in the first inning, advanced on a hit by Darrel Sandback and scored off a sacrifice hit to left field by designated player Bob Court.

The Canadians put in another run at the top of the third when Court belted a homer over the right field but the Japanese, runner-up to the Black Sox four years ago in East London, South Africa, answered back in the bottom of the inning with a homer over the center field by Masashi Ueno.

Canada then called on Nick Underhill in the bottom of the fourth and he went on to silence the Japanese bats in the three innings backed up by splendid Canadian defense.

The Canadians outhit the Japanese, 7-6, and left six men on base against Japan’s four.

New Zealand surprisingly took an easy outing against the United States, gaining the win in five innings.

None of the four pitchers used by the Americans was able to defuse the New Zealand attack which netted six runs in the bottom of the second and three on the third.

The Americans made a good start with two batters getting on board — Chris Miljavic on a walk and Ross Dey on a safe hit. But they were left stranded by starting pitcher Jimmy Wana who struck out two batters to retire the side.

The Kiwis took charge from there with nine runs in the second and third innings through singles and doubles. Jarrad Martin and Donny Hale had two hits in the second while five other Kiwis collected one each.— Lito A. Tacujan