Kiwis win third world softball title

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The defending champion New Zealand’s Black Sox have achieved a historic three-peat, beating Canada, 9-5, to win the XI men’s softball world championship here in Christchurch.

It was the champs’ third crown after wins in Michigan in 1996 and East London in 2000.

After two wins on the road, a victory at home was sweet for the defending titlists, and they showed their fans their appreciation of their support by throwing their shirts to the ground and doing a haka on the diamond.

A fitting farewell too for several veteran players who will be retiring this season, including Mark Sorenson, Marty Grant, Jim Wana and Jarrad Martin. Earlier in the day Canada had sealed its place in the final with a one-sided 7-0 win over Australia.

Despite that loss it was a great day for Australia, claiming its first medal at a senior men’s world championship in taking the bronze.

Canada made the better start to the final, jumping out to a 3-nil lead in the top of the first inning. New Zealand’s starting pitcher Michael Gaiger had given up two hits and a walk at that point, and after giving up a walk to the first batter in the top of the second, he was replaced by Jimmy Wana, who pitched both the shut-out against the United States and the previous night’s win against Canada.

The Black Sox had scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and then tied the game up in the bottom of the second when Patrick Shannon hit a two run homer after Donny Hale had been walked.

That forced a Canadian pitching change with starter Gerard Muizelaar pulled and Nick Underhill coming in. But the Black Sox bats continued to blaze and they scored three more runs in the bottom of the third.

Stacey McLean hit safely, Jarred Martin joined him on base on a high hopper and Mark Sorenson stepped up with a huge home run over both fences at Smokefree ballpark.

It was a significant moment that signalled the end of a great career. Sorenson has played at six world championships, winning gold four times and silver twice, according to 2004worldsoftball.com.

Canada pulled one run back in the top of the fifth to make it 6-4 when Rob Grey batted in Jody Eidt who’d been walked. But the Black Sox took it out to a four-run margin again in the bottom of the fifth when Sorenson hit safely again and scored an error, and Thomas Makea hit safely and scored on a wild pitch.

After that the Black Sox were always in control, and Canada’s late run in the top of the seventh was a mere consolation.