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                    [ArticleID] => 238198
                    [Title] => Kiwis win third world softball title
                    [Summary] => 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.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-09 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1097213
                    [AuthorName] =>  Lito Tacujan
                    [SectionName] => Sports
                    [SectionUrl] => sports
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                    [ArticleID] => 238033
                    [Title] => New Zealand stuns Canada, books trip to softball final
                    [Summary] => CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Defending champion New Zealand overwhelmed Canada in a 13-5 decision marred by two dugout-clearing incidents while Australia pulled off a huge upset of world No. 2 Japan, 1-0, and then shocked the United States, 5-4, to contend for the other final berth in the XI men’s world softball championship here Saturday.


The reigning titlist Black Sox will go for their third straight crown in the gold medal match Sunday against the winner of the Australia-Canada showdown from the loser’s bracket of the double page playoff.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-08 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
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                    [AuthorID] => 1097213
                    [AuthorName] =>  Lito Tacujan
                    [SectionName] => Sports
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                    [ArticleID] => 237929
                    [Title] => Canada, N Zealand advance in world softball
                    [Summary] => 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.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-07 00:00:00
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                    [ArticleID] => 237799
                    [Title] => RP bows to Samoa, loses quarters bid
                    [Summary] => CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Philippines’ hopes of getting into the elite four-team cast from the Group of Death were dashed by newcomer Samoa’s fast start and clutch hits, 6-0, in their sudden death in the XI men’s world softball championship here Thursday.


The Samoans, stalled in their bid for the Top Eight quarterfinals with a five inning 0-8 shellacking by rival Australia, completed the job at the expense of the Filipinos in the freezing wind-swept second diamond of the Smokefree Ballpark.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-06 00:00:00
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                    [AuthorName] =>  Lito Tacujan
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                    [ArticleID] => 237298
                    [Title] => Blu Boys brace for tough grind
                    [Summary] => They return to action Monday against Canada in their original schedule at 1 p.m. at the world-class Smokefree Ballpark, then go on a gut-wrenching doubleheader Tuesday against South Africa at 9 a.m. and defending champion New Zealand at 5 p.m.
                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-02 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
                    [Focus] => 0
                    [AuthorID] => 1097213
                    [AuthorName] =>  Lito Tacujan
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BLACK SOX

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                    [Title] => Kiwis win third world softball title
                    [Summary] => 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.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-09 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
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                    [Title] => New Zealand stuns Canada, books trip to softball final
                    [Summary] => CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Defending champion New Zealand overwhelmed Canada in a 13-5 decision marred by two dugout-clearing incidents while Australia pulled off a huge upset of world No. 2 Japan, 1-0, and then shocked the United States, 5-4, to contend for the other final berth in the XI men’s world softball championship here Saturday.


The reigning titlist Black Sox will go for their third straight crown in the gold medal match Sunday against the winner of the Australia-Canada showdown from the loser’s bracket of the double page playoff.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-08 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
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                    [ArticleID] => 237929
                    [Title] => Canada, N Zealand advance in world softball
                    [Summary] => 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.


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                    [ArticleID] => 237799
                    [Title] => RP bows to Samoa, loses quarters bid
                    [Summary] => CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Philippines’ hopes of getting into the elite four-team cast from the Group of Death were dashed by newcomer Samoa’s fast start and clutch hits, 6-0, in their sudden death in the XI men’s world softball championship here Thursday.


The Samoans, stalled in their bid for the Top Eight quarterfinals with a five inning 0-8 shellacking by rival Australia, completed the job at the expense of the Filipinos in the freezing wind-swept second diamond of the Smokefree Ballpark.


                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-06 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
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                    [AuthorID] => 1097213
                    [AuthorName] =>  Lito Tacujan
                    [SectionName] => Sports
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                    [ArticleID] => 237298
                    [Title] => Blu Boys brace for tough grind
                    [Summary] => They return to action Monday against Canada in their original schedule at 1 p.m. at the world-class Smokefree Ballpark, then go on a gut-wrenching doubleheader Tuesday against South Africa at 9 a.m. and defending champion New Zealand at 5 p.m.
                    [DatePublished] => 2004-02-02 00:00:00
                    [ColumnID] => 133272
                    [Focus] => 0
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abtest

Kiwis win third world softball title

By Lito Tacujan | February 9, 2004 - 12:00am

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...

Sports

New Zealand stuns Canada, books trip to softball final

By Lito Tacujan | February 8, 2004 - 12:00am

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Defending champion New Zealand overwhelmed Canada in a 13-5 decision marred by two dugout-clearing incidents while Australia pulled off a huge upset of world No. 2 Japan, 1-0, and...

Sports

Canada, N Zealand advance in world softball

February 7, 2004 - 12:00am

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...

Sports

RP bows to Samoa, loses quarters bid

By Lito Tacujan | February 6, 2004 - 12:00am

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Philippines’ hopes of getting into the elite four-team cast from the Group of Death were dashed by newcomer Samoa’s fast start and clutch hits, 6-0, in their sudden...

Sports

Blu Boys brace for tough grind

By Lito Tacujan | February 2, 2004 - 12:00am

They return to action Monday against Canada in their original schedule at 1 p.m. at the world-class Smokefree Ballpark, then go on a gut-wrenching doubleheader Tuesday against South Africa at 9 a.m. and defending...

Sports