The veteran of many ISC World Tournaments, Santa Barbara pitcher Mark Bennett and his Clydesdale teammates outlasted the kids from New Zealand last night, 3-2 in 8 innings, with the international tie breaker in effect. The game was an opening night exhibition prelude to the 23rd Annual Best of the West tournament at Elings Park in Santa Barbara which will run through Sunday affording the ISA New Zealand Youth Boys Selection Team their first look at fastball action since arriving into Los Angeles on Wednesday, as part of their two week tour of North America.
Said New Zealand Manager Craig Waterhouse: “Young Mark Bennett pitched for Clydesdale and we used Riley Power from Nelson New Zealand and Nixon Kim a Kiwi from Birth from Perth Australia.”
Mark Bennett applauded the youngsters from New Zealand: “They are a tough team for sure. We won 3-2 in 8 innings. Using the tie breaker. We scored 2 in the third, they answered with 2 in the fifth. We held them in the top of 8, and scored ours in the bottom for the win. Long night. ”