Circle Tap 3, Hill United 1
In the first of two semi-final games Wednesday night, Hill United’s Adam Folkard tossed a 3 hitter, striking out 13. Often, those kind of numbers spell a win. But on Thursday night, Circle Tap’s young Argentine ace, Roman Godoy out dueled Hill United’s veteran Australian ace, tossing a 5 hitter, striking out 7 and most importantly — surrendering just one run, for the 3-1 winner that sends the Wisconsin squad to the Winner’s Bracket final of the 2018 ISC World Tournament tonight, at 7pm local time.
Hill United’s only run of the night off of Godoy was a bases loaded walk in the 4th for a 1-0 lead. The lead lasted only one batter though, as Circle Tap’s Manuel Godoy tied it with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the 4th.
Walks proved troublesome for both Folkard and Godoy. Folkard walked 6 on the night. Unfortunately for Hill United, one of those came in the 6th with the bases loaded, giving Circle Tap a 2-1 lead. The next batter, Guillermo Patat brought another home with a sacrifice fly for an insurance run.
Box Score and Play by Play here
New York Gremlins 7, Kitchener Hallman Cubs 2
Like the Hill United/Circle Tap match up earlier on the night, the Final Four nightcap featured an Australian veteran ace, Andrew Kirkpatrick, and a rising young Argentine star, Huemul Mata. In the early game, it was youth over experience, with Roman Godoy getting the win over Adam Folkard.
For five innings, it looked like it might be the youngster from Argentina upsetting the favored New York Gremlins. Godoy and Mata teamed for gold in the WBSC Jr. Men’s World just four years ago in Whitehorse, for Argentina. Was this the night that youth would carry their teams past the favorites of past world tournaments? The New York Gremlins answered the question with a 7 run outburst in the top of the sixth inning. Six unearned runs against Mata and another against reliever Donnie Scott.
Gregg Leather’s New York Gremlins, coming off of another USA Softball Championship just a couple of weeks ago, would cruise to victory on Wednesday night with a 7-2 win.
Box score and Play by Play here.
The predicted Hill United vs. Gremlins matchup in the Winner’s Bracket Final will not be played in 2018, as Circle Tap fought their way past Hill United.
Circle Tap will face the New York Gremlins at 7pm local time Friday night in a game sure to garner a big audience on the ISC’s You Tube Channel. Watch it live here.
The Fateful 6th Inning
| Top of 6th | NY Gremlins |
| #6 Jerome Raemaki | Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Swinging Strike, Foul, 6 Jerome Raemaki advances to 1st (single) |
| Offensive Substitution | 28 Campbell Enoka runs for Jerome Raemaki at 1st base. |
| #89 Ben Enoka | 89 Ben Enoka advances to 1st (fielder’s choice), 28 Campbell Enoka advances to 2nd (89), 89 Ben Enoka advances to 2nd (e5), 28 Campbell Enoka advances to 3rd (error by the third baseman) |
| #23 Andrew Kirkpatrick | 23 Andrew Kirkpatrick advances to 1st (single), 28 Campbell Enoka ScoresUnearned (23), 89 Ben Enoka Scores Unearned (23) |
| #8 Erick Ochoa | 8 Erick Ochoa putout (fly out to the left fielder in foul territory) for out number 1 |
| #24 Ladislao Malarczuk | Foul, 24 Ladislao Malarczuk advances to 1st (error by the pitcher), 23 Andrew Kirkpatrick advances to 2nd (24) |
| #53 Zenon Winters | Foul, 53 Zenon Winters advances to 1st (single), 24 Ladislao Malarczuk advances to 3rd (53), 23 Andrew Kirkpatrick Scores Unearned (53) |
| Offensive Substitution | 1 Jenner Christiansen runs for Zenon Winters at 1st base. |
| #33 Bryan Abrey | 33 Bryan Abrey advances to 1st (single), 1 Jenner Christiansen advances to 2nd (33), 24 Ladislao Malarczuk Scores Unearned (33) |
| #3 Nick Mullins | Swinging Strike, 3 Nick Mullins advances to 1st (single), 33 Bryan Abrey advances to 2nd (3), 1 Jenner Christiansen Scores Unearned (3) |
| Offensive Substitution | 9 Dan Loney runs for Nick Mullins at 1st base. |
| Defensive Substitution | 4 Huemul Mata subs for Huemul Mata. |
| Pitching Substitution | 0 Don Scott moves to Pitcher. |
| #16 Mathieu Roy | Ball, Ball, 16 Mathieu Roy advances to 1st (single), 16 Mathieu Roy advances to 2nd (wild pitch), 9 Dan Loney advances to 2nd (16), 9 Dan Loney advances to 3rd (wild pitch), 33 Bryan Abrey Scores Unearned (16) |
| #28 Campbell Enoka | Swinging Strike, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, 28 Campbell Enoka advances to 1st (fielder’s choice), 16 Mathieu Roy advances to 3rd (28), 9 Dan Loney putout (1-2) for out number 2 |
| #89 Ben Enoka | Called Strike, Ball, 28 Campbell Enoka advances to 2nd (wild pitch), 16 Mathieu Roy Scores Unearned (wild pitch), Ball, Foul, Ball, Foul, 89 Ben Enoka putout (strike out swinging) for out number 3 |