Argentina’s upset of Japan yesterday has the USA kids back in the hunt for a playoff spot. The format of the tournament is to take the top four teams to the playoff round. The first three playoff spots appear to be locked up by the pre-tournament favorites, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. (Two time defending champion Australia has officially grabbed a playoff spot)
Japan looked to be the final team making the cut, but the loss to Argentina opens the door for the USA or Mexico. USA is presently 3-3 and needs to beat Mexico today and Japan thereafter. A loss to either would send either Japan or Mexico to the playoff round. (Interesting side note is that Mexico is scheduled to leave PEI at midnight Saturday – in the midst of the playoff round.
Here’s how the standings look heading into the final two days of pool play:
Australia (6-0), with Canada and Denmark left to play;
New Zealand (5-1), with Japan and Canada left to play;
Canada (5-1), with Australia and New Zealand left to play;
Japan (4-2), with New Zealand and USA left to play;
Mexico (3-4), with USA left to play;
USA (3-3), with Mexico and Japan left to play;
Argentina (2-5), Czech Republic and Denmark (0-7) are out of playoff contention.
A win today by the USA (3-3) over Mexico (3-4) would eliminate Mexico. The USA-Mexico game is today at 6pm ADT, 5pm EST and 2pm on the west coast, PST.
Odds makers give New Zealand the edge over Japan, with USA vs. Mexico a “pick ’em”. A day ago, Japan would have been favored over the USA, but today will tell whether Japan can rebound from a costly loss to Argentina.
Day 6 Summary from Pat Healey
Aussies secure playoff spot; Canada, Kiwi’s tied for second Argentina upsets Japan; Mexico, U.S. pick up key wins
SUMMERSIDE – Aussie coach Lindsey Carroll can thank a gut instinct for helkping the Aussies down rival New Zealand, securing a playoff position at the ISF 2005 Junior Men’s World Softball Championship in Sumemrside. Carroll decided to replace Michael Monroe with Nick Norton. That decision paid up in huge dividends as Norton would slam the only run of the game over the tent in left center. In other action on day six at Queen Elizabeth Park’s VIV Field, Mexico and the United States picked up key wins to stay in the hunt while Canada had trouble putting away the pesky Danish team, but finally got them done 11-3 in six innings. Meanwhile, the Eduardo and Francisco-coached Argentinians got a key win heading into their final two round robin games on a high note, upsetting championship final favourite Japan 3-2. In a game that many thought would easily be over in four innings because of the amount of talent on the Canadian roster compared to the young Denmark squad, the Danes stayed with Canada, even pushing them to six innings after the Canucks got out to what seemed like a comfortable 9-0 lead, only to sit back. Canada was held scoreless for the first inning before erupting for nine runs over the next three innings, and holding off a troublesome Danish squad that never quit as they rallied for three runs in the fifth inning thanks to an error and seven wild pitches by pitcher Donnelly Archibald of Aspen, N.S. In that inning, it appeared that Archibald and catcher Brad Fogal of Sharron, Ont. couldn’t handle the ball, leading to the Danes cutting the lead and forcing an extra inning. Also leading the Canadians, who committed two errors and weren’t impressive, was Chris Lewis of Napanee, Ont. (4-4, two runs scored), Nate Bauman of Elmira, Ont. (2-4, run scored, two RBI), Ben Tee of Napanee, Ont. (2-3, two runs scored, double, RBI), Jonathan Kane of Conception Bay South, NL (2-3, RBI, two runs scored, double) and Tyler Hawes of Popes Harbour, N.S. (2-4, run scored, three RBI). For Denmark, Niels Lyder (1-3) led the attack. Denmark scored their runs either off wild pitches or errors by the Canadian defensive unit. Winning pitcher Cory Avery had the Canucks sailing with a seven strikeout performance through three innings ebfore being replaced by Archibald. He went three innings, giving many Canadians a scare with three runs on one hit, three walks and six strikeouts. Losing pitcher Frederik Brask Terkelsen turned in a solid outing fanning 10 batters while giving up 11 runs on 12 hits and walking four. Nick Norton (2-2) slammed a one strike offering from New Zealand’s Vaero Hagai over the tent in left centerfield much to the delight of the Aussie fans that were among the 1700 fans in attendance. Australia also had another huge outing from Adam Folkard, who brought his championship strikeout total to 54 with 11 more in the game while giving up a mere two hits and walking three. Second baseman James Brooks (2-2), Josh Jones (1-2) and designated hitter Shaun Mason (1-2) were all the hits the Aussies managed. For the Kiwi’s, Mario Herbert (1-2) and Tyson Byrne (1-3) was the offense. Hagai allowed six hits, while fanning seven in the loss Centerfielder Gaston Wilsen drove home Damian Mayora with the game winning run and Mauricio Boss and Nelson Ruiz combined for a five-hitter as Argentina (1-5) edged Japan (4-2) 3-2 The game was delayed after the top of the first for about two hours as severe thunderstorms hit the area. Mayora (2-3, two runs scored, stolen base), Gaston Wilsen (1-2, game winning RBI, caught stealing), Federico Ederet (2-2, run scored, RBI), German Sacks (1-2, RBI, hit by pitch, two stolen bases) and Manuel Mata (2-3, stolen base) led Argentina to their first win at the championship. For Japan, who suffers their second loss of the tournament and a huge blow to their chances of locking up a top four finish, Norhiko Aoyama (2-4, double), Koji Ito (0-2, RBI) and Daisuke Kitakoa (1-2, stolen base) were tops. Winning pitcher Nelson Ruiz Diaz went four innings allowing two hits, walking two and fanning three. Starter Mauricio Boss went three innings giving up two runs on three hits, walking two and sitting down three. Losing pitcher Hikaru Matsuda went two and two third innings allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and fanning three. Toshyuki Sakamoto allowed two hits, walking two and striking out two in two and one third innings work. Brian Malkowsky went 4-for-4 with a two-run blast in the third inning, three runs scored and three RBI as Team USA exploded against a young Denmark squad 20-0. Also leading the 3-3 U.S. squad were leadoff man Jason Loe (1-3, run scored, home run, two RBI), Kevin Castillo (2-4, three runs scored, three RBI), Curtis Leavitt (2-2, two runs scored, double, home run, three RBI), Zach Warne (1-2, two runs scored, two RBI, double), third baseman Riley White (2-3, two runs scored, two doubles, three RBI), Evan O’Reilly (1-1, two runs scored, hit by pitch, home run, RBI) and Drew Bode (1-3, two runs scored, triple, two RBI). For Denmark, brothers Valdemar (1-2) and Frederik Brask Terkelsen (1-2) was all the offense for the Danes. Sean Krohse, Kyle Davis and B.J. Hunhoff combined to earn the two-hit shutout win. Krohse went three innings allowing a wlak, a hit and five strikeout while Dasvis pitched two-thirds innings allowing a hit and fanning one. Hunhoff threw two pitches to get the third out in the bottom of the fourth. Losing pitcher Frederik Terkelsen went two innings giving up nine runs on seven hits, walking one and sitting down one. Valdemar Terkelsen went two innings allowing 11 runs on nine hits, wlaking three and striking out two. Ruben Delgadillo (2-2, two stolen bases, two walks, two runs scored) led Mexico in their 11-4 romp of the Czech Republic with a three run blast that was out of the park in a heartbeat during a five-run sixth inning. Gustavo Benitez (2-3, three runs scored, hit by pitch, stolen base, RBI), Wilfredo Castanos (1-2, run scored, RBI, hit by pitch twice) and Johel Pedroza (2-4, run scored, double) were tops at the dish for the 3-3 Mexicans. For the Czech Reopublic, who mounted a two run rally in their half of the sixth only to see Mexico end it with the huge bottom of the sixth, Tomas Benda (2-4, run scored, triple), Svatopluk Smysl (1-2, home run, hit by pitch), Jiri Pospisil (1-2, two RBI, double) and Michal Pyszko (1-2) led the way. Carlos Romero earned the decision going five innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two. Rembrano Cortes went a third of an inning, allowing two runs on no hits, walking one. Sergio de la Rosa pitched two-thirds innings allowing a hit and striking out one in relief. Losing pitcher Stepan Eret went two and two-third innings allowing six runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one. Ondrej Malecek went three innings giving up three hits, five runs, walking two and fanning four. http://www.2005worldsoftball.com
Pat Healey MARKETING AND MEDIA CONSULTANT
ISF 2005 JR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
