ISF XII Women’s World Championship
June 23-July 2, 2010
Caracas, Venezuela
From Roman Gabriel, Softball New Zealand
World Series Build Up Games Argentina – Final vs Argentina
Lineup
Lara Andrews CF(pinched hit by Alison Boys in the 7th)
Tianna Areaiiti S/S (pinched hit by Rebecca Bromhead in the 7th)
Kiri Shaw DP (for Melanie Gettins who played Catcher)
Sheree Cartwright 1B (pinched run by Sina Hunkin in the 6th)
Upu Lote 2B
Brooke Lockhart LF
Katrina Stockford RF
Megan Farrell P (pinched hit by Zavana Aranga in the 7th)
Amanda Preston 3B
This final started as per most intense finals with the first two innings for both teams just finding their way.
The first inning however would have some drama in it with Sheree Cartwright up to bat. With the count 1 ball 1 strike Sheree slammed the next pitch straight back at the pitchers shin. It was hit so hard it knocked her off her feet and bounced back to the catcher before Sheree had even got out of the batters box and the catcher eventually taking the easy out at 1.
We would score first in the 3rd. Amanda Preston lead off with a single to left field who was sacrificed over to second by Lara Andrews with an excellent bunt. She would score with a single up the middle from Tianna Areaiiti to centre field who eventually mis played the ball for Preston to cross home plate easily.
The game will stay tight for the next two innings with Farrell in full control taking 6 strike outs along the way. This display was also backed by some outstanding defense from Amanda Preston who swept up everything hit her way down the third base line and kept us ahead in the score book. Without some of those outs we may have been in some trouble.
We would score again in the sixth with Areaiiti leading off with an error to s/s and Kiri Shaw pushing her over to second with a slow roller to 1st. In steps Pitcher hitting Cartwright who again drives a bullet back at the pitcher which ricochets of the pitchers wrist and dodges the second base so that Areaiiti can score. The pitcher got a little upset at this hit but after some subtle words from First base coach Gabriel she understood that she just needed to pull her head in and get on with the job at hand. Or maybe she didn’t as she didn’t speak English. Cartwright was then replaced by Sina Hunkin as coach Rice was looking to put the nail in the coffin and get another run in this inning. Lote helped the cause by singling to left field giving us runners on 1 and 2 with 1 out. Trying to keep the acid on Argentina and with Lockhart up to bat we tried a fake bunt steal with Hunkin sliding into third avoiding the tag to only be called out but what I will simply say as a home town call. If you know Sina she is a very honest young lady and when I asked if she was safe she said “yep no doubt” so on that you can tell how bad a call it was. So we didn’t score as Lockhart eventually hitting a line drive to the s/s for the last out of the inning.
Again in the seventh we would score and I was proud once more of our bench. We had Stockford lead off and was caught by the right field. Zavana Aranga pinched hit for Farrell and grounded out to 3rd. Now with two outs and Preston up to bat we really wanted her to get on as we wanted to use Alison Boys and Rebecca Bromhead as pinch hitters for Lara Andrews and Tianna Areaiiti. Preston came up trumps with a double to right field. Boys hits a single to left moving Preston to third. Up steps late inclusion to the squad Bromhead who slams one down third base line for a double and scores a run. Giving us a 3 nil lead going into the bottom of the seventh as Shaw grounded out to second base to end the top of the seventh.
Now the game started to get pretty intense in the bottom of the seventh as Argentina looked to build an inning and get runners in scoring position. We got the first out with a ground ball to second base. Their 3 hitter hit a hard shot to Areaiiti at short who errored it. The next hitter was walked. Now with two runners on and 1 out our girls are giving it a good old Kiwi cheer from all parts of the diamond and dug out. We matched the Argentinean singing and cheering from their dug out. The crowd also started to get into it as they could sense a possible come back from the Argentinean team. With their number 5 hitter up who had struck out twice before I was confident Farrell will do it again. However she drove a ground ball to Areaiiti who picked it as she was bumped by the runner on second making a simultaneous tag on her and then flipped it over to first to end the final with an outstanding double play and giving the Whitesox their first International Tournament win since we believe the 1990 Team who won the South Pacific Classic in Christchurch.
I think this in itself is a great achievement and has certainly showed us that we can play great ball. The girls can be very proud of themselves thus far and now we are off to Caracas to take on the world.
Awards
Brooke Lockhart – top hitter
Megan Farrell – Top Pitcher
Sheree Cartwright – MVP (Known as Cartwright Shera to the Argentineans)
We now have arrived in Caracas and what a welcome we got. We were treated to special customs clearance and by a huge crowd who cheered and screamed as we walked through. They had Latino dancers and both Coach Rice and Gabriel showed their moves as the entertainers grabbed them to get up and try to dance in their traditional style. We have two security guards on hand at all times and two liaison officers who speak good English which is going to be fantastic for Lyn and the management team. Our bus ride from airport to hotel is under full security with them shutting down the highway so we have no traffic issues and simply do as we please on the roads. It is pretty awesome and definitely gives you the feeling that this is not just any tournament it is a World Class tournament.
We will play a friendly against Great Britain tomorrow which will be our last hit out before our first game against Botswana.
So you are now up to date and I will continue to keep you posted
Adios.