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Kiwi Gold...Sorenson's 3 run Homer key to New Zealand win over Canada

NZCT Men's Softball World Champs, Christchurch

Final Day
Christchurch - February 8
(Information courtesy of ISF Official Website)

New Zealand's Black Sox have achieved an historic three-peat at the NZCT Men's Softball World Champs in Christchurch.

The Black Sox have beaten Canada 9-5 to win their third successive title, 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 champs, and they showed their fans their appreciation of their support by throwing their shirts to the ground and doing a haka on the diamond.

A fitting farewell too for several veteran players who will be retiring this season, including Mark Sorenson, Marty Grant, Jim Wana and Jarrad Martin.

Earlier in the day Canada had sealed their place in the final with a one-sided 7-nil win over Australia. Despite that loss it was a great day for Australia, claiming their first medal at a senior men's world championship in taking the bronze.

Canada made the better start to the final, jumping out to a 3-nil lead in the top of the first innings. New Zealand's starting pitcher Michael Gaiger had given up two hits and a walk at that point, and after giving up a walk to the first batter in the top of the second, he was replaced by Jimmy Wana, who'd pitched both the shut-out against the US and the previous night's win against Canada.

The Black Sox had scored one run in the bottom of the 1st innings and then tied the game up in the bottom of the second when Patrick Shannon hit a two run homer after Donny Hale had been walked.

That forced a Canadian pitching change with starter Gerard Muizelaar pulled and Nick Underhill coming in. But the Black Sox bats continued to blaze and they scored three more runs in the bottom of the third. Stacey McLean hit safely, Jarred Martin joined him on base on a high hopper and Mark Sorenson stepped up with a huge home run over both fences at Smokefree ballpark. It was a significant moment that signalled the end of a great career. Sorenson has played at six world championships, winning gold four times and silver twice.

Canada pulled one run back in the top of the 5th to make it 6-4 when Rob Grey batted in Jody Eidt who'd been walked. But the Black Sox took it out to a four run margin again in the bottom of the 5th when Sorenson hit safely again and scored an error, and Thomas Makea hit safely and scored on a wild pitch.

After that the Black Sox were always in control and Canada's late run in the top of the 7th was a mere consolation.

The Black Sox are the first team ever to win three World Championships in a row, and tied the USA for the most championships with four. 

NZCT men's softball world champs - Day 10 - New Zealand 13-5 Winner over Canada in Battle of "Double-Lifers"

The defending champions New Zealand have booked a place in the final at the NZCT Men's Softball World Champs with a 13-5 win over Canada.

The game was marred by two incidents where the dug-outs emptied and players pushed and shoved each other on the diamond. As a result, Canadian pitcher Dean Holoien was ejected from the game, and will have to sit out a game tomorrow, and New Zealand pitcher Jimmy Wana received a warning.

Tomorrow the Canadians will now have to play Australia to see who meets New Zealand in the final. The Australians caused a huge upset when they beat the United States 5-4 in the late game to keep their hopes alive. The worst finished Australia can now have is third, meaning they will win their first ever medal at a senior men's world series. Their win came on the back of a great performance by pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrick who went off with the score at 5-4 in the 7th, having given up two hits in the innings, then returned to take the last out in the bottom of the 7th with loaded bags.

Wana started on the mound for New Zealand tonight, after a shut-out against the Americans last night, while Canada started with the well-performed Nick Underhill. But Underhill was pulled from the game in the middle of the second innings, having faced 9 batters and having given up 5 earned runs. The Black Sox scored 5 runs from consecutive hits by lead-off Mark Sorenson, Thomas Makea, Donny Hale and then a two-run homer by Patrick Shannon. After the first out was taken, the onslaught continued with hits to Nathan Nukunuku and Stacey McLean before relief pitcher Dean Holoien managed to shut out the innings.

In the bottom of the second Canadians Darren Box and Terry Challis both got on base by picking walks, but with two outs already, Sean O'Brien hit a flyball to leftfield for the third out. New Zealand made it 6-nil in the top of the third when Mark Sorenson got on base with a hit pitch and was batted in by Patrick Shannon, but with loaded bases, Holoien dug himself out of a hole and retired the side.

It was in the fourth that the drama really started. Canadian lead-off Colin Abbott smacked the ball to right field and forced an error, getting all the way to second. He came home for Canada's first run of the game as Jody Eidt hit a triple past the shortstop. It was a close play at third and some pushing and shoving between thirdbaseman Brad Rona and Eidt led to both dug-outs pouring on to the diamond. It took the umpires a few minutes to restore order.

But was scene was repeated when New Zealand pitcher Jim Wana hit the next batter Darren Box in the head with a pitch. As a result, Canadian pitcher Dean Holoien was ejected from the game and New Zealand pitcher Jimmy Wana received a warning.

With Box on base through the hit pitch, Terry Challis sent the ball deep into rightfield for a double and an RBI as Eidt came home. The Kiwis made a pitching change, taking Wana out of the game and bringing in Michael Gaiger. A big sacrifice from O'Brien then scored Box and the Canadians were back in the ball game at 6-3.

With Holoien out of the game Darren Zack came in to pitch the 5th innings and gave up a walk to lead-off Donny Hale, then a hit Patrick Shannon. Brad Rona then stepped up with a big automatic over centrefield for three RBI's and a 9-3 lead for New Zealand.

Canada came straight back in the bottom of the 5th with two runs to again narrow the margin. DP Bob Court was walked and he was joined on base by Colin Abbott who hit to rightfield. Eidt then hit up the middle to bat in both runs.

In the top of the 6th Sorenson was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game and came home as Thomas Makea hit a home run over rightfield. Patrick Shannon followed with his fourth hit of the game and he too came home on an automatic, this one from the bat of Brad Rona, his second in as many innings.  The Black Sox out-hit the Canadians 16-7.

Earlier in the day, second seeds Japan went out of the tournament with a 5-nil loss to Australia. Samoa will finish joint 5th with the Japanese after they went out today 3-2 to USA.

Results:
Australia 5 Japan 0 (Japan eliminated)
Samoa 3 USA 2 (Samoa eliminated)
New Zealand 13 Canada 5
Australia 5 USA 4 (USA Eliminated

Australia will faced Canada, winner to play New Zealand.  All three will medal. 

The USA team was 4th.

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