Day 9 – Playoff Game 5 – Australia 4, Japan 0

Playoff Game 5 – Australia vs. Japan
(Winner advances, loser eliminated)

Australia will have to regroup after being one out away from beating arch rival New Zealand in extra innings last night. The 5-4 extra inning loss was the first of the tournament for the defending gold medal champs, who were 7-0 in pool play.

Japan is coming off an opening round win over Samoa yesterday. The squad finished pool play with a 5-2 record, losing only to New Zealand and Argentina, both among the 6 remaining teams. Japan handed Canada their only loss in pool play.

This game is set to go at 11:30am New Zealand time.

New Zealand time:

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C5 11.30am Japan Vs Australia

Starting Lineups:

Australia
1. #25 Michael Tanner 1B
2. #7 Joel Southam DH
3. #24 Cameron Bint RF
4. #53 Zenon Winters CF
5. #27 Jeff Goolagong 3B
6. #21 Nick Shailes 2B
7. #23 Andrew Kirkpatrick P
8. #16 Nick Norton SS
9. #2 Mark Harris LF
P: #23 Andrew Kirkpatrick

Japan
1. #7 Naoaki Kawada RF
2. #1 Hiraku Yokoyama CF
3. #17 Kenji Nakamura DH
4. #8 Masateru Matsuoka SS
5. #19 Hikaru Matsuda P
6. #24 Yohei Ono LF
7. #12 Tadaaki Saeki 1B
8. #6 Yu Nishimori 2B
9. #5 Kota Mera 3B
P: #19 Hikaru Matsuda

From Softball Australia
Aussie steelers defeat Japan to continue in World Championships

The Australian Men’s Softball team, the Aussie Steelers responded the best way possible this morning, knocking out Japan 4 runs to 0 and avoid elimination in the 2013 ISF Men’s World Championships in Auckland, NZ. The Aussie Steelers had to regroup quickly today after losing a emotion charged game against the NZ Black Sox last night.

Softball Australia Chairman, Dennis Cullen who is in New Zealand with the team is proud of how the boys responded against Japan today. It was “a fabulous recovery by the Steelers after a disappointing loss to NZ last night. Our boys have a big job ahead now against some formidable opposition but they have done it before and have the experience and ability to do it again” says Cullen.

The Aussie Steelers set the tone early in the game today with a leadoff single by Vice Captain, Michael Tanner. Joel Southam then hit in the Steelers first run, hitting a triple and scoring Tanner. Zenon Winters was then hit by a pitch to get on base. An error by the Japanese 3rd baseman on a Nick Shailes drive scored Southam and Winters giving Australia a 3-0 lead.
In the 6th inning, Jeff Goolagong put his mark on the game in the batters box hitting a solo home run over the right field fence to score the Aussie Steelers fourth and final run for the game. The Aussie Steelers got seven safe hits for the game, giving them plenty of opportunity to score runs, however it was the tight Japanese pitching that halted the Aussies. Michael Tanner collected two hits, Southam (1), Goolagong (1), Mark Harris (1), Nick Norton (1) and Andrew Kirkpatrick (1).

In defence, Kirkpatrick pitched a complete game for the Aussie Steelers. Kirkpatrick was in command of all his pitches today, and at time was mesmerising to watch. Kirkpatrick allowed only two base on balls and eight strike outs. He did not allow a single Japanese safe hit, a great achievement at this stage of the tournament. Kirkpatrick was backed up by some great defence, particularly by 3rd baseman, Jeff Goolagong.

To view the complete play by play of the game click here.

Aussie Steelers are guaranteed of a top 4 finish at the Championship, however the defending champions are playing on going all the way and defend the title they won in 2009. Their next opponent is Argentina who defeated Canada 2 run to 1.

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