Winning pitcher Jeremy Manley could barely stand after leaving the Rosedale Park diamond tonight, but by then, his work was done – he had just guided the Black Sox to today’s World Softball Championship final.
The home team secured their spot in the afternoon’s title game, defeating surprise packets Venezuela 2-0 in the semifinals.
Starting his third game in four nights, Manley’s 15-strikeout outing proved a matchwinner, considering the shortage of scoring and especially heroic given the illness that had him throwing up for most of the previous 24 hours.
“We’ve always talked about how this team would do anything for each other,” observed NZ captain Rhys Casley. “Jeremy gave everything today and it was certainly appreciated.”
Last month, Manley was struggling for form and fitness, after a knee operation late last year compromised his build-up for the tournament. He began this week pitching in relief, as he rebuilt his confidence.
Last night’s performance suggested it was back, despite the obstacles.
“He and we were struggling to beat club teams two weeks ago, but it was a matter of short-term pain for long-term gain with Jeremy,” reflected coach Eddie Kohlhase.
“He was so ill last night, he really shouldn’t have been out there, but the way he pitched today was fantastic.”
Editor’s note: Manley was asked about the illness during a televised interview. His response: “Bad Chicken” 🙂
New Zealand opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, with Donny Hale reaching on a single, stealing second and coming home on two overthrows.
In the bottom of sixth, Hale singled again and was replaced by pinch runner Daniel Milne. When Casley connected into left-centrefield, Milne sprinted home for the icing on the cake
“We wanted to take the game to them,” said Kohlhase. “If we just sat back and let the game come to us, we’d be playing into their hands, so we really tried to make them play.”
After the drama of the previous night’s 10-innings win over champions Australia, Kohlhase admitted it was hard to get his side back into game mode against a team that had arrived in Auckland virtually unheralded.
They had started the event well and perhaps drew added inspiration from the midweek death of President Hugo Chavez, who was a supportive patron of Venezuelan softball.
“We emptied the tank [against Australia], but we spoke about that,” said Kohlhase. “It wasn’t a situation that we didn’t understand. In the context of the tournament, we knew Venezuela were going to be tough and they deserved to be there. We respected them as semifinalists.”
New Zealand must now await the outcome of this morning’s bronze-medal game to learn thier final opponents. Australia beat Argentina 2-1 in extra innings last night and now face Venezuela for the second available berth.
Earlier yesterday, Argentina eliminated Canada, the only team to beat the Black Sox this week, 2-1, while the Aussies overcame Japan 4-0.