Team Canada outfielder Mathieu Roy lets a pitch from Team New Zealand go by him during the WBSC Men’s World Softball Championship at Bob Van Impe…moreA+By Scott Larson, The StarPhoenix June 29, 2015
Canada top of pool with 4-0 record
Steve Mullaley cracked a two-run homer and Sean Cleary threw a four-hit gem as Canada downed defending champion New Zealand 2-1 at the 2015 WBSC Men’s World Softball Championship at Bob Van Impe Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The win runs Canada’s record to 4-0 to sit atop their pool.
A pitching duel between Cleary and Kiwi starter Heinie Shannon kept the game scoreless until the sixth inning when reliever Kurt Schollum issued a leadoff walk to Brad Ezekiel. Mullaley then stepped to the plate and hammered a pitch over the right field fence to give the Canadians a 2-0 lead.
“They had a new pitcher who was struggling up until that point,” Mullaley said of his decisive at-bat. “I had struck out twice (before) and I asked the coaches to keep the faith because I felt like I was seeing the ball well.
“I was looking for a pitch away and wanted to hit the ball hard the other way. Luckily, I found one that was a little over the plate.”
Pinch-hitter Wayne Laulu bashed a one-out homer in the seventh to make it interesting, but Cleary struck out the final two batters to preserve the win.
Cleary finished the game, giving up one run on four hits while striking out nine.
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