Courtesy of ISC Canada East / Blair Setford
There was no southern comfort for the True North in the final of the WBSC Americas Pan Am Qualifier as Canada dropped a 4-1 decision to the defending World Champions from Argentina.
Canada took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Brad Ezekiel home run.
That stood until the top of the fourth when Argentina rung up back-to-back-to-back solo home runs by Manuel Godoy, Bruno Motroni and Juan Cruz Zara knocked starter Sean Cleary out of the game.
Devon McCullough came on in relief to get the final out of the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Canada threatened, but stranded base hits by Jason Hill and Blake Hunter.
In the fifth, Argentina’s Fede Eder doubled, moved up on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Francisco Lombardo, but McCullough was able to work out of a bases loaded jam to finish the inning.
Blake Hunter flied out to deep left to end the sixth inning with a runner aboard.
Huemul Mata took the win for Argentina, allowing 5 hits and collecting 12 strikeouts in a masterful performance.
Argentina, Canada, bronze medalist Cuba and 4th place USA all qualified for the WBSC World Cup being held in Auckland, NZ starting in late November, as well as next year’s Pan Am Games in Chile.
Congratulations and thank you to Luciano Lo Franco and Softball Premier TV for the outstanding coverage all week!
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