New Zealand stuns Canada, books trip to softball final

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Defending champion New Zealand overwhelmed Canada in a 13-5 decision marred by two dugout-clearing incidents while Australia pulled off a huge upset of world No. 2 Japan, 1-0, and then shocked the United States, 5-4, to contend for the other final berth in the XI men’s world softball championship here Saturday.

The reigning titlist Black Sox will go for their third straight crown in the gold medal match Sunday against the winner of the Australia-Canada showdown from the loser’s bracket of the double page playoff.

The Australians caused the stirring reversal against the Americans, 5-4, assuring them of at least the bronze medal for their best ever finish in the men’s world series. Their feat came on the back of a great performance of Andrew Kirkpatrick who claimed the win by stopping an American rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving up a run and two hits by taking the last out with the bases loaded.

Earlier in the day, the Aussies ousted the second-seeded Japanese, 5-0, while Samoa ended up joint fifth with Japan after losing to the United States, 2-3.

Veteran Jimmy Wana earned the win for the Kiwis, who blasted the Canadians with 16 hits with five runs in the second inning and seven in the fifth and sixth innings. The Canadians had seven hits and five runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Nick Underhill, who had a great game in Canada’s 2-1 win over Japan in the playoff, started out for the former champs but was pulled out in the second inning after giving up five earned runs. The Black Sox scored the runs on consecutive hits by lead-off Mark Sorenson, Thomas Makea, Donny Hale and a two-run homer by Patrick Shannon. The Kiwis made it 6-0 on the third when Shannon scored Sorenson.

The drama-fraught contest took another twist in the fourth inning. Canadian lead-off Colin Abbott hit to the right field and forced an error, getting all the way to second. Then Jody Eidt brought him home with a triple past short stop, crashing to third baseman Brad Rona. A shoving incident that ensued between the two led to both dugouts pouring into the diamond.

The scene was repeated when Wana hit the next batter, Darren Box, on the head. Canadian pitcher Dean Holoien was ejected for a game for figuring in the incident and Wana drew a warning.

Four more Kiwi runs in the top of the sixth inning completed the rout. Sorenson was hit by a pitch and came home as Makea hit a homerun over the rightfield. Shannon followed with his fourth hit of the game and he came home on a two-run homer by Brad rona, his second in as many innings.

(Reports from the worldsoftball.com)