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Black Sox unbeaten at Pacific Series
Thursday May 4th 2006
After two days of the Pacific Series at the Shellcom Dome in Sendai,Japan the New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox have maintained theirperfect record with a further two wins today.
In high scoring games the NZCT Black Sox have defeated the home teamJapan 7-0 along with a come from behind 9-5 win over Australia.
Just like the first day of the tournament the home team have had noanswer to the offensive power of the NZCT Black Sox tonight as the Kiwiteam have regularly accumulated runs while retaining a clean sheetthemselves.
Standout performers with the bat for New Zealand were infielders BradRona and Travis Wilson who both recorded three hits from four at bats.Home runs in the game went to Wilson, Donny Hale and Stephen Ratu.
As the Kiwi batters steadily accumulated runs NZCT Black Sox pitcherMichael Gaiger was doing his job on the mound denying the Japanesehitters. Gaiger pitched the full game facing 28 batters and taking ninestrikeouts while giving up five hits.
While victory over Japan was convincing the NZCT Black Sox were pushed alot harder in their first game of day two against Australia as theyturned around a first inning five inning deficit to run out winners 9-5in the first tie breaker inning.
The decisive blows against Australia came from NZCT Black Sox outfielderThomas Makea and pitcher Jeremy Manley.
Makea picked up two home runs in the game including one in the eighthinning to seal the win. Manley came into the game in the first inningreplacing Jarrad Martin on the mound with the NZCT Black Sox five runsdown, the young Hutt Valley pitcher tied up the Aussie hitters onlygiving up on hit in the game.
The NZCT Black Sox go into the final day of round robin play in thetournament tomorrow looking to maintain their perfect record they willplay Australia at 1pm (NZ time) and Samoa at 4 pm (NZ time). Following round robin play the top two teams will play off for the titleon Saturday afternoon (NZ time) while the bottom two sides are left tofight it out for the minor placings.
By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
* mailto:kelly.mitchell@xtra.co.nz
http://www.softball.org.nz/
*mailto:snz@softball.org.nz
Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* mailto:vanf@ihug.co.nz
