Prague, CZ - - Mark Sorenson backs Black Sox to bounce back from upset softball defeat
Coach Mark Sorenson has urged the Black Sox batters to be "more ruthless'' after a 5-4 upset loss to Mexico.
ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith, Stuff
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Coach Mark Sorenson is still backing the Black Sox to contend for the world softball title despite a shock loss to Mexico - but he has challenged his hitters to be "more ruthless".
Mexico - ranked ninth in the world - caused arguably the greatest upset in world softball championships history with a 5-4 extra inning win over the number one ranked Black Sox in the Czech Republic on Sunday (NZ time).
The Black Sox - chasing an eighth world title -Â squandered a 4-0 lead and left 13 runners on base _ a statistic that disappointed Sorenson, who felt his batters had been guilty of a "selfish" approach at the Hippos Arena in Havlickuv Brod.
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"By the fourth [inning] we had left nine on base," Sorenson lamented as he admitted his post-game pep talk to his players had been "pretty direct".
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"We are getting runners on base, we just aren't getting that killer blow.
"I think we were a wee bit selfish in some of our at-bats. We weren't working the count to get it in our favour.
"We weren't hunting as a pack, which is something we've done really well in the past."
Sorenson said the Black Sox traditionally had a batting philosophy of "trusting the guy behind you".
He said they should have "closed it out" after going out to a 4-0 lead.
"I told the team we weren't ruthless enough."
The Black Sox lost their unbeaten record in Group A - which is led by Japan - but they are still favoured to make the quarterfinals.
Sorenson is still convinced his team can go all the way.
"I still like our chances. We think we've picked the best 17 guys to do the job."
He told friends before leaving New Zealand that the Black Sox, "on paper are better than we were a couple of years ago [when they won the 2017 world championships title]."
"But that doesn't necessarily guarantee you success.
"Our bats have been a little bit cold."
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Sorenson said the Black Sox had started well with 10 hits in a 9-0 opening round win over the Czech Republic, but "yesterday against Cuba and today we were off".
Thomas Enoka (.500 average with three hits from six at-bats) and brother Ben (.400 with four from 10) have been the most consistent batters among the regular starters, but Joel Evans' two-run shot in a 2-0 win over Cuba and a similar shot by Ben Enoka against the Czech Republic have been the only home runs in the first three games.
Some other key hitters have been quite so far - a factor that could make them more dangerous as the tournament progresses.
Sorenson defended his decision to keep relief pitcher Nik Hayes in the game against Mexico after he gave up three hits and also made a fielding error with a wild throw, which cost a run.
"I had faith in Nik. "All we needed [with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning tiebreaker] was a K [a strikeout]," Sorenson said.
"I felt Nik was the guy who could get us that K."
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Mexico celebrated wildly after Antonio Rodriguez's game-winning walk-off single in the eighth, but Sorenson felt pitching and defence had not cost the Black Sox the game.
He said they needed to improve their base running decision making and "get our offence going again".
But he said their "destiny is still in our own hands.
"We've made it a little bit tougher, but if we win all the rest of our games, there's no reason why we still can't top our group."
He was confident his hitters would bounce back against Botswana in a game due to start at 11.30pm (NZ time) on Monday.
Sorenson said while the Black Sox had had Mexico "on the ropes" but "never put them away", he said their rivals deserved credit for the way "they came at us" in the final innings.
He said Mexico's win proved the tournament was "the toughest it's ever been".
Only three teams - Japan and Group B co-leaders Canada and Venezuela - have three wins after the first few rounds.Â
Japan trailed the Czech Republic 3-2 in Prague on Sunday (Monday NZ time) before rallying to win 4-3 and Venezuela needed a tiebreaker and a no-hitter from 38-year-old old southpaw pitcher Erik Urbaneja to beat Denmark 1-0.
Canada - the 2015 champions - scored a morale-boosting 4-1 win over Australia after a three-run home run by Derek Mayson and 10 strikeouts from pitcher Sean Cleary.
The Australians were forced to withdraw ace pitcher Adam Folkard after trailing 3-0.
AT A GLANCE
Round three results at the WBSC world men's softball championships in Prague.
Group A: Cuba 6 Botswana 0, Argentina 15 Philippines 0 (6Â innings), Japan 4 Czech Republic 3, Mexico 5 New Zealand 4 (8 innings).
Standings: Japan (3 wins-0 losses);Â Argentina, Cuba, New Zealand (2-1); Botswana, Czech Republic, Mexico 1(-2); Philippines (0-3).
Group B: Netherlands 13 Singapore 0 (4 innings), Venezuela 1 Denmark 0 (8 innings), Canada 4 Australia 1, USA 8 South Africa 1 (5 innings).
Standings: Canada, Venezuela (3 wins-0 losses); Australia, USA (2-1); Denmark, Netherlands (1-2); South Africa, Singapore (0-3).
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