Sebringville, ON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16th, 2007
Canada and New Zealand split again in Sebringville
(Sebringville, ON) – For the second time in as many nights, Canada and New Zealand split a doubleheader in the second chapter of the International Test Series in Sebringville, ON. Nez Zealand took complete control of the first game, winning by a score of 8-0 called after five innings. However, Canada bounced back in the second game with an 8-2 triumph of their own. The Series now shifts to Kitchener, ON where the two teams will meet again for one final doubleheader.
In the first game of the night, New Zealand jumped to an early lead and never looked back. Travis Wilson and Pat Shannon connected for back-to-back homeruns in the top of the first inning, which highlighted a three run inning for the “Kiwis”. New Zealand added a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Shannon, and four more in the fourth as five different players connected for singles. Thomas Makea produced two runs with a single in the inning, while Stacy McLean and Wilson each drove in a run with singles of their own.
The strong hitting of New Zealand was well complemented by the excellent pitching of Jeremy Manley, who threw a 5 inning gem en route to the victory. Manley struck out 6 while walking one, surrendering only one hit to Ryan Wolfe. His counterpart Paul Koert lasted 2 1/3 innings allowing four runs on three hits and two strikeouts, before passing the ball on to local player Don Scott, who pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up four runs of his own on five hits while striking out one.
In the nightcap, Canada took the early lead and produced in key situations to earn the victory. Ryan Wolfe led off the bottom of the first with a double, and later scored on an RBI single by Derek Mayson. New Zealand replied in the top of the third inning with a lead-off solo homerun by Travis Wilson, and took a 2-1 lead a few batters later after an RBI single by Donny Hale. However, Canada stormed right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs five hits, four of them for extra bases. Rob Gray tied the game with a solo homerun, followed by a two RBI double by pinch-hitter Keith Mackintosh, scoring Ian Fehrman and Brian Abrey. Wolfe then drove Mackintosh in with an RBI triple.
Canada added a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Fehrman, and added two more in the sixth as Jody Eidt and Derek Mayson each stroked RBI singles, pushing the final score to 8-2.
The four run burst in the fourth inning chased New Zealand starting pitcher Heinie Shannon out of the game, who struck out 13 batters in a complete game shutout win Thursday night in Orillia. Canadian starter Trevor Ethier pitched 3 2/3 solid innings before being replaced by Dean Holoein, who seemed to turn the game around for Canada with a very strong performance. Holoein mopped up the final out in the fourth with a strikeout, and followed that by striking out the side in each of the two following innings while his offence got him some run support to earn him the win. He struck out eight batters in 3 1/3 innings while only giving up one hit and a walk.
“I got into a groove and my arm felt really good” said Holoein after the game. “It felt really good to win the second game after a tough loss in the first game. We want to win this Series. We bounced back and gained momentum and that should carry forward to tomorrow’s games.”
“It will be important for us to get an early start in the next games. New Zealand has a great team and it’s tough to climb back after falling behind early. Taking an early lead gets us into the game and fires us up.”
-SC-
For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Sport/Recreation Management Intern
MBA in Sport and Recreation Management
University of New Brunswick
Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext 3105
