Canadabeats Australia in Extra Innings Thriller
July 19, 2009
Saskatoon, SK
FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE
July19th, 2009
Canadabeats Australia in Extra Innings Thriller
(Saskatoon,SK) – It was a matchup everyone was waiting for at the ISF Men’s World SoftballChampionship, as the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team took on Australia onthe third day of round-robin play. The teams did not disappoint, as the leadchanged hands a few times, with Canada ultimately coming out on top of a 9-6decision in nine innings.
Inthe first two innings, Aussie pitcher Adam Folkard and Canadian starter SeanWhitten (Maddox Cove, NL) made quick work of the opposing batters, giving thelarge crowd a very exciting start to the game. Canada caused the fans to roaras they opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the third inning, asCraig Crawford (Markham, ON) led off with a double to deep centerfield andafter a walk to Ryan Wolfe (Melbourne, ON), local favourite Keith Mackintosh(Melfort, SK) grounded a solid ball through the hole between shortstop andthird base to score a run, and the ball got by the left fielder to allow Wolfeto score all the way from first, giving Canada a 2-0 lead.
Australiadid not waste any time getting back in the game, scoring five runs in thebottom of the frame. After the Aussies loaded the bases, Whitten walked in arun, and was immediately relieved by Todd Martin (Bracebridge, ON), who gave upa two-run double. Martin later walked in another run, and allowed anotherrunner to score on a passed ball before Canada got out of the inning trailing5-2. Canada chipped away at the lead in the fourth, as Derek Mayson (NorthVancouver, BC) launched a solo homerun deep to right field to cut the lead to5-3. Canada looked to have reduced the lead once again in the fifth as RyanWolfe hit a towering fly ball that looked like it had a chance to go over thefence, but the centerfielder made a leaping catch at the wall to rob a big hit.
Withtwo outs in the top of the sixth, Ian Fehrman (Townsend, ON) turned thingsaround for Canada by battling Folkard to a full count, and after fouling off afew pitches, crushed a double of the base of the wall in centerfield. After awalk by Mayson, Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, PEI) drove a solid line drive theother way into the left field corner for a triple, tying the game 5-5. Afterboth teams were retired in order in the seventh, the game moved to extrainnings.
Witha runner starting on second due to the international tie-breaker rule, ColinAbbott (Portugal’s Cove, NL) hit a fly ball to allow the runner to advance tothird with two outs. Fehrman came up huge once again, driving a ground ballpast a diving second baseman to drive in the go-ahead run, prompting Australiato call on star pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrick to come record the final out of theinning. In the bottom of the frame, Australia sacrificed their runner to third,and he later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the game for anotherinning.
Inthe ninth, Jeff Ellsworth started on second base and moved to third on agroundout. After Stephen Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) walked and was replaced byRob Giesbrecht (Landmark, MB) as a pinch runner, Ellsworth crossed the plate ona passed ball, which also allowed Giesbrecht to advance to second. Ryan Wolfethen hit a ground ball up the middle that the shortstop bobbled, but stillattempted the throw to first which was off its mark, allowing Giesbrecht toscore. Canada then quickly loaded the bases, and Kirkpatrick walked in anotherrun as Canada took a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Canadianreliever Dean Holoien (Melfort, SK) retired the side in order to earn the saveand give Canada the win, much to the delight of the crowd.
SeanWhitten allowed three earned runs on only one hit, and struck out four batters in2 1/3 innings. Todd Martin pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief allowing twounearned runs, striking out four as well, and Holoien pitched a perfect ninthinning.
Canadamoved to 3-0 with the win, while Australia fell to 2-1. Canada will faceIndonesia (0-3) tomorrow at 6:30pm CST.
Inother scores on Day 3, Argentina shut down South Africa 8-0, the Czech Republicbeat Puerto Rico 11-4, Mexico shut out Botswana 7-0, Great Britain beat Denmark7-0, Venezuela jumped all over Indonesia 18-0 and the United States shockedJapan 3-0. New Zealand will take on the Philippines in the last game of thenight
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GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)797-7171
