Australia shuts out Canada to Earn Gold Medal Berth
July 26, 2009
Saskatoon, SK
FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE
July26th, 2009
Australia shuts out Canada to Earn Gold Medal Berth
(Saskatoon,SK) – The Canadian Senior Men’s Softball Team fell behind 2-0, but did not have any late-game heroics on this night, as Australian pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrickthrew a two-hitter to lead the Aussies to their first ever Gold MedalChampionship game at the ISF Men’s World Championship. Meanwhile, New Zealandovercame a late rally by Japan and handily defeated the United States toadvance to the Bronze medal game to face Canada.
As anticipated, the game between Australia and Canada featured a great pitchingmatchup, as Sean Whitten (Maddox Cove, NL) faced Kirkpatrick. Australia putsome pressure on Canada early on, as two runners reached on errors and advancedto second and third with only one out in the top of the first, but Whittenstruck out the next hitter and forced a fly ball to end the threat. Thefollowing inning, Australian hitter Jeff Goolagong hit a ground-rule double,and scored on yet another error at first base, giving Australia a 1-0 lead.
Bothpitchers cruised through the middle innings until the top of the fifth, whenAustralia put more pressure on Whitten with two outs. Michael Tanner ripped asingle up the middle, followed by an RBI double by Mike Harrow. With Canadadown 2-0, Whitten was replaced by Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, SK), who retiredthe final out of the inning.
Canadaseemed poised to cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, as StephenMullaley (Freshwater, NL) led off with a walk, and Kirkpatrick dropped a bunt byDerek Mayson (North Vancouver, BC) to setup runners on first and second with noouts. However, Kirkpatrick retired the three next hitters on strikeouts,including two pinch-hitters to escape the inning. Canada was not able toproduce the timely hits.
Thefollowing inning, Ian Fehrman (Townsend, ON) sparked Canada by smacking atwo-out triple to the gap in right-center field. Colin Abbott (Portugal’s Cove,NL) came up next, and hit a solid line-drive that seemed destined forcenterfield, but the shortstop made an amazing diving catch and held on to theball to end the inning and Canada’s hopes. The red and white was retired inorder in the seventh, giving Australia a direct berth to Sunday’s Gold MedalChampionship game.
SeanWhitten allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of work,striking out four Aussie hitters along the way. Trevor Ethier pitched 2 1/3innings of relief, allowing only one hit with one strikeout. Kirkpatrick wasspectacular for Australia, allowing only two hits with 14 strikeouts in thecomplete-game win. Both of Canada’s hits came from Ian Fehrman.
Earlierin the day, New Zealand survived a scare to beat Japan 10-6 in eight innings,eliminating Japan from the tournament. After falling behind 5-1 early, Japanroared back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Thescore remained tied after the teams exchanged runs in the seventh, forcing anextra inning. In the top of the eighth, Japan got two quick outs and seemed tohave escaped the inning without allowing a run when a fly ball was hit, but theJapanese left fielder misplayed the fly ball, which proved costly as NewZealand added four runs afterwards to secure the win. The very next game,Venezuela scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth, but USAroared back with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn an 8-1 win insix innings, eliminating Venezuela.
Followingthe game between Australia and Canada, New Zealand and USA battled for a spotin Sunday’s Bronze medal game. The United States seemed to hang in there withNew Zealand for a few innings, but New Zealand scored five runs in the top ofthe fourth to take a 7-2 lead, and held on for the 7-3 win.
OnChampionship Sunday, Canada will take on New Zealand in the Bronze medal gameat noon CST, with the winner of that game moving on to face Australia in theGold Medal game at 3:00pm.
RogersSportsnet will be airing the Bronze Medal game at 2:00pm EDT on Wednesday, July29th, while the Gold Medal Championship game will air at 2:00pm EDTon Friday, July 31st.
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Formore information, please contact:
GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)797-7171
