In the closing game of the second day at the IX Men´s Junior ISF World Championship Team Argentina beats Team Canada in the only game that has gone all seven innings in this championship. Before, and completing the day´s program, Team USA beat Team Denmark 8-1 and the last World Champion, Team Australia beat Team India by knocking them out 9-0.
Once again in a crowded stadium, Argentina did a tremendous job defeating Team Canada, one of the candidates to win the World Championship, with a run scored by Ladislao Maraczuk in the fourth inning. Pablo Masmú was the starting pitcher and the game winner, Franco Gini relieved him for a third of an inning and Huemul Mata sealed the victory on the mound, all three combined themselves to stop the Canadian menace.
The last time Team Argentina beat Team Canada was in Hermosillo, Mexico in the Senior´s ISF Panamerican Championship in 2006.
Michael Legace-Roote was the losing pitcher. However he was the game´s main protagonist striking out ten, giving three bases by balls and with just two hits allowing the only run of the game. It was the only time Team Canada showed some weakness when in the fourth inning Malarczuk hit a single with two outs, Zara got himself a base by ball and two consecutive passed balls allowed Ladislao to get first to third base and then to home plate.
From then on it was a pitcher´s game, with very few runners getting on base. Lagace-Roote continued to strike out batters and the local defense worked to keep the Canadian scoreless. The clutch play came with an assistance the catcher Zara made to third base surprising Bolton who had hit the only triple in the game. In the fourth, Argentina closed the inning with a double play and in the final opportunity for Team Canada Huemul Mata striked two out but for the second time Anthony got to first base on a hit by pitch, something that had happen in his last at bat. The end of the game came with a 4-6 assistance getting the pinch for Anthony out.
Masmú pitched five complete innings, striking out one, giving just one base by balls and allowing three hits. Gini pitched a one strike out third and Mata worked the mound for one and two thirds striking out two to complete the seven innings.
The other results of the day are: New Zealand 11 – Denmark 0; Venezuela 9 – Singapore 0; Japan 11 – Croatia 0; Denmark 1 – USA 8; and Australia 9 – India 0;
Games will start tomorrow from 1PM with Team USA facing Team Singapur. Argentina will face Team Croatia at 8.30PM local time.
