march2013

Samoa pitcher Zane Siolo celebrates birthday with win over USA

March 3, 2013

Auckland, NZ

 - by Bob Otto

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – It will take a lot for Zane Siolo to forget how he celebrated his 19th birthday – starting pitcher for the Samoan softball team and a (3-2) win over the United States at the 2013 TradeStaff World championships.

“Beating the U.S. on your 19th birthday is a pretty mean feat,” Samoa coach Chris Kohlhase said. “We are taking him out to dinner tonight and I am sure there will be huge smiles around the dinner table.”

siolo 19-year-old Zane Siolo hurled his Samoa National Men’s Team to victory over the U.S.

Siolo faced 19 batters, gave up three hits and took four strikeouts.

For Kohlhase to be two from two is pleasing.

“I don’t know about exceeded, but it is a very good place to be in,” Kohlhase said. “The U.S. are very strong and I just think we caught them early in the tournament. They will get better from this.

“I am very happy to be where we are at the moment.”

Kohlhase has every reason to be happy as his side showed plenty of determination having conceded a early run to the USA when lead-off batter Adam Lalonde scored on a dubious call at home plate. It looked as if Samoa catcher Duane Jerard had made the tag at the plate only for the umpire Mark McFarlane to call him safe.

“The boys were pretty wound up about that, but they took their emotions into the bat and hit the ball quite hard.”

Those that punished the U.S. pitcher Gerald Muizelaar included Gerard Long, Gene Robinson and Jerard, who scored for Samoa.

Long was especially punishing to Muizelaar, collecting two hits from his three turns at bat. Also picking up two hits was Tony Niu. His first hit scoring Robinson for the go-ahead run in the third inning.

The two wins also means Kohlhase’s side is on track.

“Our ambition is to make the top four and if we happen to make top two that is a bonus. “There are a lot of good teams that we have to come up to before then though.”

Samoa will tomorrow play Indonesia, who are looking for their first win of the tournament. The United States face South Africa in what must be a crucial game. Both sides have yet to record a win and a third loss at the tournament will make their hopes of reaching the play-offs that much harder.

Visit TRADESTAFF ISF Men’s World Softball Championship to follow tournament action and results.

 

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