ISF XIII Men's World Championship - Game 5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2013
Canada Falls to Japan at ISF Men's World Championship

(Auckland, New Zealand) The Canadian Men's National Team dropped their first-place record in Pool B to 4-1 with a 4-1 loss to Japan on the fifth day of the ISF XIII Men's World Championship. Canada took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning, but Japan responded with a two-run single immediately followed by a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth for the win. The Japanese pitching tandem of Hayami Takahashi and Yukinori Nakashima limited Canada's offence to only two hits - both by Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, QC) - in the victory.
Roy got things going with a leadoff single to right field in the top of the first inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on fly out to left field, but the next hitter grounded out to end the early threat. After two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, Japanese hitter Hikaru Matsuda hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that Roy tracked down to take away a homerun.

Both teams were quickly retired in order in the second, and Roy drew a two-out walk in the third but did not advance any further as the next batter grounded out. Japan then put some pressure on the Canadian defence with a leadoff walk followed by a single, and after a pop out on the infield, the runners executed a double steal to put two runners in scoring position. However, Canadian starting pitcher Paul Koert (Brooklin, ON) struck out the two next batters to keep Japan off the scoreboard.

In the top of the fourth, Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, PEI) worked a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Brad Ezekiel (Harbour Main, NL). After a groundout to shortstop for the second out, Stephen Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) fouled off several pitched before taking a walk, but a strikeout left both runners on base. Japan managed a one-out single in the bottom of the frame, but a ground out and a fly out ended the inning.

Jason Sanford (Durham, NS) led off the fifth inning with a walk, and Kevin Schellenberg (Squamish, BC) pinch ran for him at first. Jason Hill (St. John's, NL) sacrificed Schellenberg up to second, forcing Japan to make a pitching change with the top of the order coming up. An illegal pitch advanced Schellenberg to third, and Roy drew another walk before Bryan Abrey (Richmond, BC) grounded into a fielder's choice that brought Schellenberg in to score the game's first run. Japan got another one-out single and the runner was sacrificed to second, bringing on a pitching change for Team Canada as Andy Skelton (Scarborough, ON) came on in relief of Koert and got a ground out to second base to get out of the inning.

Mullaley and Ryan Wolfe (Melbourne, ON) both drew two-out walks in the sixth, but the following hitter hit a ground ball to second that hit Wolfe for the third out. In the bottom of the inning, Japan got a leadoff single to short left field followed by a hit by pitch to put two runners on base. Skelton induced a fly ball and struck out the next batter, but the runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Yohei Ono hit a flare to left field that dropped in to allow both runners to score, followed by a two-run homerun to right field by pinch hitter Kenji Nakamura to give Japan a late 4-1 lead heading into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Roy managed a one-out double, but Japanese pitcher Yukinori Nakashima struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball to second base to end the game.

Mathieu Roy was Canada's only bright spot offensively, as he had a double, a single and two walks. Canada did manage to force five other walks, but could not move the runners around the bases to score. In the pitcher's circle, Koert held Japan scoreless on three hits and a walk in four innings and two third of work, and struck out five. Skelton pitched an inning of relief, yielding four runs on three hits with a strikeout, while Don Scott (Stratford, ON) came in to get the final out.

Box Score and Play by Play: Canada 1 vs. Japan 4

Team Canada (4-1) will play its next game against Colombia (3-2) at 10:00pm EST Tuesday night on Diamond 2.

In other scores on the fifth day of the tournament: Australia shut out Venezuela 5-0; Colombia blanked Mexico 5-0; the Czech Republic defeated Samoa 6-2; the United States dominated Indonesia 10-0; and Great Britain got by South Africa 2-0. Late games included the Netherlands against the Philippines, and New Zealand taking on Argentina.

Tournament Standings (from the International Softball Federation website)
Live Streaming All games on Diamond 1 are streamed LIVE All games on Diamond 2 are available ON DEMAND

All live streaming is a pay to access service for the cost of $5-10 USD per day. Details are available at the official tournament website: http://www.softball2013.com/.

iscore - Live Scoring Updates
iscore Softball is the easiest way to track the Tradestaff ISF Men's World Softball Championships. It has everything you need to track and review a game and does not require you to buy any software - this free service will be available at the following link: www.softball.org.nz/Tradestaff+WSC+2013+Results.html

How to Follow Team Canada

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For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc Manager - Marketing and Communications Softball Canada (613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca