(Google Translation)
Argentina has just ended its participation in the XIII Men's World Championship with a historic Mayor fourth place after losing to Australia, reigning world champion in the category, 2-1 in the ninth inning. He almost Argentina to remove the whole of Oceania, and only a stunning performance of his pitcher Adam Folkard prevented our dream team get a win against the green and gold team.
In just over five months, Argentina has definitely entered the global elite softball. And he did it through the front door. In November last year won world titles in Paraná Youth, after beating Japan 5-0 in the final game. And now managed to get for the first time in history among the four best teams in the world, surpassing the sport historical powers such as Japan, the U.S. and Canada, and being eliminated against Australia, reigning world champion and favorite to repeat title (along with New Zealand, already waiting at the end).
The great figure of the party was the Australian pitcher Adam Folkard, considered the best in the world at present, which closed all roads to the national offensive bright task. In nine innings of work, allowed no hits and struck out 17, getting just one run.
On the side of Argentina, and as in the tournament, the pitching staff had another superb night. The starting pitcher was Lucas Mata, who pitched three innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Maximiliano Montero came on in relief, which only allowed 6 entries 1 hit, struck out eight and allowed two runs, only thanks to the tie-breaker rule (start extra innings with a runner on second base to force the imbalance in the score).
The domain of the pitchers was so obvious that the seven regular periods, and Montero Mata combined to retire 21 of 22 batters he faced, while allowing only two runners Folkard (two walks to Francisco Sabate) in the same period. With such overwhelming dominance of pitchers, the logical result for the match was 0-0, and so ended the seven regulatory periods.
At the opening of the eighth inning, starting with a runner on second, Australia scored on a wild pitch Montero, that made it 1-0. However, at the end of the inning, the national team was about to delete the current monarch, when Francisco Sabate played for sacrifice, and thanks to an error in assisting our team scored the equalizer, and it reached Sabaté third, no outs. However, Folkard legend endorsed credentials, and with three strikeouts Hand took the deed to Argentina.
In the ninth inning, and again with the tie-breaker rule into play, Australia scored the go-ahead run on a single by Michael Tanner, with two outs (only the second team oceanic unstoppable all game). For its part, Argentina could not do the same as with a runner on third base again Australian pitcher pulled up for his team with two strikeouts ended the hopes of Argentina.
Beyond the bitter final defeat, a cold analysis of national measures in this World Championship will tell us that Argentina made an unforgettable campaign. After the round robin finished third in Group B with 5 wins and 2 losses, ahead of countries like Japan, Mexico and Colombia. The defeats came in a very tight, against two giants of our sport such as Canada (2-1 in 9 innings) and world runner-up and host team New Zealand for the same meager score. Furthermore, in the playoff won categorically the U.S. (five times world champion) 9-2 in five innings, and avenged the loss to Canada, surpassing the Pan American champion and bronze in the World Cup 2-1 in a encounter to remember.
After digesting the loss to Australia, even more so close to taking the big hit, these players will realize that made history in Auckland. Argentine Softball will from now seen as a world power of discipline, so that we have ahead enjoy success, celebrate and celebrate this fourth, and get right to work thinking about the challenges ahead: the Pan American Championships next discipline, and the Pan American Games in Toronto 2015.
