By Jeff D'Andrea

Canada downed by Aussies, but not out of worlds

Jul 13, 2018 | 10:39 PM

Throughout the group stages of the XII WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship, Team Canada always found at least one big inning to produce their 5-0 Group B record. They scored six in the third inning to beat the all-mighty New Zealand 8-5 on Tuesday, their six-run sixth inning to mercy U.S.A. 10-3 on opening day is another example.

But that big inning didn’t come on Friday.

Team Canada was shutout by Australia 2-0 in their first game of the playoffs. Since Canada was ranked at the top of their pool with a 5-0 record, the loss doesn’t mean that Canada’s medal hopes are over. But what it means is their journey to get there will be a bit longer.

They’ll battle against Argentina at 3 p.m. at Rotary Field, hoping to win that and advance to the 8 p.m. game. Should they be victorious, they’ll get to the bronze medal game. Then winning that would advance them to the finals.

“It’s disappointing but it’s not the end of the world,” Canada head coach Jeff Ellsworth said. “I told the boys in the huddle, we worked all week for double life in case something like this happened. In a long tournament, sometimes the bats go cold and that was the case tonight.”

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Canada’s bats did fall cold, but Australian ace Layton Reid would say he had a little something to do with that. Reid struck out 16 Canadian batters in the seven-inning shutout. He also surrendered just four hits. Reid has being doing that all tournament for Australia, his ERA is now below one at 0.82, and he has 35 strike outs in 17 innings pitched.

“Mentally, I think I’m strong. I know I can beat them from my potential and what I believe,” Reid said on his approach at the mound. “My mindset is ‘I’m going to strike you out,’ every time.”

It’s not like Canada didn’t have their chances. They left two men on base in innings two, three and four. Troy Kosmynka led the bottom of the seventh with a double, but Canada couldn’t get that clutch hit bring in that important run.

“We were free swinging on a lot of balls that were outside the zone, so we were sort of helping him do his job,” Ellsworth said on his team’s approach in those key situations. “The boys, we’re going to talk about that tomorrow, sharpen up and come back to play.”

The Aussies themselves weren’t presented a whole lot of opportunities from Canada’s pitching. David Watson gave up one hit and one earned run in three innings, while Owen Torrie did the same in three-and-a-third innings. Riley Manion cleaned up the final two outs in the sixth, giving up one hit.

Australia was able to manufacture their first run. Jett Wright walked in the top of the fourth, then advanced to third on a pair of ground outs before scoring on a wild pitch.

But in the top of the seventh inning, the Aussies got their biggest hit of the game from Chris Plain. Plain, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, hit an RBI triple for an insurance policy.

“That was just clutch from Chris,” Australia head coach Robert Harrow said. “I keep preaching to the guys, it’s [all 17 players] that’s going to get us through to that gold medal. That was a key right there for us.”

With Australia’s win, they are one victory away from the championships, but will have to beat the undefeated Japan to do so. Japan defeated Australia 3-2 in their final group stage game on Thursday.

Ayumu Nishimori had a monster game for Japan in their 6-4 win over New Zealand. Nishimori was 3-3 (HR, triple and double) and pictured here scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. pic.twitter.com/h0MMj7wkPd

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) July 14, 2018

Rest of Friday playoff action

Japan 6 New Zealand 4

For the second straight game, Team Japan beat a powerhouse for the Oceanic area of the world. They defeated Team New Zealand 6-4 to continue their undefeated streak in the tournament. 

Designated player Ayumu Nishimori was 3-3 at the plate and all of his hits went for extra bases. He hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning, as well a triple and a double. Nishimori also scored the winning run in the seventh inning, being driven home by left fielder Hiroki Chikamori.

Mexico 4 Czech Republic 2

Mexico eliminated the Czech Republic and move on in the playoff rounds. Jose Felix Herrera gave up one earned run (and an unearned run) in seven innings of work for Mexico in the victory. Jorge Lopez Maquez was 2-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

Argentina 9 U.S.A 2

Although they have struggled at times in the tournament to score, Argentina looks to have ended that slump at the best time as they defeated the United States 9-2. The Argentines scored five runs in the second inning, leading 6-0 at that point. They added another three in the top of the sixth, which ended the game. Gian Scialacomo was 2-3 at the dish with a double and two runs scored.

Saturday playoff matchups

Mexico vs. New Zealand, 12:30 p.m., Rotary Field

Argentina vs. Canada, 3 p.m., Rotary Field

Japan vs. Australia, 5:30 p.m., Rotary Field

Winners of Mexico/New Zealand vs. winners of Argentina/Canada, 8 p.m., Rotary Field

Friday Placement Round results

Hong Kong 9 Denmark 4

Guatemala 2 South Africa 1

India 12 Hong Kong 1

South Africa 7 Denmark 5

Saturday Placement Round games

Hong Kong vs. South Africa, 9:30 a.m., Kinsmen Field

Guatemala vs. India, 12 p.m., Kinsmen Field

Also games at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Kinsmen Field

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea