Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic – The Canadian Men’s National Team remained undefeated at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship with a 4-1 win over the United States. Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle with Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) registering the save, while Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, BC), Bryan Abrey (Richmond, BC) and Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) each hit solo homeruns to provide the offence.
Burns didn’t allow any runs or hits over the first two innings but issued a one-out walk in the second that was quickly wiped out with a double play on a lineout to the second baseman. In the bottom of the second, Canada’s bats came alive when Hunter and Abrey hit back-to-back homeruns. In the bottom of the third, Mullaley hit a solo shot of his own to give Canada a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Matt Palazzo hit a solo homerun off Burns to cut the lead to 3-1 but that was the only run Team USA would score. Lieph came in to get the final out of the sixth for Canada with two Americans on base, striking out Palazzo to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Abrey drew a walk drew a leadoff walk and was later replaced by temporary runner Jeff Ellsworth (St Lawrence, P.E.I.). Ellsworth moved up o second on a wild pitch, to second on a passed ball and crossed the plate on another wild pitch to give Canada another important insurance run.
In the top of the seventh, the Americans got a leadoff double followed by a single to put runners on the corners and put the pressure on Team Canada, but Lieph struck out the next three batters to end the game.
Box Score: Canada 4 vs United States 1
Burns allowed one run on two hits, walked two and struck out five in five innings and two thirds, while Lieph pitched an inning and a third of relief, allowing two hits and striking out four. Abrey led Canada at the plate with a homerun and a single, with Hunter and Mullaley each adding solo homeruns. Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) added a pair of singles.
Elsewhere at the tournament on Monday, Cuba beat Mexico 7-2, Singapore edged out South Africa 4-3, New Zealand shut out Botswana 7-0, Venezuela beat the Netherlands 9-1, Japan blanked the Philippines 10-0, Australia took a 5-3 win over Denmark, and Argentina doubled the Czech Republic 6-3.
Team Canada stayed at the top of Group B with a 4-0 and will square off with 4-0 Venezuela in a battle for first place at 1:30pm local time (7:30am EDT) in Prague on Tuesday. Live scoring is available through the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship website, with live streaming available at FloSoftball.com (paid subscription required).
Burns didn’t allow any runs or hits over the first two innings but issued a one-out walk in the second that was quickly wiped out with a double play on a lineout to the second baseman. In the bottom of the second, Canada’s bats came alive when Hunter and Abrey hit back-to-back homeruns. In the bottom of the third, Mullaley hit a solo shot of his own to give Canada a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Matt Palazzo hit a solo homerun off Burns to cut the lead to 3-1 but that was the only run Team USA would score. Lieph came in to get the final out of the sixth for Canada with two Americans on base, striking out Palazzo to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Abrey drew a walk drew a leadoff walk and was later replaced by temporary runner Jeff Ellsworth (St Lawrence, P.E.I.). Ellsworth moved up o second on a wild pitch, to second on a passed ball and crossed the plate on another wild pitch to give Canada another important insurance run.
In the top of the seventh, the Americans got a leadoff double followed by a single to put runners on the corners and put the pressure on Team Canada, but Lieph struck out the next three batters to end the game.
Box Score: Canada 4 vs United States 1
Burns allowed one run on two hits, walked two and struck out five in five innings and two thirds, while Lieph pitched an inning and a third of relief, allowing two hits and striking out four. Abrey led Canada at the plate with a homerun and a single, with Hunter and Mullaley each adding solo homeruns. Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) added a pair of singles.
Elsewhere at the tournament on Monday, Cuba beat Mexico 7-2, Singapore edged out South Africa 4-3, New Zealand shut out Botswana 7-0, Venezuela beat the Netherlands 9-1, Japan blanked the Philippines 10-0, Australia took a 5-3 win over Denmark, and Argentina doubled the Czech Republic 6-3.
Team Canada stayed at the top of Group B with a 4-0 and will square off with 4-0 Venezuela in a battle for first place at 1:30pm local time (7:30am EDT) in Prague on Tuesday. Live scoring is available through the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship website, with live streaming available at FloSoftball.com (paid subscription required).
