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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
    Australia, South Africa open WBC Qualifier with convincing win
Nederlands
 BLACKTOWN, Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) -
Australia and South Africa have opened the first World Baseball Classic Qualifier on Thursday (Febuary 11) with convincing victories at Blacktown Baseball Stadium, which is located in Blacktown, just outside of Sydney.
However, both Australia and South Africa decided their game late.
In the afternoon, South Africa opened with a 7-1 win vs. New Zealand, but led only 3-0 when the ninth inning began.
In the evening, Australia won 11-1 vs. the Philippines in a 7-inning mercy-rule game but led only 4-1 after six innings.
With this, Australia and South Africa now will meet each other on Friday.
The winner of that game advances to the all-deciding Final on Sunday.
On Saturday, the losing team meets the winner of the match-up between New Zealand and the Philippines, who also will face each other on Friday.
The losing team of this last game is eliminated.
In March, two more Qualifying Tournaments follow.
The fourth and last tournament will be played in September.
The winners of these four tournaments qualify for next years World Baseball Classic.
Canada, China, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, USA and Venezuela already have qualified, based on their accomplishments during the last Classic in 2013.
Just as in 2013, the World Baseball Classic will have the status again as World Championship.
Back then, the Dominican Republic won the title and was crowned as World Champion.
In 2011, the Netherlands was the final team to capture the World Championship-title in a World Cup Tournament old-style, which then was held in Panama.
(February 11)
Related Articles:
 First World Baseball Classic Qualifier to open in Australia. (February 10, 2016)
Dominican Republic new Classic-champion. (March 19, 2013)
Dutch Team ends up short in semi-final. (March 18, 2013)
Dutch Baseball Team World Champion! (October 15, 2011)
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Game One - New Zealand vs. South Africa
South Africa opened the event with a 7-1 win vs. New Zealand, but led only 3-0 after eight innings.
Jonathan Phillips and Brett Willemburg both had two basehits for South Africa.
Before the start of the game of course, the New Zealand-players performed the traditional 'Haka', which is done by all national sports teams from the country.
In the top of the first inning, South Africa reached base with two outs off of starter Scott Cone.
Jonathan Phillips then doubled and stole third base.
Kyle Botha then walked, but the two runners stranded when a line drive by Brett Willemburg was caught.
In the top of the third inning, South Africa scored three unearned runs with two outs.
Gift Ngoepe led off with a walk, but a double play followed.
Jonathan Phillips then reached on an error, which was followed by a pitching change.
Ben Cone took over, but he gave up singles to Kyle Botha and Brett Willemburg, with the latter batting in the first run.
Next batter Rowan Ebersohn was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases.
A wild pitch then led to the next run, followed by a throwing error that brought in the third run.
South African-starter Dylan Unsworth retired the first eleven batters he faced.
With two outs in the fourth, he gave up a double to Max Brown, but he was left behind.
From the fourth inning on, South Africa was held scoreless.
It took the team until the ninth inning to take more distance.
Randy Yard then became the new pitcher for New Zealand.
He got the bases loaded quickly when Anthony Phillips and Jonathan Phillips both singled and Kyle Botha was hit by a pitch.
A groundout by Brett Willemburg then led to a run.
Hereafter, a runner was eliminated at the plate.
With two outs, Riki Paewai then became the new pitcher, but he gave up runscoring singles to Brandon Bouillon (one-run) and Keegan Swanepoel (2-run) to make it a 7-0 score.
New Zealand then scored its lone run in the bottom of the ninth inning off of reliever Gart Cahill.
Pinch-hitter Moko Moanaroa led of with a single and went on to score on a basesloaded walk for Boss Moanaroa.
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Game Two - Australia vs. Philippines
Australia opened with an 11-1 win vs. the Philippines, but faced a brief 1-0 deficit and led only 4-1 after six innings.
Australia collected 11 basehits, including four by veteran James Beresford, who was 4-for-5 and batted in three runs.
Luke Hughes, Stefan Welch and Logan Wade all scored two runs.
Winning pitcher Steven Kent struckout seven batters in six innings and gave up only four hits.
In January, the 26-year old lefthander signed a minor league-contract by the Atlanta Braves.
...Luke Hughes scored twice...
...He played for Minnesota Twins in...
...the Major League in 2010-2012...
...in 102 games...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Initially, it was the Philippines that opened the score in the top of the first inning.
Eric Farris led off with a single.
He went on to score on 2-out single by Brady Conlan, who studies at and plays for Cal State Dominguez Hills in the USA.
Australia came alongside immediately in its first at bat off of starter J.R. Bunda.
James Beresford led off with a single, but was forced out on a grounder by Brad Harman.
He later scored the tying run on a single by Stefan Welch.
Australia then took a 2-1 lead in the second inning.
With one out, Logan Wade doubled and scored on a 2-out single by Beresford.
Australia took more distance by addding two runs in the fifth inning.
With one out, Stefan Welch walked and Luke Hughes singled, the both scored on a double by veteran Trent Oeltjen.
It then took until the seventh inning for Australia to really decide the game.
The team rallied for seven runs, which lifted the lead to 11-1 to end the game via the mercy-rule.
With the bases loaded and one out, James Beresford delivered a 2-run single.
That was followed by a sacrifice fly by Brad Harman.
Hereafter, it was Mitch Denning who singled and scored on a following 2-run double by Stefan Welch.
A hit batter and a walk then loaded the bases, resulting in a pitching change.
Ernesto Binarao took over, but then Allan de San Miguel's grounder ended in a throwing error that led to two more runs and ended the game.
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