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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
    Australia in World Baseball Classic Qualifier Final
Nederlands
 BLACKTOWN, Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) -
Australia has reached the all-deciding Final of the first World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which currently underway at Blacktown Baseball Stadium, which is located in Blacktown, just outside of Sydney.
On Friday-evening (February 12), Australia won 4-1 vs. South Africa to become the first finalist, as expected.
On Saturday, South Africa now will face New Zealand, which won 17-7 vs. the Philippines on Friday-afternoon.
With the loss, the Philippines was eliminated.
With the win, South Africa gets one more chance of reaching the final, which will be played on Sunday.
In today's first game,New Zealand trailed three times against the Phillipines, but then rallied for six runs in the sixth and five in the seventh en route to a mercy-rule victory.
In the evening, Australia scored three runs in the first inning and faced a tough South Africa, which got a run back in the third inning, but then was held scoreless.
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 12)
Related Articles:
 Australia, South Africa open WBC Qualifier with convincing win. (February 11, 2016)
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 Three - New Zealand vs. Philippines
In today's first game, New Zealand trailed three times against the Phillipines, but then rallied for six runs in the sixth and five in the seventh en route to a mercy-rule victory.
As they did the day before against Australia, the Philippines took an 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The team then trailed 3-1 after two at bats, but came alongside in the fourth.
The Asian squad then took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth and this time, it was New Zealand that tied the score.
In the sixth, the Phillippines rallied for three runs to take a surprising 7-4 lead.
That was shortlived, as New Zealand then answered with a 6-run rally.
New Zealand collected 13 basehits, including four by Boss Moanaroa, who scored once and batted in seven runs!
The 24-year old Moanaroa played professionally in 2009-2013 in Rookie League and Single-A teams of the Boston Red Sox.
Eric Farris registered three of the 11 Philippine-basehits.
In the top of the first inning, off of starter Andrew Marck, Eric Farris led off with a double and went on to score the first Philippine-run on a sacrifice fly by Chris Aguila.
In the bottom of the first inning, New Zealand came alongside, thanks to a passed ball, then took a 2-1 lead on a double by Boss Moanaroa.
A double by Timothy Auty made it 3-1 in the second at bat.
However, the Philippines didn't gave way that easy.
In the top of the fourth inning, Angelo Songco led off with a single, then Brady Conlan followed with a homerun that tied the score.
In the next inning, facing new pitcher Joseph Bruce, the Philippines took the lead for the second time.
Adriane Ros Bernardo led off with a walk, then moved to third base on a ground-rule double by next batter Eric Farris and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Aguila.
New Zealand came alongside moments later off of starter Kevin Vance.
Daniel Bradley led off with a walk, moved on a sacrifice bunt by Alan Schoenberger and scored on 2-out double by Boss Moanaroa.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Philippines broke the 4-4 tie by scoring three runs and taking the lead for the third time in this game.
With that, a surprise appeared to be in the making.
Nick Maronde pitched for New Zealand and he gave up a lead-off single to Brady Conlan, then an one-out single to Joshua Wong.
With runnners on first and third base, Jonash Ponce delivered a runscoring single.
Two more runs were added on a grounder by Adriane Ros Bernardo and a single by Eric Farris.
New Zealand reacted with six runs in the bottom of the sixth and that would be decisive.
With the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly and a walk brought in two runs, then a force play-grounder tied the score.
The Kiwis then took a 10-4 lead when Boss Moanaroa hit a 3-run homerun.
In the seventh inning, New Zealand added five more runs, highlighted by a 2-run single by Moanaroa.
In the eighth, with one out, New Zealand reached the 10-run difference.
With runners on second and third base.
They scored on a force out, followed by a throwing error that ended the game.
With the win, New Zealand now faces South Africa in the game that will decide the second finalist.
With the loss, the Philippines was eliminated.
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Game Four - Australia vs. South Africa
In the evening, Australia scored three runs in the first inning and faced a tough South Africa, which got a run back in the third inning, but then was held scoreless.
After its starting pitcher Warwick Saupold had retired South Africa in order in the top of the first inning, Australia rallied for three runs in the bottom of the first.
And that also would decide the game.
South African-starter Carl Michaels gave up a lead-off back-to-back doubles to James Beresford and Logan Wade that opened the score.
Hereafter, Stefan Welch delivered a single, which was followed by a runscoring error.
Mitch Dening followed with the fourth consecutive basehit and a sacrifice fly by Trent Oeltjen made it 3-0.
...Stefan Welch singled and scored...
...He also played for Australia in the...
...2013 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
South Africa left three runners behind in the second inning off of Warwick Saupold, but then scored a run in the third at bat.
With one out, Anthony Phillips doubled and he went on to score on a 2-out single by Kyle Botha.
But that was to be all for the African squad.
In the following innings, there were not much scoring opportunities and both defences turned a double play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Australia got runners on first and second base with two outs, but a force out ended the at bat.
In the sixth, off of reliever Dean Jacobs, Australia was able to add an insurance run.
David Kandilas led off with a walk, moved on a single by Allan de San Miguel and a wild pitch, then scored on a grounder by James Beresford to make it 4-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, Todd Van Steensel took over the Australian pitching and retired the side, including two strikeouts.
He also got three outs in a row in the eighth at bat.
Australia was also retired in order in its seventh and eighth inning by the South African pitching.
Closer Ryan Searle then took the mound in the top of the ninth for Australia.
After striking out the first two batters, he gave up a double to Keegan Swanepoel, but his pinch-runner Kyle Ettisch stranded as Searle ended the game with another strikeout.
And with that, Searle secured the 4-1 lead and earned a save.
With the win, Australia reached the Final.
South Africa now will face New Zealand in the semi-final.
It is expected that Australia will again face South Africa again in its next game, which will be the Final on Sunday.
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