(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by WBSC Media)
     Australia captures World-title; USA wins first Medal in 22 years
Nederlands
 ALBANY (New Zealand) -
Australia captured the title at the 17th edition of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup by winning the Final against Canada on Sunday-evening (December 4) with a 5-2 score.
Earlier in the day, the USA finished in third place via a 2-0 shutout-victory against dethroned World Champion Argentina.
For the USA, this was its first World Cup-medal in 22 years.
The next Men's Softball World Cup will be organized in 2025.
The World Cup was held in Albany, a northern suburb of Auckland, the largest city on the North Island of New Zealand.
It marked the fourth time that New Zealand hosted the event.
The first time was in 1976 in Lower Hutt, the next time in 2004 in Christchurch, then in 2013 also in Albany/Auckland.
The Netherlands was eliminated for participation during last year's by finishing there in fifth place.
But the Netherlands was represented in the tournament by Umpire Mariana Prins and Official Scorer Feiko Drost.
Mariana Prins was the first Dutch Umpire on a Men's World Cup since Bert Loggen in 2004 (Christchurch, New Zealand).
Earlier Dutch Umpires were Rob Kerkman (1992, Manila, Philippines), Peter van Geijlswijk and Carolien Stadhouders (both 2000, East London, South Africa).
During the previous World Cup in 2019, in Czech capital Prague, Argentina played a strong tournament, but became the surprise winner.
Three years ago, Argentina captured its first-ever title by winning 3-2 in a 10-inning thriller against Japan.
Winning pitcher Huemul Mata then went the distance and struckout 17 batters.
In 2019, the Netherlands did participate and finished in 13th place.
Back then, there were three Dutch officials, Official Scorers Stefan Slinger and Marco Stoovelaar and Technical Commissioner Wout Isbouts, but there were no Dutch Umpires.
The next World Championship was to be held last year in New Zealand, but was postponed to this year due to the coronavirus-pandemic (COVID-19).
...The players of New Zealand perform the Haka...
...before their first game of the tournament...
(© Photo: WBSC Media) |
On November 26, twelve countries opened the tournament.
Again, Argentina played a solid preliminary round, as did Canada.
Both teams remained unbeaten in Group A and Group B respectively, winning all five games they played.
On the other hand, the Philippines (Group A) and Denmark (Group B) both remained winless.
But there was enough suspense to determine which other teams would join Argentina and Canada to the Super Round.
In Group A, the USA secured a spot.
But the final spot was decided on the final day of the preliminary round when Cuba won 1-0 against host New Zealand in a 9-inning pitching-duel.
Winning pitcher Alain Roman struckout eleven batters, but losing pitcher Daniel Chapman struckout 18, but gave up the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off single by Yesander Rodriguez.
Also on the final day of the preliminary round, Japan (a finalist three years ago) was eliminated via a 9-2 loss against Canada.
The tournament began with a great Opening Ceremony with a performance from Maori arts group Angitu.
Thereafter, several memorable and suspenseful games were played in the following days at Rosedale Park in Albany.
Like, the USA winning only 1-0 in its opening-game against the Philippines on a wild pitch in the third inning.
Dutch Umpire Mariana Prins was behind the plate in this game.
Or Cuba leading 1-0 after six innings in its first game against then reigning champion Argentina, which then rallied for three runs in the seventh at bat.
On a rainy second day, there were some high-scoring games, but also a thriller between Australia and Japan that closed the day.
Australia trailed 5-2 after five innings, then scored once in the sixth and came alongside in the seventh to force extra innings.
In the eighth inning, Australia scored on a triple by Joshua McGovern to win 6-5.
In this game, Mariana Prins was the 3B Umpire.
...Mariana Prins behind the plate on Day 3...
...in the game between Japan and Denmark...
(© Photo: WBSC Media) |
On Day 3, it was the Czech Republic that stunted with a 6-3 win against the USA.
Winning pitcher Michal Holobrádek struckout ten batters to lead the Czechs to its first-ever win against the USA in a World Championship.
The Czechs struck early and lead 3-0 after two innings, then added a 3-run rally in the fourth.
The USA only managed to score twice in the sixth, then once more in the seventh.
Also on Day 3, Jack Besgrove threw a No-Hitter in Australia's 6-0 win against Venezuela, striking out fourteen batters.
Feiko Drost was one of the three Official Scorers in this game.
The third day ended with a thriller between New Zealand and Argentina.
The host-country led 5-1 after six innings, but Argentina then rallied for four runs in the seventh inning.
After scoring a run and with two outs, Manuel Godoy hit a baseclearing 3-run triple to tie the score.
Argentina then went on to win 11-5 via a 6-run rally in the ninth.
Feiko also was one of the Official Scorers in this game.
On Day 3, Australia and Canada secured their spot in the Super Round.
The next day, Argentina and the USA did the same.
And on the fifth and final day of the preliminary round, Venezuela and Cuba completed the Super Round.
On the first day of the Super Round, Canada won a thriller against the USA with a 4-3 score.
The USA rallied for three runs in the second inning, but Canada then scored twice in the fourth and came alongside in the fifth.
Canada then scored the decisive run in the sixth on a double by Bryan Abrey.
There was a Dutch flavor in this game.
Mariana Prins was the 3B Umpire and Feiko Drost was the Official Scorer.
With the win, Canada remained unbeaten, as was Argentina, which won 6-3 against Venezuela.
Also on this day, Adam Folkard (four innings) and Jack Besgrove (three) threw a combined No-Hitter in a 3-0 win by Australia against Cuba.
...Australia celebrates winning its second title...
(© Photo: WBSC Media) |
The next day, Australia recorded an important 12-9 win against the USA.
The most important game was the one between Canada and Argentina, the two unbeaten teams.
Argentina rallied for four runs in third inning (3-run homerun Manuel Godoy), then Canada came alongside via two runs in the fourth and fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Argentina re-took the lead on a sac-fly by Godoy and won 5-4.
On Saturday, the decisions fell for the Medal Round.
Canada reached the Final via a 2-0 win against Cuba.
Winning pitcher Sean Cleary almost threw a Perfect Game.
But with two outs in the seventh inning, he gave up one basehit.
Feiko Drost also was one of the three Official Scorers in this game.
The USA reached the Bronze Medal-game by winning 5-1 against Venezuela.
The Saturday-schedule finished with two thrillers.
Japan won 5-4 in ten innings against the Czech Republic.
Trailing 2-0, Japan scored once in the third inning and twice in the fourth, but the Czechs came alongside in the fifth.
Both teams scored once in the sixth.
In the bottom of the tenth, Japan scored the winning run on an error to finish in seventh place.
Mariana Prins was the 2B Umpire in this game.
In the evening, Australia won 2-0 in eight innings against Argentina to become the second finalist.
In the top of the eighth, both runs were scored on a single by Hayden Mathews.
Yes, Feiko Drost also was one of the Official Scorers in this thriller, while Danish Umpire Jens Jakobsen was at third base.
On Sunday, the final day of the event, the USA won 2-0 against Argentina in the Bronze Medal-game.
For the USA, it marks the first time in 22 years that it won a medal on a World Championship.
The last time was in 2000 when it also finished in third place in East London (South Africa).
The USA scored both runs in the top of the fifth inning.
First, Yusef Davis, Jr. hit a lead-off homerun and later another run was added on a force play-grounder by Matt Palazzo.
Feiko Drost was the Lead Official Scorer in this game and he was in the company of Sharon Williams (New Zealand) and Fuka Nakamura (Japan).
...Jack Besgrove pitching for Australia in the Final...
(© Photo: WBSC Media) |
In the Final, Australia won 5-2 against Canada to capture the World-title for the second time and firs time since 2009 when it won in Saskatoon (Canada).
Australia finished in second place in 2017 and in third place in 2004 and 2013.
During the last Championship in 2019, Australia finished in seventh place.
Fact: Australia was led by Head Coach Laing Harrow.
In 2009, when Australia captured its first title, the team was led by his father Bob Harrow, who passed away on July 21 of this year at age 77.
For Canada, it was the sixth time that it won the Silver Medal and the fourteenth time that it won a World Cup-medal to become the record-holder.
The country shared the record with New Zealand with 13 medals.
In 2019, Canada finished in third place.
In what was the first-ever World Cup Final between Australia and Canada, it was Australia that scored early, twice in the first and once in the third inning.
After Canada had scored once in the fifth, Australia added two insurance runs in the sixth at bat via a homerun by Nick Shailes and single by James Todhunter.
Canada scored its second run in the seventh inning.
18-year old winning pitcher Jack Besgrove struckout ten batters and gave up only four basehits.
Danish Umpire Jens Jakobsen accounted for the European flavor in the Final, as he was at second base.
American William Burwell was behind the plate, New Zealander Tony Kaiaruna at first base and Mitsunori Kusamoto from Japan at third base.
Italian Anna Battigelli was one of the four Technical Commissioners in the Final.
Wayne Hong (Chinese Taipei) was the Lead Official Scorer in this game and he was joined by Tracee Topia (New Zealand) and Kirsty Andrews (Australia).
Dutch Umpire Mariana Prins had no assignment on the final day.
Besides Prins and Jakobsen, Europe also was represented by Czech Umpire Michal Zidek.
Gabriele Hardinger from Austria was one of the Technical Commissioners, together with Anna Battigelli (Italy).
Feiko Drost was the lone European Official Scorer, but Italian Marco Battistella was the Scoring Director this tournament.
...The Official Scorers with standing from left...
...Marco Battistella (Scoring Director), Carolyn McQueen,...
...Elizabeth Natana, Feiko Drost and Wayne Hong...
...Seated: Sharon Williams, Tracee Topia, Kirsty Andrews...
...and Fuka Nakamura; Not pictured: Marie Byrne... |
The other Umpires were Lance Brown, David Fortin, Tony Kaiaruna, Mark Porteous (all New Zealand), William Burwell (USA), Jason Carter, Leigh Evans (both Australia), Genevičve Gaudreau, Scott McLaren (both Canada), Mitsunori Kusamoto, Naoya Matsuda (both Japan) and Abel Mataboge (Botswana).
Christina Drumm (USA) was the Umpiring Director and she was assisted by Wayne Saunders (New Zealand).
Besides Feiko Drost, the other Official Scorers were Kirsty Andrews (Australia), Marie Byrne, Carolyn McQueen, Elizabeth Natana, Tracee Topia, Sharon Williams (all New Zealand), Yu-Wei (Wayne) Hong (Chinese Taipei) and Fuka Nakamura (Japan).
Gray Monroe (Australia) was the Technical Director.
Besides Anna Battigelli and Gabriele Hardinger, the other Technical Commissioners were Raewyn Clarke, Lynette Leathart, Joanne Rata (all New Zealand), Ray Gutierrez (USA) and Shuro Tsukioka (Japan).
Marshall Kronk (Australia) was named Most Valuable Player, while Luis Dominguez (Cuba) won the award for Best Defensive Player.
Quinten Bruce (Canada) was the Best Hitter of the tournament with a .647 batting average.
The awards for Best Pitcher went to Herbel Godoy (Argentina, Best ERA) and Huemul Mata (Argentina, Best W-L).
An All-World-Team was also chosen.
Final Standings:
1. Australia, 2. Canada, 3. USA, 4. Argentina, 5. Cuba, 6. Venezuela, 7. Japan, 8. New Zealand, 9. Czech Republic, 10. Philippines, 11. South Africa, 12. Denmark.
(December 4)
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