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Key Veteran
Location: New Zealand
| The New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox have created history by claiming a three peat of titles with a 9-5 victory over Canada in the final of the 2004 World Championships.
Sunday's victory at Smokefree Ballpark, Christchurch puts the Black Sox on top of the world having taken the titles in 1996, 2000 and 2004 a feat that has never been achieved in the history of men's softball.
Victory in the final was made even sweeter by the fact the team were able to win the title and become world champions again in front of a home crowd full of family and friends.
There was a nervous start to the game with the visiting side Canada picking up three runs in their first turn at bat off the pitching of Michael Gaiger for New Zealand. The Black Sox struck back with one run of their own in the bottom of the inning with lead off hitter Dion Nukunuku scoring on a hit to left field from New Zealand softball legend Mark Sorenson.
After the first Canadian batter received a walk in the top of the second inning Gaiger was replaced on the mound by Wellington's Jim Wana.
The game was set alight in the bottom of the second inning when Patrick Shannon continued his perfect hitting record against Canada over the last two days with a huge home run over the centre field fence with Donny Hale on base to level up the scores.
In the bottom of the third inning the Black Sox took the lead and never relinquished it. The runs came when Sorenson stepped to the plate and cemented his name in the history books as one of the softballs greatest ever players, with a big home run over the centre field fence to score captain Jarrad Martin and Stacy McLean.
Canada tried to fight back in the top of the fifth with Jody Edit scoring but they had no real answer to the class of the Black Sox.
Two further runs in the bottom of the fifth innings saw Sorenson scoring again along with Thomas Makea to give the world champion Black Sox side the cushioned they needed.
In the top of the seventh inning and three outs away from victory the Black Sox were made to work hard to close the game out with Ryan Wolfe scoring to make it 9-5.
This world champion Black Sox team could not be denied though with the final out of the game coming as Dion Nukunuku made the play at one taking out Canadian batter Colin Abbott for the third out of the inning and a third consecutive world title for the Black Sox.
An overwhelmed Black Sox coach Don Tricker after the game was just looking to enjoy the moment with the players and family and friends.
"We have all worked so hard for it I just want to sit back and take it all in, it is going to take a couple of days and put this into perspective," said Tricker.
"The feeling is of being a world champion; these guys have worked incredibly hard. Going into the final there was huge excitement and we wanted to share it with each other and we wanted to ensure that in coming out here (to the final) that we left nothing behind, no regrets."
For power hitter Patrick Shannon the man who got the ball rolling in the second inning with a big automatic, victory in the final was a dream come true.
"This is unbelievable, this is worth every training, and every time I had to get out of bed early it is all worth it. This is a dream come true, I have dreamed about that (getting the big hit with runners on) and to do it is over whelming," said Shannon.
A celebration for our three time world champion Black Sox team will be held at Christchurch's Cathedral Square on Monday from 12pm where a civic reception will be held.
Source: nzoom
Date published: Feb 08, 2004 |
