2008 U19 Boys World Championship - game media releases

Day 1:
The Junior Black Sox team opened their under-19 softball world championship campaign in Whitehorse, Canada with a comfortable 20-2 win over Denmark.
In a game that needed only four innings the Junior Black Sox side showed they meant business from the first with them scoring six runs, they then added a seventh in the second inning and then showed their class in the third which saw 11 runs scored. A further two runs were added to the tally in the fourth inning. Both of Denmark's runs were scored in the fourth inning.
The New Zealanders next game is against Venezuela, who beat South Africa 11-1 in their opening game of the tournament. 

Day 2:
The Junior Black Sox beat Venezuela 7-4 to record their second win from as many games at the world junior softball championships in Whitehorse, Canada.
However, the win did not come easy for the New Zealanders with their opponents ahead 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. It was in that fourth inning the Junior Black Sox side scored six runs with lead-off batter Bronson Marino hitting his first pitch of the inning for a home run. That was then followed by runs to Joel Evans, Sam Bishop, who hit a home run, Kallan Campain and Jamie Love. 
New Zealand's next game is against Botswana.

 Day 3:
The Junior Black Sox team have suffered their first loss at the world junior championships going down 3-1 to host nation Canada.
Canada scored all three of their runs in the second inning, while the New Zealand side pulled one back in the fifth but were unable to add any further runs to their tally.
Earlier today the side beat Bostwana 16-1.
The Junior Black Sox will now need to put that loss behind them with the side playing the United States today. 

Day 4:
Rain has forced a delay to the Junior Black Sox game against the United States at the junior world softball championships being played in Whitehorse, Canada.
The side was scheduled to play the US team on Tuesday but will now face that team on Thursday morning. Later that same day the New Zealanders will play the Czech Republic team.

On Wednesday, weather permitting, the Junior Black Sox side will be looking to get their world championship campaign back on a winning path when they play Japan and then South Africa. After winning their first three games at the tournament, the Junior Black Sox side were beaten 3-1 by Canada on Monday. 

Day 5:
The Junior Black Sox got their World Junior Softball championship campaign back on the winning path in Whitehorse, Canada today beating South Africa 7-0. For the side it was a must-win game after they had lost to Japan 8-7 a few hours earlier.

Against South Africa the Junior Black Sox side jumped out to a five run lead in the second inning with Jamie Love, Josh Cooke, Bronson Marino Cory Timu and Joel Evans all scoring runs in that inning.

It was a similar story for the New Zealanders in their game against Japan with the side scoring six runs in their fourth turn at bat. However, their opponents also scored six runs in that inning after opening the scoring account in the third with a run. Both sides scored runs in the seventh inning.

The Junior Black Sox face a tough test tomorrow with their rescheduled game against the United States followed three hours later with a game against the Czech Republic.

Day 6:
The Junior Black Sox remain in contention for the play-offs at the World Junior Softball championships after beating both the United States 4-3 and the Czech Republic 11-2 on Thursday in Whitehorse, Canada.

Both wins were crucial to the team, after they had suffered losses to Canada and Japan earlier in the competition.

Against the US the telling run was not scored until the eighth inning after the two sides were level at the end of the regulation seven innings. It was also the first time in the game that the New Zealanders had led after conceding two runs in the opening inning. The Junior Black Sox managed to pull one run back in their first turn at bat and then added a second in the second inning. The US went ahead in the sixth inning, but a home run to New Zealand captain Jamie Love kept alive his side’s hopes. It was then the youngest member of the team, Rakawhati Repia whose hit was enough for Campbell Makea to get home from third base.

Against the Czech Republic the New Zealand side was always in control with the side needing just five innings to seal the victory.

The Junior Black Sox tomorrow face Mexico, who have lost just one game to date and are sitting third on the points table, and the unbeaten Australian team. 

Day 7:
The Junior Black Sox side showed they are title contenders when they beat Australia 9-0 at the World Junior Softball Championships in Whitehorse, Canada today. 

It was the first time an Australian side had lost in a World Junior Boy’s Championship since 1997. 
From the first inning the Junior Black Sox side had their opponents, who were unbeaten going into the game, on the back-foot and with the side scoring runs in all but the fifth inning.

Earlier yesterday the New Zealanders beat Mexico 8-1.

The side’s final round robin game is tomorrow Saturdy against Argentina and then Sunday the top four will play-off for a place in Monday’s final. 

Play-off's
The Junior Black Sox have finished fourth at the Junior World Championship in Whitehorse, Canada after losing 2-1 to their hosts in the sudden-death semifinal yesterday. (subs Sun)
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Canada opened their run account, the New Zealanders equalised in the sixth through Campbell Makea but were unable to add to their scoring account in the seventh, in contrast Canada were able to score the deciding run.
Going into the tournament the Junior Black Sox side were seeded fourth and the side finished the tournament with eight wins from 12 games. 

Final Jnr Black Sox player Stats ... view here
 

 

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Jnr Black Sox pre-world series warm-up games

2008 Jnr Black Sox media releases on the warm-up matchs ahead of The ISF Junior Men's Fast Pitch Championship Whitehorse, Yukon Canada on the June 20th - 29th 2008.

The Junior Black Sox side has had their first taste of tournament success as they prepare for their world championships, which starts on Saturday (NZTime) in Whitehorse, Canada.

The side won the Connaught Skins Tournament, beating local club side Yard Dogs 5-3 in the final yesterday. (NZ time) That was the side’s sixth win at the tournament. In the final Rakawhati Repia hit a home run that also scored Joel Evans in the third inning to open the side’s scoring account. However, in the bottom of that inning the Junior Black Sox conceded three runs, but were able to strike back immediately with captain Jamie Love scoring in the fourth inning. Repia then scored his second run of the game in the fifth inning and Campbell Makea added a fifth run in the seventh.

“That has given everyone a boost,” Junior Black Sox manager Mark Carter said.

The win brought the side’s tally to 10 wins from 15 games, with one game abandoned with the score level 7-7 due to the conditions.

“All the players have been working hard toward the ultimate goal and are benefiting from the extensive build-up prior to the world championships,” Junior Black Sox coach Paul Stockford said.

In those 15 games the side has collected 129 hits, including 20 which were home runs and scored 106 runs.

Defensively the side has been equally as impressive with just 74 hits and 68 runs conceded.

The side has another four games before their opening game against Denmark at the world championships in Whitehorse.