NZBS v Japan
The Black Sox starting lineup for this game is:
Nathan Nuknuku – second base; Tyson Byrne at short; Donny Hale right (this man will along with Rona and Nukunuku have plenty of knowledge of the Japanese players having spent their off-season playing over there); Brad first; Ben Enoka centre, Jarrad the dp; Patrick catching; Tyron Bartorillo third; Nik Hayes has the ball for this big one what a test for the young man who originated from Nelson
Japan: Ono Yohei left; Saeki Tadaaki first; Matsuda Hikaru pitching; Matsuoka Mastaeru short; Kawada Naoaki right; Nakamura Kenji dp; Taniguchi Jun second; Mera Kota third; Yokoyama Hikaru centre; Kataoka Taiyo catcher
What an upset in the game before South Africa beat the USA – yes you are reading that correct – certainly their biggest result in the game.
Black Sox have just been introduced to the crowd and it is a good one here at Rosedale Park. The boys are on the third base line meaning they will bat bottom.
First innings
Boy i wonder how Nik Hayes is feeling ... a few years ago this would have all but been a dream ... the call has gone up come on kiwi finally we have a vocal crowd
Ono strike, strike, ball, strikeout - nice start for Nik
Saeki ball, strike, strike out number three - nice work Nik and Paddy - the new kid with the "old fella"
Matsuda ball, strike, ball, ball, walked
Matsuoka ball, strike, strike, strike - nice start Nik
Nukunuku ball, strike, nearly forced the error but the second base managed to get it to one looked like a photo finish from here but then may be those glasses need replacing
Byrne gee that man can run puts down the bunt and standing at first and up steps ...
Hale will he deliver first pitch, darn Tyson caught stealing he apparently left too early (yeah right) anyway two outs and Hale is still in the box .. oh darn he has been struck out
Second inning
Kawada first one is a strike, ball, ball strike, foul, strikeout again - well done Nik
Nakamura ended up walking to first - he gets to third on that hit but really to those in the stand he was gone but then those of us in the stand are not on the Freeman Field are we - can hear someone saying that was rubbish ...
Taniguhi strike, ball, in the gap and now he stands on second base
Mera he is out - short to first and more importantly those two runners have not moved
Yokoyama oh dear Nik has just hit him and we now have a runner on third and we have loaded bases -
Ono - back to the top of the order
Hot day out there for the teams, out comes Chubb and Paddy to have a chat to their young hurler -
Ono is hit too and home comes the man from third and now things are happening - Nik's game is over and here comes Heinie. The Shannon combination - this has been done before at a world championship but not on their home turf - Heinie was with the Samoa team back in 04 but these two no doubt have played this sort of thing out in their back yard as young wipper snappers growing up
Two outs loaded bases and Japan up 1-0 ...
Saeki to bat ball, come on crowd start yelling for the boys, called strike (nice),
ok this one gets away and it looks like third baseman is going to double the score no its a run down and time for the Black Sox to get that run back - first run the side has conceded at the tournament.
I also guess Japan will be hurting after that loss to Argentina last night ...
Brad Rona - can he deliver in front of his home crowd, opposite the media centre is the "Black Sox family" wouldn't it be great if one of the boys can bounce the ball into there. anyway Rona too is hit and off he wanders to first base ever so cool
Enoka - ball, looked like he too was hit he begins to walk to first but is called back down walks Eddie ever so calm - result Ben is still in the box and Brad stands at first the count is 3 balls 1 strike, nice bunt first base picks it up and fires it to second - sorry Brad you are back in the dugout for now
Jarrad we have all the ones - 1 hit, 1 strike, 1 runner on first and 1 out; make that two strikes change up pitch and Jarrad had a swing, ball - Japanese pitcher begging the blue to change his mind - but have you ever seen that happen ... now he hits and attempt is made to get Ben - woops too slow and he is standing at second and Jarrad at one and here comes Paddy Shannon - don't you just love that batting stance - it certainly works for him so why not? wild pitch gets over the catcher glove so now we have ben at three and jarrad at two - come on Paddy you can do it ... he now has two strikeouts on him and one ball, another ball in cricket that would have been a wide - it was so wide it was nearly going to the scorers on the side, three balls Paddy make him pay - oh darn swing and a miss
here comes Thomas the ever so cool Larry - the man who has been there done that and has three world championship rings to show he so desperately wants a fourth ... the call goes up in the stand come on Larry ...
Shame the samoa's are still playing otherwise there would have been more here watching this one remember Samoa are coached by Eddie's brother Chris there is also Ben's dad on their coaching staff
That man does it - Larry for Prime Minister the boys are out to 2-1 and sorry but Larry has been called back to second base. The ball according to that softball guru on the mike Mark "Brutus" Sorenson bounced over the fence ... oh well we got two runs ...
Bartorillo - the Italian, Australian who saw the light and is now playing for the Black Sox - he did win the world championship in 09 with THAT LOT though (I really do love Australians though!!)
Bartorillo you are a star he gets this real snappy hit and gets to first much to the displeasure of the Japanese and Thomas as fast as a cat running away from Gareth Morgan is home - 3-1 to the boys and as they say it is all happening in the second innings
Nathan we love you and he hits it to the Black Sox family on the full. Nuk Minit (yes that is what is on the back of some tee shirts)- the man who came in at the last month and the man for the moment - the boys are ahead 5-1 and Japan well mmmm let’s just say beep, beep
Tyson gets down to first base and now its Donny Hale's turn regulation out retires the boys but what an inning ... to those who were worried about the team after those first two games what are we thinking now ...
While I am at it looks like Samoa are on course for win number three ... How would a Samoa v Black Sox final sit with you all out there
Shame that those who make the decisions in various media outlets cannot see the number of people here - more than attending some of the domestic cricket games ....!!
Third inning
Jeremy now into the game - Heinie was injured in that play - 5-2 to New Zealand and one out with Kawada into bat now two outs with Patrick flying the ball down to second and the umpire agreeing the out is made
Now we have Mr Cashman out the Black Sox physio to make sure Jerry is ok - come on toughen up!!!
Over on diamond two it is now 10-10 the Indonesia team scored nine runs in one inning - come on Samoa. That game is in the tie-breaker, the Indonesia team scored nine runs in the seventh inning ... don't you just love our game. apparently Samoa needed just one out for the game when their wheels fell off - for now we hope - waiting for the screams of joy from that diamond -
Nakamura out to that man Donny Hale in the right field
we have had a Mexican wave circle the Freeman Field (how about North Harbour's field of dreams ....) think the biggest cheer went up when it got to the Black Sox family - by the way nice to see you all here and love the Tee Shirts - you know the ones. Also haven't those future players grown from 2004 - looking at the photo in the Relentless book last night ... now that makes me feel real old ...
Rona up to bat 5-2 to the Black Sox he flies out to centre field
Enoka nice drive up the middle and he is on first Martin, who in 04 talked about his "band of men and all they do is play for me ... 10 guitars Jarrad ... now for the hit man! So far he has been delivered three balls ... oh well next time - Jarrad gets the walk ...
Patrick Shannon ... two runners on - time to deliver Paddy - this park will errupt if you do trust me ... next time as Shannon is struck out
Now here comes .... Larry (Thomas Makea) the man who started it all in the last inning - I know how about Thomas for Mayor of Wellington, yeah, yeah I know he lives in Porirua but we need a real mayor in Wellington one with a passion for sport!! This time he hits down to left field and running across for the catch was the Japanese centre fielder
North Harbour and your team you can be proud of what you have here - for me paradise ... watching the game I love, writing about it and yes I have my bottle of V ... also scored a free Red Bull (you know me anything free ...)
going into the fourth innning the Black Sox are ahead 5-2.
Fourth inning
Jerry is still on the mound so Cashman must have worked his magic fingers
Taniguchi out at first base
Mera hits at Jeremy picking up the ball was Bartorillo and he fires it to Rona - two up and two down
Yokoyama - Jerry to Brad - woops Brad drops the ball and Mera has a life and stays at first
Back to the top of the order Ono at bat ... a swing and a miss .. just what the doctor ordered ...
Samoa can breathe a sigh of relief the side has won 11-10 ... maybe there was too much celebration last night for Zane's birthday. Anyway that will be a nice win for the boys - many say are NZ B... shows that a game is never over until the fat lady sings ...
ok we have Black Sox captain Rhys Casley into the game he strikes out ...
Nathan Nukunuku flys deep and out Tyson Byrne hits back to the pitcher sends to first for the third out
Fifth innings
Milne into left field for Thomas
Tyron Bartorillo back in for Rhys
Saeki to bat - Bartorillo to Brad
Matsuda out going to one
Matsuoka gets the free ride to first ...
Kawada he is out off to first base
Manly is injured - hope it is not too serious. Cashman could be in for a busy night
Thanks for the comment Moff - appreciate it
Hale up to bat he skips one down to third base and shallow left field all the Japanese players could do was skip as Hale cruised down to first - probably a lot faster though than I would be on my motorbike so it was fast
Rona up to bat and at last the local man delivers - is he a postie - the boys are out to a 7-1 lead - maybe just maybe the doubters will begin to believe again
Enoka up the middle and off to first he goes - looks like there could be a double celebration in the Enoka house tonight .... but then the players are not at home ...
Martin - known for power hitting this man is becoming a cheeky little bunter (using a phrase similar to that from Sir Paul Holmes) he does his job and standing at first is Ben (where's bill ... ) Jarrad is out but that doesn't matter as in comes Wayne Laulu now this man can hit - but not this time and he is out third to first ... for out number two.
Milne up to bat ... it’s 7-2 to the Black Sox runner that is Ben - on second ... strike out
Just been asked by Tui the media manager for the tournament why do I have 10 chairs stacked on top of each other - it is actually three - and when you are a shortie like me you need it so as you can see out the window - but I am still standing for most of the game just every now and then - mainly when the Japanese are batting I can rest my bot
Sixth inning
Nakamura he is the first out
Taniguchi flies out to Bartorillo (maybe I will shorten his name to Bart tomorrow or Rillo - what do you guys think)
Wait hold the ladder steady next to us as one of the ISF staff members come off the roof - mmm wonder what kind of view you would get up there ... don't think security would be happy with me and as I am scared of heights there is no chance of that happening .. just found out it has been red zoned ... imagine the osh report for that one
To those of you in the greater Auckland area and not here you need to get here - tomorrow our boys play Canada who remembers those games from 04 ... and then in 09 we ended their world championship dreams in their backyard - good on the Black Sox and lets do it again ... I guess Brad and co will be super fired up for that one
Tyron B - is a strikeout victim - the godfather will get you for that! I have connections if you need them Tyron
Nathan - need I say any more ... two weeks ago he probably thought the closest he would be to this was watching and supporting brother Israel who is with the Netherlands team and brother in-law Kevin Stockford who is the man behind the mask for Great Britain - he grounds out short stop to first
Tyson Byrne he gets down to one by forcing the error at first ...
Hale .... will the storm come again ... not this time
In some ways this game has gone a little flat - but you cannot complain really the Black Sox have delivered and made a huge statement - come and get us ... if you can ...
mmm the Japanese players may have to do some extra training sessions after two consecutive losses - I am sure they didn't expect to be one win from three games
Nice to have Mark Sorenson doing the commentary - this is the MAN who can have the tee shirt ... been there and done that. He certainly has been there and done that - 1984 as a 16 year-old on the world championship winning team ... the following year captained the under-19 boys to their world crown and then 1996, 2000 and 2004 he was there for those three world crowns. He was also there in 1988 and 1992 when the boys were beaten - remember those rocks in the pillow ...
Seventh inning
Yokiyama jerry gets the k. nice start to the innings and maybe just two batters to face jerry and you have done it
Kengo, who has come into the game, think he is feeling the heat and not just from the balls that jerry is firing at him as he takes of his helmet and wipes the sweat away or is that tears ... he bounces one up to jerry who fires it across to first for out number two
Kimihiko turn now - just one out away from a job well day at the office boys - strikeout
thank you umpires thank you scorers and thank you Black Sox ... oh yes and don't forget the bat boys and also the supporters - you all come back now you hear!!
Nathan Nuknuku – second base; Tyson Byrne at short; Donny Hale right (this man will along with Rona and Nukunuku have plenty of knowledge of the Japanese players having spent their off-season playing over there); Brad first; Ben Enoka centre, Jarrad the dp; Patrick catching; Tyron Bartorillo third; Nik Hayes has the ball for this big one what a test for the young man who originated from Nelson
Japan: Ono Yohei left; Saeki Tadaaki first; Matsuda Hikaru pitching; Matsuoka Mastaeru short; Kawada Naoaki right; Nakamura Kenji dp; Taniguchi Jun second; Mera Kota third; Yokoyama Hikaru centre; Kataoka Taiyo catcher
What an upset in the game before South Africa beat the USA – yes you are reading that correct – certainly their biggest result in the game.
Black Sox have just been introduced to the crowd and it is a good one here at Rosedale Park. The boys are on the third base line meaning they will bat bottom.
First innings
Boy i wonder how Nik Hayes is feeling ... a few years ago this would have all but been a dream ... the call has gone up come on kiwi finally we have a vocal crowd
Ono strike, strike, ball, strikeout - nice start for Nik
Saeki ball, strike, strike out number three - nice work Nik and Paddy - the new kid with the "old fella"
Matsuda ball, strike, ball, ball, walked
Matsuoka ball, strike, strike, strike - nice start Nik
Nukunuku ball, strike, nearly forced the error but the second base managed to get it to one looked like a photo finish from here but then may be those glasses need replacing
Byrne gee that man can run puts down the bunt and standing at first and up steps ...
Hale will he deliver first pitch, darn Tyson caught stealing he apparently left too early (yeah right) anyway two outs and Hale is still in the box .. oh darn he has been struck out
Second inning
Kawada first one is a strike, ball, ball strike, foul, strikeout again - well done Nik
Nakamura ended up walking to first - he gets to third on that hit but really to those in the stand he was gone but then those of us in the stand are not on the Freeman Field are we - can hear someone saying that was rubbish ...
Taniguhi strike, ball, in the gap and now he stands on second base
Mera he is out - short to first and more importantly those two runners have not moved
Yokoyama oh dear Nik has just hit him and we now have a runner on third and we have loaded bases -
Ono - back to the top of the order
Hot day out there for the teams, out comes Chubb and Paddy to have a chat to their young hurler -
Ono is hit too and home comes the man from third and now things are happening - Nik's game is over and here comes Heinie. The Shannon combination - this has been done before at a world championship but not on their home turf - Heinie was with the Samoa team back in 04 but these two no doubt have played this sort of thing out in their back yard as young wipper snappers growing up
Two outs loaded bases and Japan up 1-0 ...
Saeki to bat ball, come on crowd start yelling for the boys, called strike (nice),
ok this one gets away and it looks like third baseman is going to double the score no its a run down and time for the Black Sox to get that run back - first run the side has conceded at the tournament.
I also guess Japan will be hurting after that loss to Argentina last night ...
Brad Rona - can he deliver in front of his home crowd, opposite the media centre is the "Black Sox family" wouldn't it be great if one of the boys can bounce the ball into there. anyway Rona too is hit and off he wanders to first base ever so cool
Enoka - ball, looked like he too was hit he begins to walk to first but is called back down walks Eddie ever so calm - result Ben is still in the box and Brad stands at first the count is 3 balls 1 strike, nice bunt first base picks it up and fires it to second - sorry Brad you are back in the dugout for now
Jarrad we have all the ones - 1 hit, 1 strike, 1 runner on first and 1 out; make that two strikes change up pitch and Jarrad had a swing, ball - Japanese pitcher begging the blue to change his mind - but have you ever seen that happen ... now he hits and attempt is made to get Ben - woops too slow and he is standing at second and Jarrad at one and here comes Paddy Shannon - don't you just love that batting stance - it certainly works for him so why not? wild pitch gets over the catcher glove so now we have ben at three and jarrad at two - come on Paddy you can do it ... he now has two strikeouts on him and one ball, another ball in cricket that would have been a wide - it was so wide it was nearly going to the scorers on the side, three balls Paddy make him pay - oh darn swing and a miss
here comes Thomas the ever so cool Larry - the man who has been there done that and has three world championship rings to show he so desperately wants a fourth ... the call goes up in the stand come on Larry ...
Shame the samoa's are still playing otherwise there would have been more here watching this one remember Samoa are coached by Eddie's brother Chris there is also Ben's dad on their coaching staff
That man does it - Larry for Prime Minister the boys are out to 2-1 and sorry but Larry has been called back to second base. The ball according to that softball guru on the mike Mark "Brutus" Sorenson bounced over the fence ... oh well we got two runs ...
Bartorillo - the Italian, Australian who saw the light and is now playing for the Black Sox - he did win the world championship in 09 with THAT LOT though (I really do love Australians though!!)
Bartorillo you are a star he gets this real snappy hit and gets to first much to the displeasure of the Japanese and Thomas as fast as a cat running away from Gareth Morgan is home - 3-1 to the boys and as they say it is all happening in the second innings
Nathan we love you and he hits it to the Black Sox family on the full. Nuk Minit (yes that is what is on the back of some tee shirts)- the man who came in at the last month and the man for the moment - the boys are ahead 5-1 and Japan well mmmm let’s just say beep, beep
Tyson gets down to first base and now its Donny Hale's turn regulation out retires the boys but what an inning ... to those who were worried about the team after those first two games what are we thinking now ...
While I am at it looks like Samoa are on course for win number three ... How would a Samoa v Black Sox final sit with you all out there
Shame that those who make the decisions in various media outlets cannot see the number of people here - more than attending some of the domestic cricket games ....!!
Third inning
Jeremy now into the game - Heinie was injured in that play - 5-2 to New Zealand and one out with Kawada into bat now two outs with Patrick flying the ball down to second and the umpire agreeing the out is made
Now we have Mr Cashman out the Black Sox physio to make sure Jerry is ok - come on toughen up!!!
Over on diamond two it is now 10-10 the Indonesia team scored nine runs in one inning - come on Samoa. That game is in the tie-breaker, the Indonesia team scored nine runs in the seventh inning ... don't you just love our game. apparently Samoa needed just one out for the game when their wheels fell off - for now we hope - waiting for the screams of joy from that diamond -
Nakamura out to that man Donny Hale in the right field
we have had a Mexican wave circle the Freeman Field (how about North Harbour's field of dreams ....) think the biggest cheer went up when it got to the Black Sox family - by the way nice to see you all here and love the Tee Shirts - you know the ones. Also haven't those future players grown from 2004 - looking at the photo in the Relentless book last night ... now that makes me feel real old ...
Rona up to bat 5-2 to the Black Sox he flies out to centre field
Enoka nice drive up the middle and he is on first Martin, who in 04 talked about his "band of men and all they do is play for me ... 10 guitars Jarrad ... now for the hit man! So far he has been delivered three balls ... oh well next time - Jarrad gets the walk ...
Patrick Shannon ... two runners on - time to deliver Paddy - this park will errupt if you do trust me ... next time as Shannon is struck out
Now here comes .... Larry (Thomas Makea) the man who started it all in the last inning - I know how about Thomas for Mayor of Wellington, yeah, yeah I know he lives in Porirua but we need a real mayor in Wellington one with a passion for sport!! This time he hits down to left field and running across for the catch was the Japanese centre fielder
North Harbour and your team you can be proud of what you have here - for me paradise ... watching the game I love, writing about it and yes I have my bottle of V ... also scored a free Red Bull (you know me anything free ...)
going into the fourth innning the Black Sox are ahead 5-2.
Fourth inning
Jerry is still on the mound so Cashman must have worked his magic fingers
Taniguchi out at first base
Mera hits at Jeremy picking up the ball was Bartorillo and he fires it to Rona - two up and two down
Yokoyama - Jerry to Brad - woops Brad drops the ball and Mera has a life and stays at first
Back to the top of the order Ono at bat ... a swing and a miss .. just what the doctor ordered ...
Samoa can breathe a sigh of relief the side has won 11-10 ... maybe there was too much celebration last night for Zane's birthday. Anyway that will be a nice win for the boys - many say are NZ B... shows that a game is never over until the fat lady sings ...
ok we have Black Sox captain Rhys Casley into the game he strikes out ...
Nathan Nukunuku flys deep and out Tyson Byrne hits back to the pitcher sends to first for the third out
Fifth innings
Milne into left field for Thomas
Tyron Bartorillo back in for Rhys
Saeki to bat - Bartorillo to Brad
Matsuda out going to one
Matsuoka gets the free ride to first ...
Kawada he is out off to first base
Manly is injured - hope it is not too serious. Cashman could be in for a busy night
Thanks for the comment Moff - appreciate it
Hale up to bat he skips one down to third base and shallow left field all the Japanese players could do was skip as Hale cruised down to first - probably a lot faster though than I would be on my motorbike so it was fast
Rona up to bat and at last the local man delivers - is he a postie - the boys are out to a 7-1 lead - maybe just maybe the doubters will begin to believe again
Enoka up the middle and off to first he goes - looks like there could be a double celebration in the Enoka house tonight .... but then the players are not at home ...
Martin - known for power hitting this man is becoming a cheeky little bunter (using a phrase similar to that from Sir Paul Holmes) he does his job and standing at first is Ben (where's bill ... ) Jarrad is out but that doesn't matter as in comes Wayne Laulu now this man can hit - but not this time and he is out third to first ... for out number two.
Milne up to bat ... it’s 7-2 to the Black Sox runner that is Ben - on second ... strike out
Just been asked by Tui the media manager for the tournament why do I have 10 chairs stacked on top of each other - it is actually three - and when you are a shortie like me you need it so as you can see out the window - but I am still standing for most of the game just every now and then - mainly when the Japanese are batting I can rest my bot
Sixth inning
Nakamura he is the first out
Taniguchi flies out to Bartorillo (maybe I will shorten his name to Bart tomorrow or Rillo - what do you guys think)
Wait hold the ladder steady next to us as one of the ISF staff members come off the roof - mmm wonder what kind of view you would get up there ... don't think security would be happy with me and as I am scared of heights there is no chance of that happening .. just found out it has been red zoned ... imagine the osh report for that one
To those of you in the greater Auckland area and not here you need to get here - tomorrow our boys play Canada who remembers those games from 04 ... and then in 09 we ended their world championship dreams in their backyard - good on the Black Sox and lets do it again ... I guess Brad and co will be super fired up for that one
Tyron B - is a strikeout victim - the godfather will get you for that! I have connections if you need them Tyron
Nathan - need I say any more ... two weeks ago he probably thought the closest he would be to this was watching and supporting brother Israel who is with the Netherlands team and brother in-law Kevin Stockford who is the man behind the mask for Great Britain - he grounds out short stop to first
Tyson Byrne he gets down to one by forcing the error at first ...
Hale .... will the storm come again ... not this time
In some ways this game has gone a little flat - but you cannot complain really the Black Sox have delivered and made a huge statement - come and get us ... if you can ...
mmm the Japanese players may have to do some extra training sessions after two consecutive losses - I am sure they didn't expect to be one win from three games
Nice to have Mark Sorenson doing the commentary - this is the MAN who can have the tee shirt ... been there and done that. He certainly has been there and done that - 1984 as a 16 year-old on the world championship winning team ... the following year captained the under-19 boys to their world crown and then 1996, 2000 and 2004 he was there for those three world crowns. He was also there in 1988 and 1992 when the boys were beaten - remember those rocks in the pillow ...
Seventh inning
Yokiyama jerry gets the k. nice start to the innings and maybe just two batters to face jerry and you have done it
Kengo, who has come into the game, think he is feeling the heat and not just from the balls that jerry is firing at him as he takes of his helmet and wipes the sweat away or is that tears ... he bounces one up to jerry who fires it across to first for out number two
Kimihiko turn now - just one out away from a job well day at the office boys - strikeout
thank you umpires thank you scorers and thank you Black Sox ... oh yes and don't forget the bat boys and also the supporters - you all come back now you hear!!