The WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B has only two undefeated teams after Day 2 of the competition, with New Zealand and Argentina leading the standings with two wins in as many games. Hong Kong, China claimed their first World Cup win in seven years, and Canada topped Singapore in the other game of the day.
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On Friday, Singapore and Israel will open the day at 10am, followed by the game between Singapore and Hong Kong, China at 1pm, in an all Asia matchup. Game 10 is scheduled at 4pm betweek Hong Kong, China and Argentina. The last game of the day will see the biggest men's softball rivalry in the planet, with New Zealand and Canada colliding at 7pm. You can see the schedule here.
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New Zealand used three home runs today to defeat Israel, 10-0, four innings in the first game of the day. Hohepa Monk, Cole Evans and Pita Rona went yard for the seven-time World Champions, Evans with a grand slam in the third frame and Rona with a three-run shot one inning later. New Zealand connected nine hits in the game. This is New Zealand second win in the tournament, while Israel is now 0-2 in the standings.
Behind a solid offensive performance by Corey Ng and Tak Hei Cheung from the first two spots in the order Hong Kong, China clinched a 3-2 win over Israel in Game 5 of this Group B. Yuk Sing Ling tossed the complete game, giving up eight hits and two runs, while striking out seven.
Lead-off hitter Corey Ng scored the first run of the game in the first inning, and hit a solo home run in the fourth, representing the game-winning run. From the second spot in the lineup, Cheung went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Israel outhit their opponents 8-6 but lacked of the clutch hitting in the game, leaving 12 runners on base.
This game represented the first Men's Softball World Cup win for Hong Kong, China since 8 July 2017, when they beat India, 2-1, for the Opening Round of the event staged in Whitehorse.
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 1 |  |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 |
| 3 |  |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 0.5 |
| 4 |  |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
| 5 |  |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 2 |
| 6 |  |
| 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 2.5 |
Ty Sebastian struck out 15 and Blake Hunter had a perfect 4-for-4 performance with a homer and two RBIs to lead Canada to a 7-1 victory against Singapore, in Game 6 of the Men's Softball World Cup Group B.
With the game 1-0 after Hunter's solo homer in the top of the first, Sebastian served a one-out homer to Joshua Tam to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. After that, he retired 17 consecutive batters until Tam walked in the bottom of the seventh.
For Singapore, Marcus Chew pitched four quality innings, giving up only two hits and a run, with five strikeouts against no walks. Huzaifie Noorham was charged with the loss after tossing two innings, while Matthew Tan allowed five runs in the top of the seventh.
Behind a complete game shutout from superstar Huemul Mata, Argentina claimed a key win in the Opening Round against Canada, 2-0, to close Day 2 of the competition. The right hander, born in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, gave up four hits and two walks, while striking out seven. He was named Player of the Day.
Canada had a great scoring opportunity in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Mata forced Cory Jones to hit a fly ball to center field to escape the jam.
Argentina scored one in the fourth on a short fly ball to right field, allowing Federico Eder to score from third. One inning later, Ladislao Malarczuk drove in Lucio Retamar with the insurance run.
For Canada, the losing pitcher was Justin Schofield, who pitched 4.2 innings giving up four hits and two runs. He struck out seven.
Bottom 5th - With two outs in the scoreboard, Lucio Retamar hit a line-drive triple over the center fielder, and then scored on a clutch RBI single from Ladislao Malarczuk. A spectacular diving catch by Mathieu Roy ended the inning and saved two runs to keep the score 2-0.
Bottom 4th - Argentina take the lead in the game. Federico Eder was hit by pitch, moved to second on a sac bunt, and advanced to third on a single from Manuel Godoy. From there, he scored with a fly ball to right field by Juan Zara, long enough to score in a close play at home.
We are still scoreless after two innings. Canada has left four runners on base agains Huemul Mata, including a bases loaded situation in the first frame. On the other hand, Justin Schofield has retired the first six batters he faced.
Preview - The last game of the day is one of the most expected matchups of the Opening Round. Four-time World Champions Canada will play No. 1 Argentina, in a game that has become a classic rivalry in the Americas. Both teams won on day 1, but only one will remain undefeated after today. The last time they played each other was in Auckland 2022, on 2 December. Argentina prevailed, 5-4, in the Super Round game.
Top 7th - Canada rallies for five runs with three singles and a three run homer off the bat of Cory Jones. The hosts have now a comfortable six-run lead to face the seventh inning.
Top 5th - Huzaife Noorham replaces Chew in the circle for Singapore. He walked Jordan Pomeroy and gave up a Justin Laskowski triple to plate the go-ahead run for Canada. The game is 2-1 for the hosts.
After the fireworks in the first inning, the game remains tied 1-1 after four complete innings. Singapore's pitcher Marcus Chew has given up two hits while striking out five, while Canada's Ty Sebastian has 10 strikeouts, allowing only one hit.
Bottom 1st - Singapore also use the long ball to tie the game. Joshua Tam exploded an inside-corner drop ball and sent it over the bleachers in right field. The game is now 1-1. Mohammad Noorham was the last Singaporean player to homer in a Men's Softball World Cup. He did it in the third inning of the game against the Netherlands, on 20 June during the 2019 World Cup in Czechia. That day, Marcuis Chew also homered for Singapore, in the second inning.
Top 1st - Canada strikes first in the game. After two quick outs, Blake Hunter sent a Marcus Chen pitch over the center field fence to give the hosts an early lead in the game.
Preview - Canada will also play two games on Thursday, at 4pm and 7 pm. In their first game, the host team will take on Singapore. Canada opened the event with a 7-1 victory over Hong Kong, China, while Singapore lost to New Zealand in their opener. Their last game was on 19 June 2019 in Havlickuv Brod, Czechia. Canada defeated the Asians, 8-0.
Top 6th - Israel scores one on a bases-loaded fielder's choice and it's a one-run ballgame. The game is now 3-2. Israel has left 11 runners on base in the game, including two bases loaded situations.
Bottom 4th - Corey Ng stays hot and hits a solo homer to left center field. The Hong Kong, China center fielder is 3-for-6, all of them extra bases (a double, a triple and this homer). Now the score is 3-1 for the Asians.
Bottom 2nd - Tak Wei Cheung strikes again. Hong Kong, China shortstop hit a clutch two-out line-drive single to left field to give his team a 2-1 lead. After going 1-for-3 yesterday against Canada, now he's 3-for-5 for the tournament.
Top 2nd - Oren Bobrov hit a two-out single to the right field to score Liam Foreberg and tie the game at 1. This is Israel's first run in the competition, and represents their first run in a Men's Softball World Cup in 28 years (their last run was scored on 10 July 1996, in a 4-2 loss against South Africa).
Bottom 1st - Hong Kong, China open the game with back to back hits and they are leading before recording an out. Corey Ng smashed a leadoff triple to left field, and three pitches later scored on a Tak Wei Cheung single up the middle. The game is 1-0
Preview - Israel will face Hong Kong, China at 1pm looking for a much-needed win. This will be the first time these two teams compete in a World Cup in a game that will be critical to bounce back and get a win to stay in contention for a spot in Sunday's playoffs.
Top 4th - A three-run shot off the bat of Pita Rona was the highlight of a five-run rally to get a 10-0 lead.
Top 3rd - New Zealand is swinging big today! Captain Cole Evans found the bases loaded and sent a drop ball over the center field stands for a Grand Slam! This is Evans' fourth career homer at the Men's Softball World Cup, after hitting two in 2017 and one in 2022.
Top 2nd - New Zealand takes the lead. Hohepa Monk rocketed an inside pitch way over the center field fence to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Preview - New Zealand and Israel face each other at 10am (all local times) to open day 2 of action. Yesterday, New Zealand won the most contested game of the day against Singapore, 2-0, while Israel was downed by Argentina in the first game of the tournament, 8-0. This is their second meeting at a World Cup level, In Midland 1996, the Black Sox won 17-0 in Israel's only appearance in this competition.
