Argentina's infielder Franco Ortellado delivered a historic performance in a 16-0 victory against Hong Kong, China, hitting three homers and driving in six runs. "I was calm before the game, maybe a bit of anxiety for my first start, but I was relaxed. It's great to have the opportunity to join the team and contribute with my teammates," he said.
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<p>Argentina's infielder Franco Ortellado delivered a historic offensive exhibition on Friday, in his team's 16-0 victory against Hong Kong, China, at the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-group-b/home">XVIII Men's Softball World Cup</a> in Prime Ministers’ Park Rotary Field in Prince Albert, Canada. </p>
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<p>Ortellado hit three home runs and drove in six runs, making a memorable impact in his first start in a Men's Softball World Cup. </p>
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<p>Born on January 16, 1996, in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, the 28-year-old infielder won the U-18 Men's Softball World Cup in 2014 in Whitehorse, Canada, securing Argentina's second consecutive youth world title. This year, he is making his debut in the Men's Softball World Cup. </p>
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<p>"I was calm before the game, maybe a bit anxious for my first start, but I was relaxed," he said. "It's great to have the opportunity to join the team and contribute with my teammates."</p>
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<p>After the game, Ortellado, who began playing softball at his hometown's All Boys club, mentioned that he was not trying to swing for the fences. "In my first at-bat, I was not looking for a home run, to be honest," he said. "It was a drop ball, and I was focused on making contact. It just happened." This all took place in the first inning.</p>
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<p>One inning later, with one out and the bases empty, Ortellado got his second at-bat. He took the first pitch as a ball, and then smashed his second homer of the game to left field. "The second at-bat was also a drop, a bit more in the inside corner," he described. "This time I was looking for that pitch, and I was lucky enough to barrel it."</p>
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<p>In the bottom of the fourth, he stepped in the batter's box with runners in the corners and two outs. And he ended the game with a walk-off homer. "The third homer was a rise ball, in the outside part of the plate. I was just trying to put the ball in play to score one more run for the team. But the ball carried out and left the ballpark," he said. </p>
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<p>Asked about his approach in the third at bat, after belting back-to-back homers in his previous plate appearances he said: "I was calmer, I try to have the same approach in every at bat." </p>
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<p>The last time a player hit three homers in one game was on 8 July 2017 in Whitehorse, Canada, when Yeider Chirinos did so in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Venezuela's 35-0 win against Türkiye (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2017-mens-softball-world-championship/schedule-and-results/box-score/3163" target="_blank">Venezuela's 35-0 win against Türkiye</a>. The day before, Tyron Bartorillo did the same against Türkiye, in <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2017-mens-softball-world-championship/schedule-and-results/box-score/3153" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="New Zealand's 22-0 game (opens in a new tab)">New Zealand's 22-0 game</a>.</p>
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