Rampant Sox stun Argentina to lift Cup
The Black Sox stormed to the Challenge Cup softball title with a brilliant 9-0 final win over Argentina at Albany yesterday.
Wellington pitcher Josh Pettett led the way against Argentina — who beat Japan 6-0 to make the final — until the Black Sox batters took over at the end of the game.
A Wayne Laulu home run in the sixth innings, which brought in two other runs, finished off the final. New Zealand went on a final rampage, scoring six runs in the innings, having built up a three-run lead before that.
In their previous meeting on Saturday night, Argentina pushed New Zealand all the way in a dramatic game. Replacement batter Isaac Fletcher hit a grand slam home run as the Black Sox came from 1-6 down to win 8-6 and clinch a place in the final.
“We saved the best until last,” said New Zealand coach Mark Sorenson, while his opposite Julio Gamarci described the Black Sox as “perfect” in the final at Rosedale Park.
New Zealand led from the second innings when Auckland short stop Cole Evans came home on a throwing error. Campbell Enoka launched a home run off Huemul Mata in the third, and great running from captain Thomas Enoka brought another in the fifth.
New Zealand played the final without Ben Enoka, suspended for his role in the brawl against Argentina which saw him ejected and replaced by eventual hero Fletcher.
Sorenson picked out the performance of pitcher Pettett saying he had started the tournament as a rookie, and finished as the leading man. Pettett gave up just two hits in six innings and was named MVP for the final.
New Zealand finished the tournament with one defeat, to Japan, and Sorenson said the team was progressing well towards defending their world title in the northern Canadian town of Whitehorse this year.