Skipper leads Sox to win

Skipper Nathan Nukunuku’s two home runs led the Black Sox to an 8-1 win over Japan to make a big statement at the softball world championship.

The Auckland infielder batted in five runs – giving him eight RBIs for the tournament – as the Black Sox, rated No 1 in the world, thumped second-ranked Japan yesterday.

Nukunuku, a 37-year-old attending a record-equalling sixth world championship, showed why coach Mark Sorenson wanted him back to captain the team in Whitehorse after taking a break from the Black Sox due to work commitments.

New Zealand – chasing a seventh world title – were trailing 1-0 when the game resumed after rain forced the teams off the diamond on Monday.

Then Japan made a fateful pitching change They replaced starter Hayami Takahashi, who had held the Black Sox hitless in two innings, with Kento Okazaki.

It seemed an odd move because Okazaki, who played in New Zealand last season, found himself facing three Auckland Rambers teammates in his first inning on the mound.

The first, catcher Zane van Lieshout, led off with a walk and the second, Cole Evans, swatted a single. That brought up the third – Nukunuku, the Ramblers’ playercoach, who hit a three-run homer to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.

Canterbury third baseman Tyron Bartorillo blasted his fifth home run of the tournament in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Japan then brought on their third pitcher of the game; but Yuki Mori proved the most profligate.

He gave a free pass to Campbell Enoka, who scampered to second base on a wild pitch.

Nukunuku came to the plate with one-down and made Mori pay when the right-handed hurler hung a pitch over the plate. The Kiwi skipper slammed a two-run homer over centrefield to make it 6-1.

Van Lieshout collected his first hit of the tournament to drive in Josh Harbrow, pinch-running for Wayne Laulu in the sixth inning and Enoka drove in his cousin Kallan Compain to end the game early, 8-1.