Sorenson eyes crucial Cuba clash

Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson know his side’s playoffs fate hinges on the result of a must-win Softball World Cup clash with Cuba today.

The seven-time world champion Black Sox have made life harder for themselves after two consecutive defeats in Auckland.

They went down 7-0 to the United States on Sunday – their first defeat to the Americans since 1988 when Kiwi pitcher Peter Meredith hurled his adopted nation to the world championships title.

Then, they surrendered a 5-1 lead going into the seventh inning to lose 11-5 to world champions Argentina, who grabbed six runs going into the ninth inning tiebreaker.

New Zealand posted a healthy 7-1 win in five innings last night against the Philippines to keep their hopes alive.

The playoff permutations in Pool A took a fresh twist when the hitherto impressive Cubans lost 8-4 to the United States. If there is a two-way tie between the Black Sox and the United States, it would be the Americans who would likely finish as second seed for tomorrow’s top-six Super Round by virtue of beating the Kiwis.

Sorenson admitted his team was in a dogfight.

He agreed it will be hard to pick his players up after the nature of their defeat to Argentina, but he backed his team to bounce back.

‘‘We’ve got enough pride in what we do, and we’re still going to do the right things and come out firing.’’

Captain Cole Evans – who smashed a first inning home run to spark the comeback against Argentina – admitted losing in the ninth inning was ‘‘tough to take’’.

‘‘To take a four-run lead into the seventh, it’ s always a tough one when you lose a game like that, but that’s sport.’’

Meanwhile, four-time world champions Canada are now the only team with four wins in Pool B after beating Australia 6-0.

Both sides had already qualified for the Super Round.