Kiwis crush Blu Boys

Host New Zealand showed no mercy in dealing the Philippines a devastating 8-1 loss in the XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Tuesday at Rosedale Park in Auckland.

The Blu Boys lost their fourth game of the tournament and will most likely be relegated to the Placement Round as it is too far to reach the Super Round.

The Philippines actually started strong at the top of the first inning after Michael Pagkaliwagan scored a run courtesy of a run-batted-in by Mark Janzen Gaspi.

The Kiwis, however, scored three runs at the bottom of the first inning after Reilly Jazz Ariki Makea hit a home run from deep left center that sent him, Joel James Evans and Cole Evans to home plate, 3-1.

Makea, Cole Evans, Benjamin Enoka and Thomas Enoka all scored runs at the bottom of the fourth inning and padded New Zealand’s lead to 7-1

Thomas Enoka scored the eighth and final run at the bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of an RBI by Makea to trigger the mercy rule and finish the game.

Last Monday, the Blu Boys lost to Cuba, 3-1.

The Philippines will face Czech Republic next on 30 November at 10 a.m. (Manila time).