Softball: White Sox build base for Olympic quest

SYDNEY - New Zealand lost 2-1 to China in their first match at the pre-Olympic five-nation women's softball tournament yesterday.

The White Sox were happy with their performance against the world's fourth-ranked team, putting in a good defensive effort in their first game together as the Olympic squad.

New Zealand coach Mike Walsh chose to rest captain and key pitcher Gina Weber, using third-choice left-hander Fiona Timu for the entire match. She tired a little near the end but did well to concede just six hits from 23 batters faced.

The White Sox opened the scoring in the first inning when Kiri Shaw thumped the second pitch she faced over the fence of the Blacktown facility which will be used for the games.

The New Zealanders could manage only three further hits, including another one by Shaw which gave her two from three.

For China, Chun Chang Zhang and Qjang Wei got home in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively.

White Sox manager Marilyn Marshall said the team were happy with the first-up effort and would use it as a base on which to build for their remaining matches against Japan, Canada and Australia.

- NZPA