Softball: Canada advance to final with NZ

3.35pm

CANADA 7 AUSTRALIA 0

Canada have advanced to the world softball championship final against New Zealand after beating Australia in the major semifinal in Christchurch today.

Canada is now one step away from glory after a 7-nil mercy rule win over Australia in its semifinal.

The question now is whether both the kiwis and the Canadians can temper their aggression or whether it will spill over into Sunday's final.

The Black Sox thrashed Canada 13-5 in a feisty playoff at Christchurch yesterday.

An all-in brawl nearly erupted in the fourth inning when kiwi pitcher Jim Wana hit a Canadian batter in the head.

Both dugouts emptied which led to a lot of pushing and shoving.

As a result, Canadian pitcher Dean Holoien was ejected from the game and Wana received a warning.

AUSTRALIA TAKE BRONZE MEDAL

Australia ended their surprisingly good run at the men's world softball championship with a bronze medal today.

The progress was halted with a 0-7 loss to Canada in the major semifinal. Canada advanced to the final against New Zealand.

The way they gave up so meekly to Canada today was as surprising as their fine effort to knock off such fancied teams such as Japan and the United States yesterday.

Fielding errors added to their woes and Canada's 6-0 lead in the second inning, although there was little they could do to avoid some thunderous hits over the fence by the powerful Canadian hitters.

After pinch hitter Rob Gray allowed Ryan Wolfe to score, Colin Abbott wielded Andrew Kirkpatrick's 116km/h pitch over centrefield to score a double and give Canada a 3-0 lead.

It was all downhill for the Australians from there and they pulled off Kirkpatrick for the more experienced Neal Delpero.

But he, too, could not stop Canada's big hitters.

Chris Jones drove to the left field to bring Terry Challis home and Darrell Sandback made it 5-0 to allow Jones to complete his run from third base.

Darren Box smashed Delpero over the centre field for Canada's second homer before Bob Court scored with a similar hit to make it 7-0.

Australia had finished third in pool A behind Canada and New Zealand but with sudden-death facing them in the playoffs, they stormed past leading pool B teams Argentina, Japan and the United States yesterday.

Australia's record in the championship: bt Philippines 2-1, lost to New Zealand 2-9, lost to Canada 2-3, bt South Africa 7-2, bt Venezuela 8-0, bt Samoa 8-0, bt Netherlands 12-0. Playoffs: bt Argentina 7-0, bt Japan 5-0, bt United States 5-4, lost to Canada 0-7 (major semifinal).

- NZPA and Newstalk ZB

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