Softball: Sorenson leads the way in historic victory

By JULIE ASH

Black Sox veteran Mark Sorenson silenced not only the Canadians but also his team-mates when he smashed one over the fence in New Zealand's emphatic 9-5 win in the final of the world championships in Christchurch last night.

With the score locked at 3-all Sorenson, playing in his sixth world championship, unleashed a mighty hit which sailed over the fence securing a crucial 6-3 lead at the bottom of the third inning.

"The boys have been giving me a bit of hard time about not having scored a home run so hitting one in the final was as good as any," Sorenson said.

He then completed a second trip around the diamond, coming in off a Thomas Makea hit in the bottom of the fifth to take New Zealand to a 7-4 lead.

New Zealand's lead was further extended in the inning when Makea got home.

Dion Nukunuku then followed Sorenson's lead and belted one over the fence which took New Zealand to a comfortable 9-4 lead.

Canada added only one run to their tally in the top of the seventh, handing the Black Sox victory and their third successive world title.

New Zealand started with Michael Gaiger on the mound but replaced him with Jim Wana in the top of the third.

Gaiger faced eight batters and let in two hits, Wana faced 24 batters, had four strikeouts and let in four hits.

"Jimmy threw well but we always knew that we had five guys who were prepared to give us everything on the pitching mound," said Blacks Sox coach Don Tricker.

"It was just fortunate for us that Jim went out there and pitched a good game and pretty much kept the Canadians off balance."

Having beaten the Australians 7-0 yesterday afternoon to win a place in the final, the Canadians came into the final warmed up and raced out to an early 3-1 lead in the first inning.

However, with "relentless" as their catch phrase, the New Zealand defence stepped up a gear and the batters came into their own.

Sorenson was the top New Zealand batter chipping in with four hits.

Patrick Shannon and Dion Nukunuku both nailed two while Stacy McLean, Jarrad Martin, Makea and Nathan Nukunuku all bagged one apiece.

"We have got hitting all the way up and down the line-up," said Tricker.

"We had this word relentless and that is what we wanted to be. Never give the opposition a free out.

"We wanted the pitchers to think, 'Oh no, here comes another one' - so no cheap outs and that is what we have been doing all week."

For Sorenson the win highlights a remarkable comeback.

He retired in 2001 but was enticed back by the prospect of playing at home. "It is awesome," he said. "It confirms it was the right decision to come back and play.

"These guys are a special group. From when the team was named it has been about enjoying each other's company, doing the little things right, putting the hard work in and making some sacrifices."

Tricker said Sorenson was an inspiration.

"Mark comes to play. It is not about what he says, it is about what he does. It would be fair to say Mark took a little bit of time adjusting back into the side because the side was quite different to the one he left four years ago. But after that initial adjustment he slotted back in there like he had never left."