Softball: Sox hit ground running

The Black Sox have their feet firmly on the ground despite taking just four innings to beat the United States 15-0 in their opening game at the world men's softball championships in Saskatoon, Canada.

"It was quite devastating," Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said. "In 2004 [the last world championship] we used the word 'relentless' and we were aiming for a good start, but that was certainly something special.

"But this is only the first day."

In the first innings the Black Sox, who are looking for their fourth consecutive world crown, showed just why they are the best in the world, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. Brad Rona picked up the side's first home run of the tournament. Before the game finished, Donny Hale and Nathan Nukunuku had added their names to that list.

While the side has made a dream start to their campaign, captain Jarrad Martin knows there is still plenty of work ahead.

"We are focused and we know what we have to do," he said. "We have our feet firmly on the ground."

While the Black Sox batters did their job well collecting 15 hits, the side also performed well defensively.

The defensive effort was helped by the pitching of stalwart Marty Grant, who is playing in his fourth world championship and his first since 2000. Injury ruled him out of the 2004 tournament. Grant started the game and gave up only one hit in his three innings on the mound.

In other results, the Black Sox opponents for tonight's game, Great Britain, were beaten 4-3 by the Philippines. Great Britain opened the scoring in their first turn at bat, then conceded four runs in the fourth inning. While they did manage to add to the run tally in the sixth and seventh innings, those two runs came too late.

Denmark, who the Black Sox play on Wednesday (NZT), beat Botswana 4-1. The New Zealanders' final section game on Friday is against Japan, who won their match against Mexico 10-4.

In the other section, the Czech Republic, Australia and Puerto Rico had wins over South Africa 8-6, Venezuela 7-0 and Indonesia 9-0 respectively.

Hosts Canada, who were the beaten 2004 finalist, also got their campaign off to a winning start, beating Argentina 8-1.

- NZPA