Softball: Wana shuts out US to put Black Sox into semis

9.15pm - By HARRIS CHOY

UPDATED REPORT - The Black Sox strangled the life out of the United States in Christchurch tonight to reach the semifinals of the men's world softball championship.

Jimmy Wana shut out the Americans with some of the best pitching seen at this championship, as New Zealand ended the US' unbeaten run with a 9-0 victory in just five innings.

The margin of the loss stunned the Americans, who now must beat Samoa tomorrow to stay in the tournament.

"That was pretty impressive -- the way they (Black Sox) won," said Michael Forsyth, coach of the Samoans who were more than interested spectators.

"I think they are starting to show their real hand now."

The New Zealanders, reigning world champions, yesterday suffered their first loss of the championship when going down 4-5 to pool A rival Canada.

There were no home runs or spectacular hitting from the Black Sox today. Instead, they executed a patient, yet solid gameplan and brought the runners home one after another.

They scored six runs in the second inning and three in the third to end the game prematurely as the mercy rule was implemented.

"I think we proved that we're not a one dimensional team. We didn't depend on (automatic) home runs today," Black Sox coach Don Tricker said.

"I'm happy with the win, not excited because we've still got two days ahead of us. You have to remember the US are not out of this tournament at all."

American pitcher Travis Price said his team needed to put the loss behind them as soon as possible.

"New Zealand are a very good team, they should take the credit for the way they executed their game today.

"We didn't show what we can do, we're a team who can score a bunch of runs too."

With Doug Gillis on the pitching mound New Zealand scored three runs when Nathan Nukunuku brought Donny Hale home from third base and Stacy McLean drove to allow Taifau Matai and Nukunuku to score.

The US responded by bringing on Doug Middleton in the middle of the second inning but New Zealand scored three more, with Dion Nukunuku finishing his run on a bad pitch, McLean reaching home from Mark Sorenson's hit and Donny Hale bringing home captain Jarrad Martin.

The Americans were completely rattled in the field and Wana suffocated them from the mound, conceding just two hits from 19 batters faced.

World championship debutants Samoa also excelled through the first stage of the playoffs beating the Czech Republic 5-0.

It was Heidie Shannon who again finished off their opponents with some magnificent pitching.

In five full innings he gave up just two hits and had 10 strikeouts from 17 batters faced.

It was almost a repeat of his performance yesterday when the Samoans eliminated the Philippines.

Samoa rode home on the back of automatic home runs by pinch hitter Duane Jarrad in the fourth inning and captain Jeremy Stanley in the fifth.

"I'm happy, very, very happy. We're playing with passion but we've got our feet on the ground," Forsyth said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Kirkpatrick kept Australia's campaign alive when he spearheaded their 7-0 victory over Argentina.

Australia and Argentina had finished in the top four in their respective pools but not high enough to earn two lives for the playoffs.

"I think we've got better as the championship has progressed," Kirkpatrick said.

He pitched all five innings for Australia before the mercy rule was applied as Argentina had no hope of coming back.

He faced 20 batters for 10 strikeouts and just three hits.

Canada beat Japan 2-1 in the last match of the day to book a berth against New Zealand in the semifinals tomorrow.

Japan will play Australia and Samoa will meet the United States in the other matches.

- NZPA

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