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OH Australia now set to meet arch rival Japan in Quarter Finals Play-by –play recap of the Game Box Score
The Australian Baseball Team has put the finishing touches on a drama filled first round of the 2007 World Cup by eliminating pre-tournament hopefuls Canada in a nail biting 7-6 victory in Taipei on Wednesday. In a game that saw the lead change four times, While the ebb and flow was intense throughout; the bulk of the heart pounding action came in the final inning as, first With the scores tied at four after eight completed innings, the Australian team’s catch-cry “Mangy Dog” attitude came to fore - plating three runs to take a seemingly comfortable 7-4 lead. But Canada had a little bark left of their own – and were just inches away from tying the game with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Canadian rally came to an abrupt end when slick fielding Aussie shortstop, Brad Harman, fielded a ground ball chopped toward second base and relayed the throw to first while stepping on the bag for the game ending double-play. Replays were inconclusive as to whether Harman’s foot was in contact with second base when he had the ball – but the umpire’s ruling stood despite a bevy of agitated protests from the Canadian camp. And the drama didn’t end on the field, with Canadian Manger Greg Hamilton storming out of the post match press conference livid with the decision that eliminated his team from World Cup contention. “It’s one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen,” Irrespective of the ruckus to end the game, the Australian’s dug deep at several stages; tying the game twice, before taking the lead in the frenetic final frame. Second baseman Luke Hughes started the 9th inning rally with a one-out double that flirted with the right field line. Hughes, who has consistently come through in clutch situations during the World Cup, then deferred to his team mates to provide what would ultimately be the game winning buffer. After an intentional walk to “white-hot” leadoff man Trent Oeltjen, defensive prodigy Brad Harman showed he is more than capable of shouldering his fair share with the bat – stroking an RBI double to centerfield that gave the Aussies their first lead since the top of the third inning. And when Justin Huber (who had already hurt On the mound it was again a collective effort from the Aussies as six different pitchers all contributed to the vital win which has now guaranteed that Australia avoid both the United States and host nation Chinese Taipei in the elimination Quarter Final. Head Coach Jon Deeble was pleased with the win, but is now focused on the next stage of the tournament. “It was great to get up tonight, especially considering we were no where near our best,” Deeble said. “It doesn’t really make a lot of difference who we play (next) when you consider how close teams are at this level.” ‘I mean look at the Canadians tonight…they win, they finish second…they lose, they go home,” he said. In fact since 2004, The game against
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OH CANADA! – Aussies clinch second, send Canadians packing |
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