N.Z. softball gamble ends in final loss

Press, 9 August 1988, Page 42

N.Z. softball gamble ends in final loss

Special correspondent

Steve Jackson’s swansong turned into a nightmare yesterday when New Zealand lost 4-0 to the United States in the world softball series final in Saskatoon, Canada.

The New Zealand coach, Mike Walsh, took a gamble by opting to use him as pitcher for the finals, hoping he would strike one of Jackson’s brilliant days. But after only a couple of round-robin games the 28-year-old Aucklander was terribly off form and threw New Zealand into trouble in the first innings. Jackson is well known for being able to rise to the occasion and in 1984 pitched New Zealand to the world title with a brilliant 3-1 win over Canada. But yesterday he never looked like coming anywhere near that form and sadly this may well be his last world series. Mr Walsh said he could not have gone with another pitcher. “They’d already seen Mike (White), Chubby (Tangaroa) played two against them and Graeme (Robertson) had already had a game,” he said. “He did his best but it. wasn’t enough. They (United States) just made it.” Jackson, however, can by no means take the blame for the loss. New Zealand went into the semi-finals needing a win to secure a place in the final. Instead it lost 2-1 to the United States and had to take the hard route. New Zealand then beat Canada 3-1 and disposed of one of the States’ lives, beating it 4-1 and forcing a second final. The pitcher, Chubb Tangaroa, performed brilliantly in both the first two games against the United States but unfortunately for New Zealand

had nothing left to give when it came to the final match. The states, however, had the advantage of playing straight into the final, so was able to save its No. 1 pitcher, Peter Meredith, for the vital clash. Losing the first semifinal proved to be the killer blow, according to Mr Walsh. “I think probably four games in a day would be tough for anybody,” he said. “But it was a tremendous performance and we can walk away proud. “They beat us twice and we beat them twice but they’re the better team here.” Despite an exhausting day’s play, the Kiwis started well, taking two hits off Meredith. But then on to the mound stepped a very nervous Jackson who promptly gave up a walk. Mitch Munthe then bunted to one and moved Bruce Boyer to second with no outs. The gloom deepened when Jeff Clark took a safe hit to load the bases and the run became inevitable. Bruce Beard whacked a fly ball to right field which would have been foul but inexperience on Fred. Wyatt’s part saw him take the catch, letting Munthe home. The catcher, Steve Zediker, added to the States’ tally in the second with an automatic home run but thanks to a bad American blunder the score did not mount any further. With Boyer safe on first Munthe smashed an

enormous automatic only to see it disallowed because Boyer left base early. Wisely Mr Walsh removed a dispirited Jackson from the mound and replaced him with Robertson. But he promptly gave up two hits and both runners came home when Murray McLean let a ball pass him into the outfield. With the score 4-0 after three innings an obviously dejected and tired New Zealand team could find no answer to Meredith’s power pitching. At a very gloomy awards presentation, the Kiwis did find some consolation. The catcher, Mark Sorenson, was named player of the day for his excellent batting performance which included three automatic home runs and an average of 647. And Tangaroa, who shut down the Americans’ power batting picked up pitcher of the tournament with an outstanding earned run average of .39. Fittingly the New Zealand team also saluted its 400-odd supporters who cheered constantly throughout the tournament. Results:— Bermuda 6, Denmark 5; United States 7, Cuba 0; Australia 11, British Virgin Islands 1; Japan 5, ChineseTaipei 2. Semi-finals: United States 2, New Zealand 1; Canada 12, Cuba 0 (fifth innings); New Zealand 3, Canada 1. Final: New Zealand 4, United States 2. Grand final: United States 4, New Zealand 0. Top four placings: United States 1, New Zealand 2, Canada 3, Cuba 4.