By Ian Tomlin
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada: 10 July -- The GB Men’s Fastpitch Team faced possibly their toughest test so far at the Men’s World Championship on Sunday evening when they took on World #1 New Zealand, who were 2-0 so far in the competition.
The Kiwi side treated the crowd and the British team to a rendition of the Haka before the game, followed by a display of excellent batting, including four home runs, in putting up a 16-0 win over a GB side struggling with the bat.
The game was still relatively close after the first three innings, with New Zealand only leading by 4-0 at that stage. But the Kiwis exploded for five runs in the fourth inning, including a grand slam home run by Kallan Compain, and seven runs in the fifth inning, helped by walks and GB errors, which brought the tournament favourites a five-inning mercy rule win.
Difficult start​
GB pitcher James Darby had a difficult start to the game, walking the first four hitters he faced to bring in a run, and was fortunate to get out of the inning with only two runs scored. But with the bases still loaded and one out, James struck out Joel Evans and snared a line drive off the bat of Isaac Fletcher to escape further damage.
New Zealand pitcher Josh Pettett showed his intent in the bottom of the first inning by retiring the first three GB hitters in order.
In the top of the second inning New Zealand added a run on a single, a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt that put Campbell Ejoko on third with one out, and he scored on a suicide squeeze. But a diving catch in right field by Thomas Priscott on Thomas Enoko’s fly ball prevented any more runs from crossing the plate.
GB’s second at-bat looked promising when James Darby hit a line drive to centre field for a lead-off double. Kyle Linton’s efforts to move the runner resulted in a strike out, but a sacrifice bunt from Neil Davies pushed James to third with two out. However, Matt Tomlin struck out swinging to end the inning, leaving GB still 3-0 behind.
In the New Zealand third inning, three more walks led to another run for the Kiwis, though James Darby eventually got out of trouble by inducing a fly ball to Luke Peters in left field and striking out Campbell Enoko.
In the bottom of the third inning, New Zealand pitcher Josh Pettett struck out three GB batters in a row.
Out of control
The top of the fourth inning is where the game moved out of GB’s control. James Darby had struggled with command throughout the game, but now he walked four consecutive hitters, bringing in another run. Kyle Linton replaced James in the circle, only to give up a grand slam home run to Callan Compain to give the New Zealand team a 9-0 lead.
James Darby hit his second double of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, but New Zealand relief pitcher Richard Gibson Kyle Linton looking to end the inning.
Kevin Stockford came in to pitch in the top of the fifth inning to try stop the New Zealand attack. But the Kiwis had found their bats, scoring seven more runs on six hits, including three home runs, and they were helped by two walks and two GB errors.
Substitutes Ieuan Gale and Amit Aswani were introduced to the GB offense in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Richard Gibson proved too good and quickly ended the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
Looking ahead​
There’s little relief in sight for a GB team that has so managed only seven base hits in three games, four of those hits by James Darby, with the European champions Czech Republic coming up on Monday and World #5 Japan on Tuesday.
GB, who came into this tournament ranked 10th in the world, can look forward to a likely win on Wednesday, when they will face newcomers Turkey. But then the final group game on Thursday will be against World #4 Venezuela, who need all the wins they can get after having to forfeit their opening game to Japan due to travel delays.
Standings
The standings after three days of play at the WBSC Men’s Fastpitch World Championship are:
POOL A
Canada (3-0)
Dominican Republic (3-0)
Argentina (2-1)
Australia (2-1)
USA (1-2)
Hong Kong (1-2)
India (0-3)
South Africa (0-3)
POOL B
Japan (3-0)
New Zealand (3-0)
Denmark (2-1)
Venezuela (2-1)
Botswana (1-2)
Czech Republic (1-2)
Great Britain (0-3)
Turkey (0-3)