Auckland, New Zealand: March 1: The 2013 ISF Men's Fastpitch World Championships started earlier today in New Zealand with a tense pitcher's duel between Great Britain's James Darby and Samoa's Thomas Enoka, a former New Zealand national team player.
There wasn't much between the two teams or the two pitchers -- Thomas Enoka gave up two hits, walked three and struck out eight, while James Darby surrendered three hits and four walks and also struck out eight. Neither team committed an error. But margins are slim at this level: the Samoans got their hits with men on base, and two of the four walks that James Darby gave up turned into runs as Samoa won 2-0.
Samoa was never a team that could be taken lightly. As GB Team Manager Steve Fullan said, "They could pretty much be considered the New Zealand B Team," and in fact the Samoans had defeated New Zealand in warm-up games prior to the tournament.
First chance
What will concern GB Head Coach Russ Snow will be the fact that five of GB's eight strikeouts were on called rather than swinging third strikes, and this was particularly costly in the top of the third inning, when GB had a great chance to take the lead.
GB also had chances before that, as they looked the more likely team to score in the early going. Catcher Kevin Stockford singled with one out in the first inning, but was stranded at first base when third baseman James Chalmers and pitcher James Darby went down swinging.
In the top of the second inning, first baseman Rich Haldane led off the inning with a walk, but was soon cut down when designated hitter Luke Peters -- who had hit several home runs in GB's warm-up games -- grounded into a 5-4-3 double play -- a scenario that was unfortunately to be repeated by the same two players in the top of the seventh.
But the top of the third inning opened with GB left fielder Darrin Newson stroking a double to left field off Thomas Enoka -- GB's second hit and also, as it turned out, their last. Darrin scampered to third on a passed ball on the third pitch to the next batter, shortstop Steve Hazard, so GB had a runner on third and no outs.
Frustratingly, Darrin never got any further. Steve Hazard and Ryan Martin both struck out looking, Kevin Stockford was hit by a pitch, and then James Chalmers grounded back to the pitcher.
Samoa strikes
Thus reprieved, the Samoans came to bat in the bottom of the third inning and promptly manufactured a run. Right fielder Kallan Compain drew a four-pitch walk from James Darby to open the inning, went to second on a ground out, to third on a fly out and scored when third baseman Tony Nui singled on a 2-0 count.
After this, it was a question of whether GB could muster any more offense against Thomas Enoka, and the answer was no. Over the last four innings, GB had no hits and two walks, but neither baserunner advanced beyond first base.
Meanwhile, Samoa added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth when shortstop Michael Nui walked with two outs and pinchrunner Aaron Knight scored on a double by first baseman Gerard Long.
Samoa's final threat came in the bottom of the sixth inning when centre fielder Bernard Hale tripled with two outs, but James Darby struck out Michael Nui to keep the score at 2-0.
Last chance
The importance of stopping the Samoans from extending their lead was emphasised during GB's last at-bat in the top of the seventh, when Rich Haldane led off with a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate, and recalling memories of GB's famous last-inning win over Japan in 2009. But the tying run came to the plate in the person of the unfortunate DH Luke Peters, and it was deja vu all over again from the second inning. Luke ran the count to 2-0 and then grounded sharply back to Thomas Enoka, who started a rally-killing 1-6-3 double play.
GB right fielder Kenny Pregnell struck out looking on a full count to end the game.
Bouncing back
GB Assistant Coach Stan Doney said: "We had our chances and Samoa had theirs. Samoa took theirs, we did not take ours. We had the early momentum and lost it. But though we lost the game, the other teams know we have come here to play and people have already commented to me about it. But that means nothing unless we starts getting some wins on the board. Only time will tell."
The GB team will need to bounce back quickly from this defeat to keep their hopes alive of making the playoff round, starting with their next game against Venezuela at 3.00 am British time on Saturday morning, March 2. Venezuela enjoyed a 6-0 win over South Africa in their opening game today.
Results from the first day's play were:
Pool A
Samoa 2, GB 0
Czech Republic 10, Indonesia 3
Venezuela 6, South Africa 0
Australia 6, USA 0
Pool B
Colombia 4, Philippines 2
Japan 7, Netherlands 0
Canada 2, Argentina 1
New Zealand 5, Mexico 0
On Sunday (at 4.00 am British time), GB will face the defending champions Australia, followed by games against Indonesia, the Czech Republic, South Africa and the United States over the following four days.
Four wins will almost certainly be required to get GB to the playoff rounds.
Watching games
GB Men's Team games (and all other games from the World Championships) can be followed through play-by-play live updates, which can be viewed free, or through web-streamed telecasts which can be purchased for $10 per day. For either or both, go to: www.softball2013.com.