By: Pat Healey

SUMMERSIDE – Australia coach Lindsey Carroll can thank a gut instinct for helping his team down rival New Zealand, securing a playoff position at the ISF VII Junior Men's World Championship on Prince Edward Island (Canada).

Carroll decided to replace Michael Munro with Nick Norton. That decision paid up in huge dividends as Norton would slam the only run of the game over the tent in left center.

Norton (2-for-2) slammed a one strike offering from New Zealand's Vaero Hagai, much to the delight of the Aussie fans that were among the 1,700 fans in attendance.

Australia also had another huge outing from Adam Folkard, who brought his championship strikeout total to 54 with 11 more in the game while giving up a mere two hits and walking three.

Second baseman James Brooks (2-for-2), Josh Jones (1-for-2), and designated hitter Shaun Mason (1-for-2) were all the hits the Aussies managed.

For the Kiwis, Mario Herbert (1-for-2) and Tyson Byrne (1-for-3) were the offense. Hagai allowed six hits, while fanning seven in the loss.

In other action on day six at Queen Elizabeth Park's VIV Field, Mexico and the United States picked up key wins to stay in the hunt, while Canada had trouble putting away the pesky Danish team, but finally got them done 11-3 in six innings.

Meanwhile, the Eduardo and Francisco Sabate-coached Argentineans got a key win to head into their final two round robin games on a high note, upsetting championship final favorite Japan, 3-2.

In a game that many thought would be decided quickly because of the amount of talent on the Canadian roster compared to the young Denmark squad, the Danes stayed with Canada, even pushing them to six innings after the host team got out to what seemed like a comfortable 9-0 lead, only to sit back.

Canada was held scoreless for the first inning before erupting for nine runs over the next three innings, and holding off a troublesome Danish squad that never quit as they rallied for three runs in the fifth inning, thanks to an error and seven wild pitches by Donelly Archibald. In that inning, it appeared that Archibald and catcher Brad Fogal couldn't handle the ball, leading to the Danes cutting the lead and forcing an extra inning.

Also leading the Canadians, who committed two errors, was Chris Lewis (4-for-4, two runs scored), Nate Bauman (2-for-4, run scored, two RBI), Ben Tee (2-for-3, two runs scored, double, RBI), Jonathan Kane (2-for-3, RBI, two runs scored, double), and Tyler Hawes (2-for-4, run scored, three RBI).

For Denmark, Niels Lyder (1-for-3) led the attack. Denmark scored their runs either off wild pitches or errors by the Canadian defensive unit.

Winning pitcher Cory Avery had Canada sailing with a seven strikeout performance through three innings before being replaced by Archibald. He went three innings, giving many Canadians a scare with three runs on one hit, three walks, and six strikeouts.

Losing pitcher Frederik Terkelsen turned in a solid outing fanning 10 batters while giving up 11 runs on 12 hits and walking four.

Centerfielder Gaston Wilsen drove home Damian Mayora with the game-winning run and Mauricio Boss and Nelson Ruiz Diaz combined for a five-hitter as Argentina (1-5) edged Japan (4-2), 3-2. The game was delayed after the top of the first inning for about two hours as severe thunderstorms hit the area.

Mayora (2-for-3, two runs scored, stolen base), Gaston Wilsen (1-for-2, game-winning RBI), Federico Eder (2-for-2, run scored, RBI), German Sacks (1-for-2, RBI, two stolen bases), and Manuel Mata Carabajal (2-for-3, stolen base) led Argentina to their first win at the championship.

For Japan, who suffers their second loss of the tournament and a huge blow to their chances of locking up a top four finish, Norihiko Aoyama (2-for-4, double), Koji Ito (0-for-2, RBI), and Daisuke Kitaoka (1-for-2, stolen base) were tops.

Winning pitcher Nelson Ruiz Diaz went four innings, allowing two hits, walking two, and striking out three. Starter Mauricio Boss went three innings, giving up two runs on three hits, walking two, and sitting down three.

Losing pitcher Hikaru Matsuda went two and two third innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one, and fanning three. Toshiyuki Sakamoto allowed two hits, walking two and striking out two in two and one third innings work.

Brian Malakowsky went 4-for-4 with a two-run blast in the third inning, three runs scored and three RBI as Team USA exploded against a young Denmark squad, 20-0.

Also leading the 3-3 U.S. squad were leadoff man Jason Loe (1-for-3, run scored, home run, two RBI), Kevin Castillo (2-for-4, three runs scored, three RBI), Curtis Leavitt (2-for-2, two runs scored, double, home run, three RBI), Zach Warne (1-for-2, two runs scored, two RBI, double), third baseman Riley White (2-for-3, two runs scored, two doubles, three RBI), Evan O'Reilly (1-for-1, two runs scored, home run, RBI), and Drew Bode (1-for-3, two runs scored, triple, two RBI).

For Denmark, brothers Valdemar and Frederik Terkelsen (each 1-for-2) were all the offense for the Danes.

Sean Krohse, Kyle Davis, and B.J. Hunhoff combined to earn the two-hit shutout win. Krohse went three innings, allowing a walk and a hit, and striking out five, while Davis pitched two-thirds innings, allowing a hit and fanning one. Hunhoff threw two pitches to get the third out in the bottom of the fourth.

Losing pitcher Frederik Terkelsen went two innings, giving up nine runs on seven hits, walking one and sitting down one. Valdemar Terkelsen went two innings, allowing 11 runs on nine hits, walking three, and striking out two.

And in today’s other game, Ruben Delgadillo (2-for-2, two stolen bases, two walks, two runs scored) led Mexico in an 11-4 romp of the Czech Republic with a three run blast that was out of the park in a heartbeat during a five-run sixth inning.

Gustavo Benitez (2-for-3, three runs scored, stolen base, RBI), Wilfredo Castanos (1-for-2, run scored, RBI), and Johel Pedroza (2-for-4, run scored, double) were tops at the plate for the 3-3 Mexicans.

For the Czech Republic, who mounted a two-run rally in their half of the sixth, only to see Mexico end it with the huge bottom of the sixth, Tomas Benda (2-for-4, run scored, triple), Svatopluk Smysl (1-for-2, home run), Jiri Pospisil (1-for-2, two RBI, double), and Michal Pyszko (1-for-2) led the way.

Carlos Romero earned the decision going five innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking one, and striking out two. Rembrano Cortes went a third of an inning, allowing two runs on no hits, walking one. Sergio de la Rosa pitched two-thirds innings, allowing a hit and striking out one in relief.

Losing pitcher Stepan Eret went two and two-third innings, allowing six runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one. Ondrej Malecek went three innings, giving up three hits, five runs, walking two, and fanning four.

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