ISF VIII MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
LOCATION: Manila, Philippines
DATES: March 20-28, 1992
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES (17): Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chinese Taipei, CNMI-Saipan, Czechoslovakia, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Guinea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, USA
FINAL ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS
| Team |
W
|
L
|
RA
|
| USA |
8
|
0
|
2
|
| Canada |
8
|
0
|
6
|
| New Zealand |
7
|
1
|
3
|
| Japan |
7
|
1
|
3
|
| Australia |
6
|
2
|
20
|
| Argentina |
6
|
2
|
22
|
| Philippines |
5
|
3
|
38
|
| Mexico |
5
|
3
|
38
|
| Chinese Taipei |
4
|
4
|
55
|
| Netherlands |
4
|
4
|
60
|
| Botswana |
3
|
5
|
46
|
| Indonesia |
3
|
5
|
48
|
| Saipan |
1
|
7
|
59
|
| New Guinea |
1
|
7
|
61
|
| Hong Kong |
1
|
7
|
65
|
| Singapore |
1
|
7
|
69
|
| Czechoslovakia |
1
|
7
|
69
|
| Guam |
1
|
7
|
70
|
Semi-Finals
New Zealand 1, Japan 0
Canada 6, USA 4
Finals
New Zealand 4, USA 1
Grand Final
Canada 5, New Zealand 3
GOLD MEDAL: Canada
SILVER MEDAL: New Zealand
BRONZE MEDAL: United States
Canada Reasserts Its Position As World's Top Men's Team
Canada reasserted its position as the men's number one fast pitch team in the world with an impressive handling of the competition at the ISF Men's World Championship March 20-28 in Manila, Philippines.After winning the gold medal in the Pan American Games last August, Canada claimed the world title in Manila with a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over New Zealand in the gold medal finals.
While defending champions USA was overpowering its opponents, the real drama was actually unfolding in the other tournament bracket, which featured international powerhouse teams from Canada and New Zealand.
Canada hammered its opponents and posted five shutouts and two one-run games. Canada survived a game three scare from Australia, 5-4, and coasted to a perfect preliminary round record, outscoring its opponents 72-6.
The USA had similar preliminary round statistics, 8-0, with 76 combined runs - against two by its opponents - but found themselves outgunned against Canada, 7-2, in the semi-finals and settled for the bronze after losing to New Zealand 4-1.
The tournament is being judged as a major international softball success. A record 18-team field participated, including Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Chinese Taipei, Czechoslovakia, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Saipan and Singapore, in addition to the three medal winners.
The tournament was opened by Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who tossed the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of more than 25,000. Crowds of 15,000 per day were common during the events.The event garnered daily top story coverage on the sports page of the Philippine Sun and residents filled the streets in carnival fashion to welcome visiting athletes.
"We are very pleased with the development of international competitions such as the ISF Men's World Championship. The increasing size of the field of teams and the growing international spectator interest demonstrates that the sport of softball is on the rise internationally. We only expect this interest to continue to grow as the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta grow closer," said Don Porter, President of the International Softball Federation.
(This article appeared in the July 1992 edition of World Softball magazine, Volume 22, Number 2.)
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