11/07/2024 5 Minute Read

WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group B - Day 2: Argentina, New Zealand remain undefeated; Hong Kong, China clinch first win since 2017; Canada split doubleheader

Argentina and New Zealand came out on top of the standings on Day 2 after winning their games against Israel and Canada, respectively. Hong Kong, China claimed their first World Cup win in seven years, while Canada had a win and a loss.

Argentina and New Zealand secured the lead in the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B standings after recording victories on Day 2 to maintain their undefeated records in Prince Albert, Canada. Hong Kong, China claimed their first World Cup victory in seven years, while Canada split their doubleheader on Thursday.

Key News

On Friday, Singapore and Israel will open the day at 10:00 local time, followed by the game between Singapore and Hong Kong, China at 13:00, in an all-Asian matchup. Game 10 is scheduled at 16:00 between Hong Kong, China and Argentina. The last game of the day will see the biggest men's softball rivalry in the planet, with New Zealand and Canada colliding at 19:00. You can see the schedule here.

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New Zealand had three home runs on Thursday to defeat Israel, 10-0, in four innings. Hohepa Monk, Cole Evans and Pita Rona went yard for the seven-time World Champions, Evans with a grand slam in the third frame and Rona with a three-run shot one inning later. New Zealand connected nine hits in the game, giving New Zealand their second win in the tournament, while Israel are now 0-2 in the standings.

Behind a solid offensive performance by Corey Ng and Tak Hei Cheung from the first two spots in the order, Hong Kong, China clinched a 3-2 win over Israel in Group B's Game 5. Yuk Sing Ling tossed a complete game, giving up eight hits and two runs, while striking out seven.

Lead-off hitter Corey Ng scored the first run of the game in the first inning and hit a solo home run in the fourth, representing the game-winning run. From the second spot in the lineup, Cheung went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Israel outhit their opponents 8-6 but lacked clutch hitting in the game, leaving 12 runners on base.

This game represented the first Men's Softball World Cup win for Hong Kong, China since 8 July 2017, when they beat India, 2-1, for the Opening Round of the event staged in Whitehorse.

Standings WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group B

#		W	L	PCT	GB
1	ARG Argentina	5	0	1.000	0
2	NZL New Zealand	4	1	.800	1
3	CAN Canada	3	2	.600	2
4	SGP Singapore	2	3	.400	3
5	HKG Hong Kong, China	1	4	.200	4
6	ISR Israel	0	5	.000	5

Ty Sebastian struck out 15 and Blake Hunter had a perfect 4-for-4 performance with a homer and two RBIs to lead Canada to a 7-1 victory against Singapore in Game 6 of the Men's Softball World Cup Group B.

With the game 1-0 after Hunter's solo homer in the top of the first, Sebastian served a one-out homer to Joshua Tam to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. After that, he retired 17 consecutive batters until Tam walked in the bottom of the seventh.

For Singapore, Marcus Chew pitched four quality innings, giving up only two hits and a run, with five strikeouts against no walks. Huzaifie Noorham was charged with the loss after tossing two innings, while Matthew Tan allowed five runs in the top of the seventh.

Behind a complete game shutout from superstar Huemul Mata, Argentina claimed a key win in the Opening Round against Canada, 2-0, to close Day 2 of the competition. The right hander, born in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, gave up four hits and two walks, while striking out seven. He was named Player of the Day.

Canada had a great scoring opportunity in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Mata forced Cory Jones to hit a fly ball to centre field to escape the jam.

Argentina scored one in the fourth on a short fly ball to right field, allowing Federico Eder to score from third. One inning later, Ladislao Malarczuk drove in Lucio Retamar with the insurance run.

For Canada, the losing pitcher was Justin Schofield, who pitched 4.2 innings giving up four hits and two runs. He struck out seven.

Canada 0 - 2 Argentina

Bottom 5th - With two outs in the scoreboard, Lucio Retamar hit a line-drive triple over the centre fielder, and then scored on a clutch RBI single from Ladislao Malarczuk. A spectacular diving catch by Mathieu Roy ended the inning and saved two runs that kept the score 2-0.

Bottom 4th - Argentina took the lead in the game. Federico Eder was hit by pitch, moved to second on a sac bunt, and advanced to third on a single from Manuel Godoy. From there, he scored with a fly ball to right field by Juan Zara, long enough to score in a close play at home.

Game was still scoreless after two innings. Canada left four runners on base against Huemul Mata, including a bases loaded situation in the first frame. On the other hand, Justin Schofield retired the first six batters he faced.

Preview - The last game of the day is one of the most expected matchups of the Opening Round. Four-time World Champions Canada will play No. 1 Argentina, in a game that has become a classic rivalry in the Americas. Both teams won on day 1, but only one will remain undefeated after today. The last time they played each other was in Auckland 2022, on 2 December. Argentina prevailed, 5-4, in the Super Round game.

2024 Men's Softball World Cup - Group B - Game 7 - CAN vs ARG

Canada 7 - 1 Singapore

Top 7th - Canada rallied for five runs with three singles and a three run homer off the bat of Cory Jones. The hosts had a comfortable six-run lead in the seventh inning.

Top 5th - Huzaife Noorham replaced Chew in the circle for Singapore. He walked Jordan Pomeroy and gave up a Justin Laskowski triple to plate the go-ahead run for Canada. The game was 2-1 for the hosts.

After the fireworks in the first inning, the game remained tied 1-1 after four complete innings. Singapore's pitcher Marcus Chew gave up two hits while striking out five, while Canada's Ty Sebastian had 10 strikeouts, allowing only one hit.

Bottom 1st - Singapore also used the long ball to tie the game. Joshua Tam exploded an inside-corner drop ball and sent it over the bleachers in right field. The game deadlocked at 1-1. Mohammad Noorham was the last Singaporean player to homer in a Men's Softball World Cup. He did it in the third inning of the game against the Netherlands, on 20 June during the 2019 World Cup in Czechia. That day, Marcus Chew also homered for Singapore, in the second inning.

Top 1st - Canada struck first in the game. After two quick outs, Blake Hunter sent a Marcus Chen pitch over the centre field fence to give the hosts an early lead in the game.

Preview - Canada will also play two games on Thursday, at 16:00 and 19:00. In their first game, the host team will take on Singapore. Canada opened the event with a 7-1 victory over Hong Kong, China, while Singapore lost to New Zealand in their opener. Their last game was on 19 June 2019 in Havlickuv Brod, Czechia. Canada defeated the Asians, 8-0.

2024 Men's Softball World Cup - Group B - Game 6 - CAN vs SGP

Israel 2 - 3 Hong Kong, China

Top 6th - Israel scored one on a bases-loaded fielder's choice and it's a one-run ballgame. The game tied at 3-2. Israel left 11 runners on base in the game, including two bases loaded situations.

Bottom 4th - Corey Ng stayed hot and hit a solo homer to left centre field. The Hong Kong, China centre fielder was 3-for-6, all of them extra bases (a double, a triple and this homer). The Asian side with a 3-1 advantage.

Bottom 2nd - Tak Wei Cheung struck again. Hong Kong, China shortstop hit a clutch two-out line-drive single to left field that gave his team a 2-1 lead. After going 1-for-3 on Wednesday against Canada, he went 3-for-5 for the tournament.

Top 2nd - Oren Bobrov hit a two-out single to the right field that scored Liam Foreberg and tied the game at 1-1. This was Israel's first run in the competition, representing their first run in a Men's Softball World Cup in 28 years (their last run was scored on 10 July 1996, in a 4-2 loss against South Africa).

Bottom 1st - Hong Kong, China opened the game with back-to-back hits to lead before recording an out. Corey Ng smashed a leadoff triple to left field, and three pitches later scored on a Tak Wei Cheung single up the middle. The game was 1-0.

Preview - Israel will face Hong Kong, China at 1pm looking for a much-needed win. This will be the first time these two teams compete in a World Cup in a game that will be critical to bounce back and get a win to stay in contention for a spot in Sunday's playoffs.

2024 Men's Softball World Cup - Group B - Game 5 - ISR vs HKG

New Zealand 10 - 0 Israel

Top 4th - A three-run shot off the bat of Pita Rona was the highlight of a five-run rally to get a 10-0 lead.

Top 3rd - New Zealand swung big on Thursday! Captain Cole Evans found the bases loaded and sent a drop ball over the centre field stands for a Grand Slam! This was Evans' fourth career homer at the Men's Softball World Cup, after hitting two in 2017 and one in 2022.

Top 2nd - New Zealand took the lead. Hohepa Monk rocketed an inside pitch way over the centre field fence, giving his team a 1-0 lead.

Preview - New Zealand and Israel face each other at 10:00 to open Day 2 of action. On Wednesday, New Zealand won the most contested game of the day against Singapore, 2-0, while Israel were downed by Argentina in the first game of the tournament, 8-0. This is their second meeting at a World Cup level, In Midland 1996, the Black Sox won 17-0 in Israel's only appearance in this competition.