13/07/2024 5 Minute Read

WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group B - Day 4: Argentina sweep Opening Round, set up final clash with New Zealand; Singapore, Canada in elimination game

With victories over Singapore and New Zealand, Argentina clinched first place in the Opening Round standings, relegating New Zealand to second. Argentina will compete in the final on Sunday at 16:00, with a ticket to the Finals 2026 at stake. The Play-Offs game for third and fourth placed teams is also set, with Canada and Singapore facing off in an elimination game on Sunday at 13:00.

After the completion of the Opening Round of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group B, four teams will play for the two available spots in next year's Finals in Prince Albert, Canada.

With wins against Singapore and New Zealand on Saturday, Argentina (5-0) clinched first place in the Opening Round standings, leaving New Zealand (4-1) in second. They will play directly in the Group B final on Sunday at 16:00, with a ticket to the Finals 2025 on offer. The Play-Offs for third and fourth placed teams will be between Canada (3-2) and Singapore (2-3) at 13:00 in an elimination game.

Key News

Please find Sunday's Play-Offs schedule here.

On Saturday, Argentina secured a spot in Sunday’s final with a 15-0 win against Singapore in three innings. Lucio Retamar hit a grand slam, Teo Migliavacca homered, and Manuel Godoy went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, leading the Argentinean 12-hit offence at Rotary Field.

From the circle, Pablo Migliavacca struck out four in three innings of work, giving up one hit and one walk to record his second win in the tournament .

Argentina confirmed their first place position with a solid 4-1 victory over New Zealand, concluding the Opening Round play undefeated. A two-run homer from Manuel Godoy off Nick Hayes was the offensive highlight for Argentina, joined by Federico Olheiser, who collected two RBIs with a triple in the second and a single in the sixth. New Zealand's only hit of the game was a solo homer off the bat of Cole Evans.

Argentina's pitching was impressive in the afternoon, as Martin Gonzalez pitched five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts, preventing New Zealand from scoring despite issuing six walks. Pablo Migliavacca relieved him for the last two innings.

The Black Sox bounced back in their next game. And with 11 hits that produced three homers, they defeated Hong Kong, China, 12-0 in four innings, placing second in the Opening Round with a 4-1 record.

Reilly Makea blasted two home runs, while Cameron Watts and Te Wera Bishop also homered for the seven-time world champions. Hong Kong, China's only hit in the game was a single in the top of the third by Wai Leong Wong. The losing pitcher was Hok Kan Wong.

New Zealand head coach Thomas Makea sent on three different pitchers, with winning pitcher Liam Potts working two innings, while Nikki Hayes and Daniel Chapman worked one frame each.

Meanwhile, a Jordan Pomeroy 3-for-4 performance from the leadoff spot, including a walk-off homer in the bottom of the sixth, lifted Canada to a 7-0 win over Israel to close the Opening Round of the tournament.

Jeff Lyons and Dallas Kipfer collected two RBIs each in the game, leading a Canadian lineup with nine hits. Israel's two hits came from Roye Shelem and Oren Bobrov.

Steven Normand earned the win for Canada after four innings of work, allowing two hits while striking out nine. Tyler Randerson struck out five in two innings of relief. Seth Ross was the losing pitcher.

Canada will play in the Play-Offs game between the third and fourth placed teams on Sunday at 13:00 against Singapore. The winner of this game will play in the Repechage against the loser of the game between the top two sides. Hong Kong, China will play Israel on Sunday at 10:00 in the Placement Round game for fifth in Group B.

Key Links

Israel 0-7 Canada - Boxscore

Bottom 5th - Jordan Pomeroy smashed a walk-off home run over the centre field scoreboard. Canada won 7-0.

Bottom 4th - Dallas Kipfer collected one more RBI with a long sac fly to right field, caught in the warning track. Canada were in front, 6-0.

Bottom 3rd - Canada mounted a five-run rally, using five hits and taking advantage of two defensive errors. Jeff Lyons and Dallas Kipfer had RBI doubles while Justin Laskowski added a run-scoring single. Canada led 5-0.

Starting pitchers - Steven Normand (CAN) vs Seth Ross (ISR)

Preview - In the final game of the Opening Round, Canada (2-2) will face Israel (0-4), which will finish sixth no matter what. For Canada, a win and a combination of results could will given them the chance to finish second in the Opening Round standings. This is the first time Israel and Canada meet in a Men's Softball World Cup. Starting time at 19:00.

2024 Men's Softball World Cup - Group B - Game 15 ISR vs CAN

Hong Kong, China 0-12 New Zealand - Play by play

Bottom 3rd - Cameron Watts joined the offensive explosion with his own two-run homer, giving a 12-0 winning edge for New Zealand.

Bottom 2nd - Reilly Makea homered again, a two-run shot over the left field fence. Te Wera Bishop also homered with a runner on that gave New Zealand a 10-run lead.

Bottom 1st - Reilly Makea homered with a line drive to left field, leading a four-run inning for the Black Sox. New Zealand in front, 4-0.

Starting pitchers - How Kan Wong (HKG) vs Liam Potts (NZL)

Preview - At 16:00, Hong Kong, China (1-3) and New Zealand will close their participation in the Opening Round. The Asians were eliminated yesterday after losing twice against Argentina and Singapore, and will be playing on Sunday against Israel for the fifth place in this group.

Argentina 4-1 New Zealand - Boxscore

Bottom 6th - New Zealand's first hit of the game is a four-bagger. Cole Evans hit a solo homer, putting the Black Sox on the scoreboard. Argentina led 4-1.

Top 6th - A two-run homer from Manuel Godoy off Nick Hayes and an RBI-single by Federico Olheiser extended Argentina's lead to 4-0. Pablo Migliavacca replaced Martín Gonzalez in the circle for Argentina. Gonzalez tossed five innings, with no hits and seven strikeouts against six walks.

After four innings, Argentina's Martin Gonzalez did not allow a hit in the game, and worked around five walks that kept New Zealand away from scoring. For the Black Sox, Liam Potts was replaced after four innings giving up four hits, one run and a walk. The score was 1-0 for Argentina

Top 2nd - Argentina has made great contact in the first two innings of play, but could only capitalise on it in the second. Ladislao Malarczuk singled to lead-off the inning, and then scored on a triple to left field by Federico Olheiser. Argentina struck first 1-0.

Starting pitchers - Liam Potts (NZL) vs Martin Gonzalez (ARG)

Preview - Argentina and New Zealand (3-0) will face each other at 13:00, in a must-see game. Both teams remain undefeated and will try to finish the Opening Round in a high note. The last time these two teams played each other was in Auckland 2022, when Argentina defeated the Black Sox in an 11-5 thriller, in nine innings.

Argentina 15-0 Singapore - Play by play

Top 3rd - Argentina added four more, with RBIs by Ladislao Malarczuk, Francisco Lombardo and Franco Ortellado. The lead was extended to 15-0.

Top 2nd - Argentina put together another big inning. Teo Migliavacca hit a huge bomb just inside the right field foul pole for a two-run homer. Gonzalo Ojeda contributed with a bases-clearing triple to add three more runs to the scoreboard. Argentina with an 11-0 lead.

Top 1st - Argentina took a big lead in the first inning. A Lucio Retamar grand slam capped a five-run inning for the top-ranked nation in the world. Pablo Migliavacca came back to pitch in the bottom of the first, with a five-run lead .

Starting pitchers - Huzaifie Noorham (SGP) - Pablo Migliavacca (ARG)

Preview - In the first game of the day, Argentina (3-0) and Singapore (2-2) will open the day at Rotary Field. Both teams have qualified for Sunday's Playoffs but a win in this game could allow them to finish as first or second place in the Opening Round, securing a double life in the hunt for a ticket to the Finals. Argentina hold a perfect record, and face a doubleheader on Saturday, trying to secure one of the top-two places in the standings. Singapore bounced back on Friday after losing the first two games and claimed two big wins to secure a spot in the Playoffs on Sunday. They will try to stay hot against the world No. 1 team and close the Opening Round with three consecutive wins. First pitch is scheduled at 10:00.