A couple of weeks back I wrote about the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Junior Men’s World Softball Championship being hosted by Prince Albert July 7 - 15.
As luck had it, I had a couple of days off during the action, so I tuned into a half dozen games thanks to the WBSC broadcasting the championship via YouTube. It is too bad a major Canadian sports network hadn’t picked up the event, it was certainly worthy of more eyes.
First off, a big baseball hats-off to the organization for the quality broadcasts, complete with knowledgeable play-by-play and colour commentators. It’s a huge bonus to have good camera work and informed comments to enhance the viewing.
I have always liked fastball (it’s still what I call it) and the high-quality play of the under-19 players at the world championship level certainly reminded me about what I enjoy about the game: the constant action involved.
The slightest bobble of a ball means runners scampering around the bases.
The likelihood of a home run or a bunt single are pretty much the same, so defences have to be on their toes.
In this event, there was a 20-second pitch clock which kept the action fluid. Even if a player called time the clock only paused; it did not reset. It was a huge asset to an already highly active sport.
In the first round of the playoffs, Canada and Australia breezed through their seven-inning contest in roughly 90-minutes. In an era where pro baseball is tinkering with silly gimmicks such as automatic intentional walks to speed the game, fastball does it naturally. Canada lost to Australia 2-0 as Aussie pitcher Layton Reid struck out 16 in a dominating gem.
Canada came back Saturday to beat Argentina 6-4 in a game where the winner went to the final four and the loser went home. The win set up a huge contest that same evening with Canada facing New Zealand, perennially a powerhouse in the sport.
Canada had beaten the Junior Black Sox in round robin play, but with advancement to the medals on the line the Sox won 5-2, leaving the host team fourth overall in the championship in what was a very entertaining game.
On Sunday, New Zealand and Japan played each other, the winner advancing to face Australia for the championship and the loser settling for the bronze medals.
In spite of a seventh inning lead-off home run, New Zealand would have to be content with bronze medals, losing 5-3 to Japan.
In the gold medal game, Reid again was the star for Australia, striking out 15 and tossing a complete game no-hitter in a 6-1 win to take the championship, his country’s first in the tournament since 2008.
It was great to see big crowds out, with Canadian games at around 3000 from one estimate.
It makes me wonder if it might not be time for another try at pro fastball. With its quick, action-filled games, it might just find the fan base it deserves.
Speaking of sports deserving of more eyes, the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is holding the Men’s Lacrosse World Championships in Israel this week. Canada headed into the event, which boasts 46 countries taking part, as defending champions. The field game of lacrosse might not be as recognizable as the box game to many sports fans here, but once you understand it just a little you come to appreciate the stick skills and the pinpoint shooting. For anyone tuning in this week you may notice some familiar names. National Lacrosse League fans will especially recognize a number of stars from the league on Canada’s team including the likes of Dillon Ward of the Colorado Mammoth in net, Curtis Dixon from the Calgary Roughnecks, and Ben McIntosh and Mark Matthews from the Saskatchewan Rush. In round robin play in the championship’s top group Canada won 12-6 in game one over England, then 22-3 over Scotland in game two. The first big test came Sunday against the United States which has won the field crown more than any other country. It was a terrific game, the U.S. leading until late in the fourth quarter when Canada pulled ahead by a lone goal 10-9. Unfortunately the Americans tied it, and won on a late goal by Paul Rabil, arguably the best field player of his era, and a member of the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse. The game is very likely a prelude to a weekend playoff match-up which should be highly entertaining.
