Canada Bombs Germany; Spain to Play Israel
Saturday, September 22nd, 2012Canada hit five homeruns to send Germany to the losers bracket with a 16-7 spanking. The game was closer than the score, tied 4-4 after six. The only runs Canada could put on the board early was the result of a 3-run homer by Jimmy Van Ostrand in the first and a solo shot from him in the third. The three homeruns puts him one behind Nate Freiman for the homerun lead. In addition to the five homeruns Canada added 16 other hits.
With the score tied 4-4 after six Canada scored 12 runs in the last three innings to pull away from the feisty Germans. Tyson Gillies hit a solo shot in the seventh, Jordan Lennerton hit a pinch hit solo shot in the eighth and Rene Tosoni finished it off with a grand slam in the ninth in his only at bat in the game. Neither team had a pitcher go more than three innings.
South Africa and France finished their suspended game. They played the two extra frames under non-international rules, not putting two runners on to start the game, but having to earn the baserunners. Paul Bell hit a 2-run double in the eleventh for his second and third RBIs of the game to give South Africa the 5-2 victory. 18 year old French pitcher Leonel Cespedes could have impressed some scouts with his four innings of shutout ball. He struck out six, but the down size is he only stands 5′11″, throws righthanded and was facing South African bats. Dylan DeMeyer threw two innings of shutout ball to get the win. The 20 year old South African plays for the Mariners.
After South Africa eliminated France they got to play Spain and were clocked 13-3. Spain mashed two four spots in the second and third inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Cuban Yasser Gomez was the big bat getting four hits in five at bats, driving in three. Spain now gets a second chance at Israel in the finals.
In another loser bracket game in Germany, Great Britain romped all over the Czech Republic 12-5. B.J. Hubbert had a solo homerun and drove in three as well as scoring three. Aeden McQueary also drove in three with his two hits. Mike Cervenak and Jakub Malik each had three hits in a losing causing the the Czechs. Great Britain will play Germany in the losers bracket to see who will square off against Canada in the final.
There were over 4,000 fans to see the hosts do battle with Canada. The Great Britain/Czech match drew 1,800.
The Jupiter attendance had 1,100 people show up. That is not bad when you consider the average attendance for minor league Florida State League games in Jupiter is 1,100. So the WBC teams drew as many people as would see a minor league game.