Softball: Black Sox tie tour opener

The Black Sox started their tour of Canada with a 1-1 result in a nine innings exhibition game against a powerful Scarborough Force side in Kitchener, Ontario.

Heavy rain and an impressive electrical storm meant the first game was washed out and time remaining after ground crew cleared the playing surface allowed for only one nine innings game.

The Scarborough Force side featured five players from the Canadian national team.

The Black Sox defence was sound with a good pitching performance from Regan Manley and debuts from Bayley Hoani and Josh Pettett.

Thomas Enoka was the pick of the Black Sox hitters with a big home run in the second innings to tie the game up against former Canadian pitcher Don Scott after the local side went ahead 1-0 with a home run in the first innings.

The next game is scheduled to be played late tomorrow afternoon (New Zealand time) against the Toronto Gators followed by a second hit out against the Mississauga Arrows the same game.

The tour is part of an extended build up for the team for the 2015 world championships to be held in Canada.