Softball: Black Sox topple champions Canada in thriller to reach world final

Pitcher Nik Hayes in action for the NZ Black Sox against Japan. Photo/Photosport

An eight-run fourth inning has catapulted the Black Sox past defending champions Canada 12-11 and into their 10th straight final at the men's world softball championship in Whitehorse, Yukon.

New Zealand trailed 9-2 early, but benefitted from a rain delay during their fourth turn at bat, allowing them to regroup. Upon resumption, Kallan Compain homered with bases loaded to reduce the deficit.

As the Canadian pitching crumbled in wet conditions, the Kiwi batters continued to reach base - Tyron Bartorillo scored off a wild pitch, followed across home plate by Campbell Enoka, pinch runner Josh Harbrow and captain Nathan Nukunuku before the end of the inning.

Ahead 10-9, the Black Sox allowed a run in the fifth inning to lock up the scores again, but took a winning lead in the sixth, as Thomas Enoka homered and Cole Evans scored on a misthrow.

They maintained that advantage into the bottom of the seventh and final inning, where pitcher Nikki Hayes had to survive a few desperate moments, before finally nailing the door shut.

Hayes was credited with the win, after pitching the final five innings, but walked in a run to reduce the margin to just one with bases still loaded. Canada's late bid for victory finally fell short, when Mark Johnson hit into a fielder's choice and Bartorillo had Stephen Mullaley out at third base.

"Pretty exciting game and the guys showed a lot of character to come back from such a deficit early in the game," said coach Mark Sorenson. "But there was always a good feel in the dugout and the guys believed we just needed to get on a bit of a roll.

"We talked about just focusing on getting one run and putting runners on base and building pressure. We wanted to get into their bullpen a little bit further.

"We got into a situation where the weather was working in our favour a little bit, pitchers were struggling to grip the ball and it became about seizing the moment and grabbing the opportunity.

"We got on that roll and we had the ability to accumulate runs once we got going."

Victory booked a final spot for New Zealand at 11am (NZT) tomorrow, when they will face the winners of the earlier Canada v Australia playoff.