Softball: Shannon a home run hero

New Zealand's Patrick Shannon wasted no time celebrating the return of his softball bat at the world championships in Canada yesterday with the catcher hitting a home run in a 10-0 win over Botswana.

The hit came in the fourth inning and was his first home run at the tournament in Saskatoon after his first-choice bat had been deemed illegal by the officials on the opening day.

"Mine wasn't illegal and the Canadians were using the same ones," he said.

"It is those little things you get used to and then someone throws a spanner into the works.

"You always want to have a good start and then something like this happens."

Assistant manager Jayden Moore came to the rescue of the Aucklander and was able to retrieve the bat in time for yesterday's game.

"It was good work from him for me," Shannon said.

Shannon was also not the only Black Sox player to add to the home run list at the tournament with Gareth Cook hitting one in the first inning and Nathan Nukunuku in the fifth.

Also for the side it was their fourth game from as many appearances to have the mercy rule called before the end of the regulation seven innings.

The Black Sox victims also include the United States, Britain and the Philippines.

"We know what our strengths are and we know some of the teams we are playing may not be as powerful as we are going to find at the end, but we have our own team goals," Shannon said.

"We know what we are there for and if the walks are on offer we take them rather than always going for the big hits."

However, illegal pitching calls against the team continued yesterday with starting hurler Marty Grant pulled up once.

"He wasn't too happy about it either.

"The umpire couldn't give him an explanation about why either. It was quite laughable," Shannon said.

The Black Sox are the only unbeaten team in their section after Britain came from behind to upset Japan 4-3 yesterday.

Japan had led the game going into the bottom of the sixth inning but then conceded four quick runs and were unable to pull any back in their final turn at bat.

Denmark, who the Black Sox play today, beat Mexico 6-4 and the US were 9-4 winners over the Philippines.

In the other section, Australia beat South Africa 11-2 and Argentina were 8-6 winners over Puerto Rico, Canada beat Indonesia 11-2 and Venezuela beat the Czech Republic 9-2.

- NZPA