Softball: White Sox upbeat despite loss to form side Japan

The White Sox are looking on the positive side despite being beaten 7-0 by Japan yesterday in their second game at the world softball championships in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.

Japan were always going to be a tough opponent. They were the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal winners and are ranked No 2 in the world, with the White Sox 10 places below.

That gap was evident from the first inning with the New Zealand side conceding four runs as pitcher Megan Farrell at times struggled to get on top of her opponents. The Auckland hurler in that inning faced eight players and gave up two hits and two walks.

Although the White Sox managed to halt the Japanese batting in the fourth inning the beaten finalists from the 2010 tournament showed why they are top seeds in the section as they added another three runs.

In contrast, the only White Sox player to register a hit in the game was Auckland's Rebecca Bromhead with two from her two turns at bat.

For the White Sox their attention now turns to today's game against Britain, who like them have won one of their two games. Their opponents are one of the four sides White Sox coach Naomi Shaw has targeted as must-win games if her side is to qualify for the top-eight playoffs.

The White Sox opened their campaign with a good win against Mexico, Hutt Valley's Lara Andrews leading a batting rampage with three of New Zealand's 13 safe hits.

In other results from the White Sox section at the tournament hosts Canada beat Mexico 8-0 to join Japan with two wins from as many games.

Australia bounced back from their 3-1 loss to Japan in their opening game to beat Italy 11-1 and have, along with the White Sox and Italy, a one win, one loss ratio after the first two days of the tournament.