Softball: Black Sox proud to make final despite 5-0 drubbing by Australia

Down but proud.

That is how New Zealand Softball chief scorer and Otago softball identity Sandy Wallace described the feeling in the Black Sox's camp after the team was well-beaten by Australia in the final in Saskatoon, Canada, yesterday.

Australia outplayed the Black Sox to win 5-0, ending New Zealand's run of three consecutive world championship titles.

"The first thought was disappointment but the second thought was that they had done really well to get to where they were," Wallace said.

"Australia was obviously the form team all week but the Black Sox did well to reach the final and had to play three high calibre games to get there.

"The semifinal against Canada was just amazing. To beat the home team on their turf in front of that crowd was no mean feat. Then to have to turn around and basically come off the diamond and go straight back on for the final was tough.

"It is disappointing but we are still very, very proud of the boys."

Wallace said the main difference between the sides was the outstanding pitching of Adam Folkard, who was a handful, even for the Black Sox' power-packed batting line-up.

"He's been unstoppable all week and that was the difference."

The 7-0 loss to Australia earlier in the tournament must have dented the Black Sox's confidence but Wallace said the team believed it could turn that performance around.

As for the supporters, Wallace said, "We're all in good spirits. We've just left the park and the reason you could not get me on the phone is because we were in a bar.

"Once the boys picked themselves up they came over and joined us and have invited us to join them later."

Folkard became just the second pitcher in a world championship final to deliver a no-hitter, replicating the achievement of New Zealand's Michael White against Canada in 1996.

"He gave up one hit in the two games we played against him," said Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase.

"He just had us scratching around."

Nick Shailes got Australia rolling in the bottom of the second when the second baseman took a base hit off starting pitcher Heinie Shannon.

He then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and raced home on one of the Black Sox's three fielding errors.

Shailes doubled the lead two innings later before Michael Tanner, Josh Davison and Aaron Cockman made the game safe.

New Zealand had Thomas Makea left stranded on third at the top of the first inning after he had been walked - the only Black Sox to get on base.

While Folkard was Australia's pitching hero, New Zealand farewelled long-serving hurler Marty Grant, who had to be rested from the final after pitching 16 innings against Japan, the United States and Canada to get the Black Sox into the decider.