CAL RIPKEN AROO'S UPDATE NUMBER 6
Game 3 against Mexico resulted in a 10-0 loss on Cal Senior's Yard. After seeing the emotional win over Korea the day before, the young Aussie boys appeared flat against the tough Mexican side. Despite the losing margin, the game was not as one sided as the scoreline appears.
The trend of the game appeared to be set in the first innings when Australia hit into a double play while the opposition replied with 4 runs, all unearned. Against a quality pitcher, the Aussie bats were stifled with only 2 hits recorded. The loss still sees Australia in second place, the next game would determine who finished 2nd and 3rd.
Game 4 was played on Wrigley Field against the Dominican Republic. Again lady luck deserted the boys who went down 4-2 in a tightly contested fixture. Australia actually out hit the Dominican's by 8 hits to 5 but could not convert them into runs stringing them over the game. It was a game where the Aussie hitters could just not find the gaps. The aggressive hitting was a credit to the team which did not see a batter strike out until the final innings.
All of the Dominicans runs were scored in the 4th innings as a result of 3 uncharacteristic errors. Australia fought back in the 5th to claw back 2 runs but the fight back was ended in the last with the tieing run at the plate. Michael Mazzocato was strong on the mound pulling off a spectacular double play with some good hitting from Tim Zurrer and Tom Vaughan
