USA Men finish second at ISF World Cup of Softball

Prague, CZ---The USA Softball Men’s National Team finished second at the 2007 ISF Men’s World Cup of Softball on Sunday after falling to Japan, 2-0, in the championship game. The U.S. rebounded from an opening round loss to Japan to defeat Venezuela and earn a rematch in the championship game.

Japan picked up the only run it would need in the bottom of the first inning when the U.S. defense faltered. Suzuki reached to lead off the inning on an error by U.S. third baseman Gregg Cascaes (Apple Valley, Minn.) and moved to second and third on back-to-back sacrifices by Yokohama and Ishimura. Japan continued to execute the fundamentals of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Suzuki.

The U.S. recorded its only hit of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Adam LaLonde (Cheboygan, Mich.) led off the inning with a single to left field but the U.S. was not able to bring a run across.

An insurance run was added by Japan in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the seventh the U.S. mounted a comeback that would fall short. Omar Moraga (Agoura Hills, Calif.) reached after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second when Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wis.) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. But the comeback was halted when Frank DeGroat, Jr. (Ringwood, N.J.) struck out and Nate Devine (Merced, Calif.) grounded into a double-play back to the pitcher to end the game.

The U.S. finished the game with just one hit and left three runners stranded while Japan collected two runs off eight hits and left five runners on base.

The USA will have a chance to redeem itself in less than a month when it faces off with Japan, Venezuela and Argentina in the inaugural KFC American Challenge Series, July 13-15, in Oklahoma City at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex.

The American Challenge Series is being hosted in conjunction with the 2007 KFC World Cup of Softball. Anyone holding a ticket for the KFC World Cup of Softball will be admitted for free to the KFC American Challenge Series.