Behind an offensive onslaught, and a fantastic starting performance from Amy Collins, the Australian Emeralds presented by Boral defeated host nation South Korea 13-0 at the LG Presents WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2016.
A product of the Northern Territory, Amy Collins was given the start against South Korea, her first appearance at this World Cup, and from the outset, Collins dominated, giving up only two hits through four innings. Backed up by some strong defensive players, Collins thrived and set The Emeralds up for victory.
After an incredible start on the mound in her debut game at a World Cup, Abbey Kelly made her positional debut, starting the game at shortstop for the Emeralds. Kelly made the most of her opportunity, extending Australia’s advantage to three with a two-RBI single.
Leslie Anglin continued her solid form at the tournament, claiming a pair of hits, one of which blew the game wide open in the third. With bases loaded, Anglin stepped up to the plate and blasted a double down the left field line, clearing the bases and scoring three runs, putting the result beyond doubt.
A monster fifth inning for The Emeralds will give them some solid momentum going into a must-win game tomorrow vs. Japan. Six runs were scored, with two RBIs from Chelsea Forkin doing the bulk of the damage.
Australia’s next game at the World Cup sees them match up with the #1 ranked nation Japan, and with a victory the only option for the Emeralds to remain in contention for a berth in the Gold Medal game, it is sure to be a classic encounter. First pitch is at 8pm AEST, tune in via the WBSC’s YouTube Channel, or watch live on ESPN Australia/NZ (check your local guides).
The Australian Emeralds presented by Boral matched up with a strong defensive side from Canada, and despite a late rally from the Emeralds, the Canadian team held on for a 5-3 victory at the LG Presents WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2016.
Brittany Hepburn got her second start of the tournament against Canada, and continued to mix her pitches well early. It took until the second inning where a Jennifer Gilroy RBI broke the scoreless deadlock.
After conceding an early run, Hepburn and the Australian defence settled into a nice rhythm, but the offence was foiled by a strong performance from Canadian starting pitcher Autumn Mills, who didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning.
Canada seemingly put the game out of reach for the Emeralds in the 6th, as they scored another three runs, but as the Emeralds seem to do, they found a way back into the ballgame.
After a leadoff walk and a hit by pitch, Tammy McMillan broke up Autumn Mills’ no-hitter with a single to left field and loaded the bases. From there, a bases loaded walk from veteran Shae Lillywhite opened Australia’s account. Another pair of runs scored on a fielders choice followed by an error, and in the blink of an eye, the Emeralds only trailed by two.
Unfortunately though, nothing came of the final frame, and the Emeralds were defeated in their first tight ballgame of this year’s world cup.
The Australian Emeralds now face South Korea in a must-win matchup at the Women’s World Cup. The game will be streamed live on the WBSC YouTube Channel, and shown live on ESPN Australia/NZ at 10.30am AEST (check your local guides).
Originally posted as Beresford becomes 33rd Australian in MLB by Baseball Australia
Waverley's James Beresford has become the 33rd Australian to make a MLB roster, after the Minnesota Twins today announced his promotion from the AAA-Rochester Red Wings.
Upon hearing the news of Beresford’s call-up Team Australia and newly appointed Melbourne Aces Manager Jon Deeble was extremely excited.
A .323 career hitter in the ABL, Beresford played a key role for Australia at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Sydney in February and is been a vital member of the national team setup leading into the World Baseball Classic in March next year.
Chelsea Forkin’s talent on the diamond reach almost as far as her range playing centre field.
One of the rare ‘Jill of all trades’ in Australian sport, Chelsea has become only the second athlete to represent Australia at both the Softball and Baseball World Cups in the same year.
After finishing inside the top 10 at the 2016 ISF Women’s World Softball Championships in July this year, Chelsea’s selection for the Australian Emeralds is a credit to her commitment to the Emeralds program.
“I'm extremely humbled and honoured to get the call up to play with the Emeralds again,” Forkin said.
“It's been a long time since I've put this uniform on but the feeling of being apart of this group is something very special to me.”
Chelsea’s playing history is littered with team and individual honours, most notably representing Australia as a 15 year old at the inaugural Women’s Baseball World Cup in 2004, winning four National Softball Championships and receiving a Sport Achievement Award from the Australian Institute of Sport in 2011.
Couple those honours with signing a lucrative contract in one of softball’s premier competitions, America’s National Pro Fastpitch League, and Chelsea is building an impressive resume.
“I haven't found the change too challenging, it's been more about making adjustments between the two sports,” Forkin said of her transition between baseball and softball at the elite level.
"I have found that at the elite level, softball and baseball are very similar in terms of fundamental skill performance and the mental side of the game. So it's just been a matter of making adjustments for me, and I enjoy that challenge.”
Chelsea’s play so far at the Women’s Baseball World Cup has been fantastic, claiming four hits and three RBIs in pool play, and cementing herself as one of the Emeralds most damaging hitters.
Now at the pointy end of the competition, Chelsea and her teammates will have to step up again as Super Round play commences tomorrow, with the Emeralds taking on Canada at 8pm AEST.
After making it through one of the toughest groups at the LG Presents WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2016, the Australian Emeralds presented by Boral have secured their place in the Super Round, and remain in contention for a medal at the tournament.
After an opening day defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei, the Emeralds’ backs were against the wall, and a 14-0 victory over Hong Kong set up a mouth watering clash with the 2nd ranked side in Women’s Baseball, the USA.
To guarantee qualification for the Super Round, Australia needed to defeat the USA by five or more runs, a seemingly tough task given America’s status in the women’s game.
Behind an incredible outing from 17-year-old Abbey Kelly and some outstanding offence, the Emeralds defeated the USA 10-2 and in turn, foiled America’s quest for a medal at the World Cup.
As the second team to qualify from Group C, Australia needs to win at least three of their four games in the Super Round to give themselves a chance to play-off for a gold medal. The top two teams in the super round play off for the gold medal, while the teams that finish third and fourth play off for the bronze.
The Emeralds begin their Super Round campaign against #4 ranked Canada on Wednesday, then continue against Korea, #1 ranked Japan and finish with Venezuela on Saturday.
Catch all of The Emeralds’ games live via the WBSC YouTube Channel.
EMERALDS SUPER ROUND SCHEDULE:
vs. Canada (Ranked #4), 7pm local (8pm AEST) – Wednesday 7 September
vs. Korea (#11), 9.30am local (10.30am AEST) – Thursday 8 September
vs. Japan (#1), 7pm local (8pm AEST) – Friday 9 September
vs. Venezuela (#5), 7pm local (8pm AEST) – Saturday 10 September
Victorian James Beresford has become the 33rd Australian to make a MLB roster, after the Minnesota Twins today announced his promotion from the AAA-Rochester Red Wings.
After signing for the Twins as a 16 year old in 2005 and toiling away in the minor league system for 11 years, Beresford will become the fourth Australian to play in the MLB during the 2016 season after Peter Moylan, Warwick Saupold and Liam Hendriks all saw time on the biggest baseball stage in the world this year.
Upon hearing the news of Beresford’s call-up Team Australia Manager Jon Deeble was extremely excited.
“It’s absolutely outstanding news and I can’t think of a more deserving guy to get the call than James,” Deeble said.
“He has performed everywhere he’s gone and to hit over .300 in Triple-A baseball is no mean feat. James never got discouraged throughout his time in the minors, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor said he’s “A big Jimmy fan,” to reporters on Monday.
“Once in a while someone needs to be rewarded for everything they’ve done, including playing well."
Beresford played a key role for Australia at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Sydney in February and is been a vital member of the national team setup leading into the World Baseball Classic in March next year.
Originally posted as Beresford becomes 33rd Australian in MLB by Baseball Australia
Waverley's James Beresford has become the 33rd Australian to make a MLB roster, after the Minnesota Twins today announced his promotion from the AAA-Rochester Red Wings.
Upon hearing the news of Beresford’s call-up Team Australia and newly appointed Melbourne Aces Manager Jon Deeble was extremely excited.
A .323 career hitter in the ABL, Beresford played a key role for Australia at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Sydney in February and is been a vital member of the national team setup leading into the World Baseball Classic in March next year.
GIJANG, S. Korea – An absolute clinic on the mound from Emeralds debutant Abbey Kelly backed up by some red-hot offence sealed a famous victory by the Australian Emeralds presented by Boral, who defeated the USA Women’s National Baseball Team 10-2 at the LG Presents WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2016.
In her debut game at the Women’s Baseball World Cup, 17-year-old Kelly dominated a world class USA line-up, to keep the Emeralds chances at the Women’s World Cup alive.
Australia needed to win by five runs or more against the #2 ranked USA team to qualify for the Super Round, and when Leslie Anglin drove in Kim McMillan in the fifth to extend the lead to five, Australian baseball fans everywhere were daring to dream.
The USA drew first blood early as Malaika Underwood’s RBI triple saw America take an early 1-0 lead. That lead was quickly taken care of by the Emeralds offence with an RBI from Tahnee Lovering and Tammy McMillan’s two-RBI single giving Australia a 3-1 lead after one.
From there, Kelly kept the American hitters off balance and some quality defence ensured that the USA was kept to their solitary run for the first six innings.
After pouring on 13 runs against Hong Kong yesterday, the Australian Emeralds offence again showed no mercy, with Tammy McMillan ending up going 2-for-3 with four clutch RBIs. Bronwyn Gell also hit well in the leadoff spot, claiming two hits and two RBIs on the day.
An opening game loss to Chinese Taipei meant Australia had their backs against the wall, but some inspiring play ending with one of the most famous victories in Australian Baseball history sealed the Emeralds spot in the super round and kept their quest for a medal alive.
The Emeralds next opponent at the Women’s World Cup is yet to be decided, but they’ll take to the field again on Wednesday in Korea.
Check out all of the stats from today's game here.
The Australian Emeralds, presented by Boral will advance to the Super-round of the Women’s Baseball World Cup off the back of a stellar pitching performance from 17 year-old Abbey Kelly.
Making her National Team debut, Kelly was not phased with the daunting prospect of starting against the number-two ranked team in the world, the USA.
With Kelly on the bump, the prospect ahead of the Emeralds was simple. Win by five or more runs or be eliminated from the tournament.
After a one-run first, Kelly would go on to throw the next 5.1 innings without conceding a base hit, leading the Aussies to a 10-2 win against their more fancied opponents, her final stat line reading: 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3BB.
The win is just the second time Australia has beaten the USA in World Cup Baseball.
Abbey wasn’t the only Victoria putting up big numbers with short stop Bronwyn Gell going 2 for 3 and knocking in a pair while right fielder Leslie Anglin went 2 for 4 in the win.
The Emeralds now have a rest day tomorrow (Tuesday) with the super round set to start on Wednesday.