Netherlands vs Botswana 6:5 (0:1, 4:0, 0:0, 0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:3, 1:0)
Out of the gate Botswana put one up with a single by Kabo Matlho that sent Eric Simwanza home. 

The Kingdom answered with 4 runs in the 2nd. A triple by Danny Rombley scored 2. He went on to score on an error by 1B Tiro Mazulugwa before Idel Raap drove one in on a ground out. 

Botswana grabbed another run off a solo homer by Mazulugwa in the 4th. At the top of the 7th pinch runner Quincy Jones took 2nd on a wild pitch before stealing his way around the remaining bags. That put The Netherlands up by 3. 

That’s when Botswana made it a ball game. They got some help around the bags from the Dutch pen going wild twice, but the Motswana played consistent small ball to earn another inning. 

The Dutch scored the winning run in the top of the 8th off a double by Revin Brooks that sent the placed runner, Eldrick Dijkhoff home.

Cuba vs Denmark 0:3 (0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:2, 0:0, 0:0, 0:X)
Jens Terkelsen walked to start the offensive half of the 1st for Denmark. He was then bunted over by Jorgensen. Cuba intentionally walked Frederik Terkelsen to put runners on the corners. Daniel Julenon then singled up the right side to score Jens. In other words, Denmark stuck with the small ball strategy that has worked for them all week. 

In the bottom of the 4th they added some insurance with another two walked on before Jens drove them in with a single to center. The Cuban pen gave up 5 walks and 3 of them cost them the game. 

On the plate for Denmark Kim Hansen had himself a game. He threw 7 complete innings of shutout ball giving up 5 hits and a walk while flagging 18.

Czech Republic vs Canada 0:4 (0:0, 0:0, 0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:3, 0:X)
Canada and Japan both entered the first round of inter-pool games undefeated. They left the same way, each shutting out the competition. Canada defeated the hometown favorites 4-0. 

Both starters threw outstanding games. Sean Cleary pitched a 4-hit game for the Cunucks flagging 13 Czechs along the way. 

In the bottom of the 3rd Mathieu Roy hit a triple to start Canada’s offensive run. Derek Mayson hit him in on with single. In the 6th Blake Hunter was hit by the pitch and took his base. Tyler Pauli went in as his pinch runner. Jeffery Ellsworth bunted Pauli over before Shane Boland singled with distance to give Tyler time to touch home. 

Czech softball will open the day tomorrow against Venezuela in the semi-final round.

/Picture by: WBSC/