Argentina and New Zealand booked tickets to the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025 after a thrilling conclusion to the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group B tournament in Prince Albert, Canada on Sunday.
World No. 1 Argentina claimed a roller-coaster 6-5 win over New Zealand in the Group B final to claim the first Finals 2025 tickets before New Zealand overcame an early 1-0 deficit to defeat Canada 4-1 in the Repechage game, securing the second ticket on offer. The Group B results also saw Canada confirm their spot in next year’s Finals as the hosts.
Earlier in the day, Hong Kong, China defeated Israel 6-5 to clinch fifth place while Canada beat Singapore 8-0 in the playoff between third and fourth.
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After the tournament, Argentina’s shortstop Ladislao Malarczuk was named the Most Outstanding Player of Group B. Malarczuk posted a .385 batting average with seven runs scored, two RBIs, and five walks. He also showcased elite defence, playing error-free throughout the tournament.
A two-run homer by Corey Ng in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference in Hong Kong, China’s 6-5 victory over Israel on the last day of competition in Group B. With this win, Hong Kong, China finished fifth, while Israel placed sixth.
Hong Kong, China held a 6-1 lead after four innings, but Israel mounted a late-inning comeback that fell just short.
Yuk Sing Ling pitched 5.2 innings for Hong Kong, China, allowing six hits and five runs (only one earned) to secure the win. The losing pitcher was Kfir Leon.
Canada swung the bat with authority at Rotary Field, collecting 10 hits in four innings to build an 8-0 lead.
Mathieu Roy and Justin Laskowski homered in the first inning, securing a comfortable lead from the start. Blake Hunter went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
Justin Schofield pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 12 batters to earn the win.
With this result, Canada advanced to the Repechage game, awaiting the losing side in the final between Argentina and New Zealand, while Singapore finished in fourth place.
Argentina clinched the ticket to the Finals 2025 after a thrilling 6-5 victory over New Zealand in the Group B final. The South Americans ended the tournament undefeated, joining Australia and the Dominican Republic as the teams advancing to next year’s Finals.
The game, which was interrupted for almost three hours due to a rain delay, saw both teams exchanging leads, with Argentina ultimately outlasting their rivals.
Argentina recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying the game with a three-run rally. Both teams exchanged runs until the bottom of the sixth, when Gian Scialacomo scored on a wild pitch.
Lucio Retamar homered in the bottom of the fourth, while Pablo Migliavacca earned the win with two innings of work for Argentina
For the Black Sox, who outhit Argentina 9-5, Te Wera Bishop homered and collected three RBIs, while Tane Mumu and Wayne Laulu each had two hits.
New Zealand fought back from an early 1-0 deficit to defeat Canada 4-1 in the Group B Repechage game, earning the second ticket to the Finals 2025.
The key offensive play of the game was an opposite-field homer by Ben Enoka in the bottom of the sixth, igniting a three-run rally that decided the game.
From the circle, Pita Rona tossed a masterpiece after giving up a lead-off home run to Mathieu Roy. He went the distance, giving up three hits and one run while striking out eight.
Canada finished third in the Group B final standings and will play in the Finals next year as the host team.
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Bottom 6th – Ben Enoka gave New Zealand the lead for the first time in the game with a homer to right field. New Zealand with a 4-1 lead.
Bottom 4th – New Zealand tied the game. Ben Enoka walked, and advanced to second with a sac bunt by Reilly Makea. He then scored with a single from Wayne Laulu. It was New Zealand’s first hit of the game. The game was tied at one, with the nice pitching duel between Pita Rona and Ty Sebastian.
Top 1st – For the second game in a row, Mathieu Roy led the game with a home run to right field. Canada took the lead.
Starting pitchers – Pita Rona (NZL) vs Ty Sebastian (CAN)
Canada and New Zealand are playing for the second ticket to the Finals. One of the biggest rivalries in international men’s softball will decide the second team that will make it to the Finals from Group B.
Bottom 6th – Argentina loaded the bases with no outs, and only one scored . With two outs, Daniel Chapman delivered a pitch directly to the backstop, allowing Gian Scialacomo to score the go-ahead run with a 6-5 game for the South Americans.
Top 6th – New Zealand loaded the bases with no outs, but only capitalised on a grounder to shortstop that tied the game. Pablo Migliavacca retired Reilly Makea via strikes, and Thomas Enoka on a grounder to pitcher. The game was tied 5-5.
Bottom 5th – Argentina regained the lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Manuel Godoy scored on a wild pitch, giving his team a 5-4 lead.
Top 5th – After a 160-minute delay, the game resumed. New Zealand hit a pair of singles, but Pablo Migliavacca struck out Cole Evans and Tyron Bartorillo to end the inning. Score was tied at four.
18:50 – Rain has stopped and the groundskeepers are working on the field, without any notice on the tentative time to resume play.
Top 5th – At 18:00 local time, there was a rain delay. Pablo Migliavacca replaced Huemul Mata in the circle for Argentina.
Bottom 4th – After a 20-minute rain delay, the action was back. Two pitches later, Lucio Retamar blasted a two-run homer for a one-run ballgame. Gian Scialacomo doubled and Daniel Chapman replaced Pita Rona in the circle. After a sliding catch in left field, Federico Olheiser tied the game
Top 4th – New Zealand took the lead. With runners on first and second base, Rhys Evans hit a ball to third base off the glove of Gian Scialacomo to tie the game. One pitch later, Te Wera Bishop hit a three-run homer over the centre field fence to give New Zealand the edge. The game was 4-1 for the Black Sox.
Bottom 1st – Argentina’s top of the order showed great patience and discipline, working back to back full count walks. Juan Zara hit a long fly ball to the centre field warning track, and Teo Migliavacca showed his speed to score from second. Argentina led 1-0.
Top 1st – New Zealand put two runners on with one out, on a single by Reilly Makea and a Thomas Enoka walk. However, a nice play by shortstop Ladislao Malarczuk to force the runner on third and a strikeout allowed Huemul Mata to escape unharmed.
Starting pitchers – Huemul Mata (ARG) vs Pita Rona (NZL)
Preview – The first ticket to the Finals will be decided between Argentina and New Zealand, first and second place finishers in the Opening Round. First pitch at 16:00. On Saturday, they faced each other and the South Americans came out victorious from the match, 4-1, to remain undefeated in the competition. The winner of the game earns a ticket to the Finals, while the loser will play the Repechage game, at 19:00, against the winner of the game between Canada and Singapore.
Bottom 4th – Canada extended the lead to 8-0 with a win-scoring single from Jeff Lyons.
Bottom 2nd – A two-run single off the bat of Blake Hunter made the score 7-0 for the red and white team. Jordan Pomeroy and Mathieu Roy singled and then scored the runs.
Bottom 1st – Canada used a pair of long balls to get a comfortable 5-0 lead in their first at-bat. Mathieu Roy hit a lead-off homer and Justin Laskowski belted a two-run shot to right field. Cory Jones contributed with an RBI single.
Bottom 1st – Veteran Mathieu Roy gave Canada an early lead with a lead-off homer to right field. Canada struck first to lead Singapore 1-0.
Starting pitchers – Justin Schofield (CAN) vs Raynard Heng (SGP)
Preview – The second game of the day will be an elimination game between Canada and Singapore, which finished third and fourth place respectively in the Opening Round. They played each other in Game 6, when the hosts defeated the Asians, 7-1. However, the game was closer than the result indicates, since it remained tied at one until the fifth, when Singapore pulled their starter. Canada scored five in the seventh off the second Singapore reliever. The game is scheduled at 13:00, with the winner advancing to the repechage game at 19:00.
Top 6th – Israel loaded the bases and scored once on a Ryan Willen walk. However, relief pitcher Hot Kong Wong replaced Ling in the circle and forced Oren Bobrov to a grounder to third base and escaped the jam. Hong Kong, China held the lead 6-5.
Top 5th – Israel scored three to make it 6-4. Two hits from Kfir Leon and Seth Ross, and a defensive error opened the door for an Israel rally.
Bottom 4th – Corey Ng homered to left field with a runner on. It was Ng’s second homer of the day, both against Israel.
Top 4th – Israel scored their first run of the game after a defensive error, trailing at 4-1.
Bottom 3rd – Hong Kong, China took the lead. An RBI single from Shun Hei Ng and a pair of defensive miscues allowed the Asians to score four runs. Hong Kong, China led 4-0.
Starting pitchers – Kfir Leon (ISR) vs Yuk Sing Ling (HKG).
Preview – In the first game of the day, Hong Kong, China and Israel will face each other for the fifth place in Group B. The Asians finished the Opening Round with a 1-4 record, while Israel ended the round with 0-5. Their meeting in the Opening Round finished with a 3-2 Hong Kong, China win. First pitch at 10:00.
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