Kiwi Invasion

New Zealand bombs Sooke

The New Zealand U19 National team performed their pre-game "Haka" in front of hundreds of local fans in Sooke before hitting six bombs and sinking both local boys teams - but not before getting more than they bargained from the scrappy Sooke clubs.

The Kiwi's topped the Sooke Jr's by a score of 21-15 in a game that took more than 3 hours to complete. The Koster twins scored 6 times in leading the locals to several comebacks before the visitors scored 5 in the 7th to put it out of reach.

Pitcher Shawn Koster was hitting speeds up to 75 mph but struggling at times with control while Kiwi starter Thomas Enoke (pictured) was particularly sharp and topped out at 74 on the Prostock radar gun.

The Kiwi homer attack was lead by Jamie Love with two, Ben Enoka, Jovaan Henley, Bronson Marino, and Cory Timu hitting one apiece.

The Kiwi's next opponent was last year's national champions, the Sooke Midgets. The visitors held a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the 6th when Jesse Grieve belted a 3 run homer to bring the local fans to their feet and narrow the gap to 6-4

In the top of the 7th New Zealand's Cory Timu hit a solo shot that turned out to be the difference as Sooke's Scott Lieph doubled off the fence scoring 2 in the bottom of the 7th before Kiwi pitcher David McKenzie struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Sooke pitcher Scott Lieph topped out at 77 on the radar gun and held the visitors at bay except for the 3rd inning, when the Kiwi's struck for 3 runs on 4 hits.

Starting Kiwi pitcher Nick Hayes went 6 solid innings before surrendering the bomb to Grieve and the ball to David McKenzie. Both Kiwi pitchers mixed pitches well and hit speeds into the low seventies.