The national men's baseball team have kept their hopes of qualifying for next year's World Baseball Classic alive, by beating the Philippines 17-7 in their second game in the qualifying competition in Sydney.
Diamond Blacks pitcher Jimmy Boyce Photo: Photosport
The Diamond Blacks come 7-4 behind to easily win by the 10-run mercy rule, with six runs in the bottom of the sixth innings.
They'll now play South Africa for a place in the final against Australia, after the hosts beat the South Africans 4-1 in their second game.
That was the second straight win for the Australians and sets up the winner-takes-all clash at Blacktown Park on Saturday at 4pm NZT.
A high schooler got the win for New Zealand to stave off elimination in #WBCQSydney: https://t.co/yfmxKwrCLG pic.twitter.com/kHigm78Huz
— Cut4 (@Cut4) February 12, 2016
Former Red Sox hitter Boss Moanaroa guided New Zealand to the win over the Philippines, the first baseman leading the destruction going 4-5 and picking up a home run and seven Runs Batted In (RBI).
Teenage pitcher Jimmy Boyce was the winning pitcher and the game was closed out by 17-year old Kyle Glogoski.
"As soon as it left the bat, I knew the ball was going a long way," said Moanaroa, a former Boston Red Sox prospect, who added, "I was just part of a great team effort, plenty of others got on the board too."
"We knew we had to win but the team were pretty relaxed leading to the game, but there was plenty of focus," said Moanaroa who believed the team had the goods saying, "the offence was always going to happen as we've got hitters from one to nine in the order."
South Africa thrashed New Zealand 7-1 on the first day of the tournament.
