Softball Canada – Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic – The Canadian Men’s National Team kept their bats going in an 8-0 win in five innings against Singapore at the 2019 WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship. Four of Canada’s eight hits went for homeruns, while the pitching tandem of Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) and Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) combined for a no-hitter.
 
In the top of the first, Derek Mayson (Vancouver, B.C.) drew a two-out walk and scored from first on a double to the right-center field gap by Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.). After sitting out three games nursing an injury, Shane Boland (St. John’s, N.L.) was back in the Canadian lineup and hit a leadoff homerun to left center in the top of the second, followed by a solo blast by Burns as Canada took a 3-0 lead.
 
Canada added a run in the third on a single by Burns and tacked on four more in the fourth on a pair of two-run homeruns by Mayson and Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.). Singapore drew a walk in each of the fourth and fifth innings and tried using their speed to move those runners but was unable to push either of them across to score.
 
Box Score: Canada 8 vs. Singapore 0
 
Cleary got the start in the pitcher’s circle to get some work in ahead of the playoff round that will start on Friday, allowing only one walk and striking out six batters in four innings. Burns struck out three batters and gave up one walk in one inning of relief. Burns went 2-for-2 at the plate with a homerun and two runs batted in, with Mayson and Abrey adding two-run blasts and Boland hitting a solo shot. Hunter had a double and a single, while Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) chipped in with a single.
 
In other action on Wednesday, Japan blanked Cuba 2-0, Australia defeated Venezuela 5-3, New Zealand shut out the Philippines 15-0, Argentina got an 11-1 win over Mexico, the United States beat Denmark 12-4, South Africa shut out the Netherlands 7-0 and Botswana double the Czech Republic 4-2.
 
With the win, Team Canada (6-0) has locked up first place in Group B and will wrap up the preliminary round against South Africa (1-5) at 4:30pm local time (10:30am EDT) in Prague on Thursday. Canada’s first playoff game is scheduled to be played at 7:30pm local time (1:30pm EDT) on Friday against the fourth place team in Group A. Live scoring is available through the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship website, with live streaming available at FloSoftball.com (paid subscription required).