Top Illawarra baseballer Trent D’Antonio helped Australia punch their ticket for the main draw of the 2017 World Baseball Classic after beating South Africa 12-5 in Sunday’s Qualifying Final at Blacktown International Sportspark.
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Sydney Blue Sox and Wests Cardinals star D’Antonio first scored on an error, then drove in two more runs in a six-run eighth inning to seal a tense win.
In a match of momentum swings, Brad Harman and Allan de San Miguel smashed solo homers in the fifth to give Australia a 3-1 lead but Kyle Botha belted a three-run homer in the sixth to give the world No 29 South Africa a shock 4-3 lead.
But the 14th ranked Australia scored a run in the sixth to tie the game, then scored two more runs in the seventh to lead 6-4.
South Africa made it a one-run game in the top of the eighth, but fell apart in the bottom of the innings with D’Antonio among six base-runners to cross the plate in a 10-5 victory.
The four-day World Baseball Classic Qualifier featured Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa playing off for one spot in the World Baseball Classic in New York in March 2017.
Australia beat the Philippines 11-1 first up, then beat South Africa 4-1 to advance to the final. South Africa beat the Philippines, 17-7, and eliminated New Zealand 9-2 last Saturday night.
D’Antonio was listed as one of the three catchers with main catcher Allan De San Miguel and Robbie Perkins in the 28-man Southern Thunder roster, with 26 Aussie stars having played at Minor League level or higher.
