BASEBALL: Canada off to good start, Australia thrashed, US-Japan game rained off

Two British Commonwealth teams took to the field in the opening rounds of the Baseball World Cup in Panama, with wildly different results.

Australia made a terrible start being  humiliated 14-0 by Cuba in Chitre, , with the mercy rule enacted at the end of the seventh innings.

Cuba, which finished second at the last World Cup in 2009, made light work of the inexperienced Australian line-up.

Meanwhile Canada handed out a 9-1 thrashing to Puerto Rico at the Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City while on the other side of the world in New Zealand, the Canadian rugby team, playing in another world cup event were  pounded by the favorites The All Blacks 79 -15.  Only Wales created a bigger lopsided score with a 66-0 slaughter of Fiji.

 Back in Panama, an anticipated tighter game between baseball power houses The US and Japan, was postponed because of a heavy thunderstorm, which lasted over an hour. The infield was protected by a tarpaulin but  the outfield was a soggy mess. The few fans who risked their money, headed home soon after 7 pm.

For security reasons, umbrellas are not allowed at the games.

More details on Monday.