BASEBALL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 7

BASEBALL

EXHIBITION GAME AT HAGLEY PARK

A crowd of several thousand* gathered at Hagley Park Oval on Saturday afternoon to witness a game seldom seen in New Zealand—baseball. A fast-mOving match between two team* of American Marines; called the National League, and the American League, which are the two largest baseball organisations in the United states, provided many exalting incidents for the spectators. The players, although they had had practically no practice since their arrival in New Zealand, were amazingly quick in the field, and lofty outfield catches seemed to cause them no difficulty. Time and again a gasp would rise from the crowd as a big hit would start the batter on his way to first base, to be succeeded by bursts of applause as the ball fell into the sure glove of a waiting outfielder. The position of pitcher is a responsible one, and requires great accuracy, as well as a strong arm. Any pitched ball which does not pass over tha batter’s "plate," between his knee* and shoulders, is a “ball." Four of these and the Batsman gets a "walk” to first bate. The final score was; National League 8, American League 4. in a preliminary game between women’s softball teams, Canterbury A (4) lost to Canterbury B (14).