SOFTBALL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28129, 19 November 1956, Page 5

SOFTBALL

MANY HOME RUNS SCORED

U.S. AIR FORCE BEATS RICHMOND

Home runs were frequent when the Canterbury Softball Association’s competitions were resumed at English Park on Saturday. In the Ohio-Linwood match there were three home runs hit, two by A. Ballantyne. the Ohio first base, and one by A. Hall, while five home runs were hit in the United States Air Force-Rich-mond game. For the Air Force team W. Schoppa hit two, and B. Roby and D. Sodenberg one each, with R. Hall making one for the home team. Ohio had an easy 16-2 win over Linwood, but in spite of the large score, nine of the innings of the game were scoreless. and Ohio scored most of its runs in its seventh innings, scoring 10 on walks, fumbles, and fielding errors. The United States Air Force team scored its first competition points with a 17-12 win over Richmond after a game marked by powerful hitting by both teams. Air Force opened the game with a fine home run by W. Schoppa, and in the fourth innings Schoppa hit his second homer, but the application of a local ground rule nullified this fine effort. The umpires’ decision raised a storm of protest from the American players, who pointed out that any hit that went out of the grounds was an automatic home I run. Schoppa was forced to accept two bases—a poor reward for such a magnificent hit. R. Hall's homer for Richmond brought in three runs at a crucial time for his side, and enabled them to take the lead, but keen fielding and more good hitting kept Air Force ahead to the final innings. Results:— Senior Men.—Papanui 12. Christchurch 8; Avon Royals 17, Spreydon 2; United States Air Force 17, Richmond 12; Ohio 16. Linwood 2. Senior Reserve. —Spreydon 20, Richmond 8; Christchurch 17, Linwood 16. Junior.—Spreydon 30. Christchurch 27: Templeton 17. L.D.S. 12; United 29, Papanui 27; Training College 28. Marathon 18. Senior Women.—Monowai 6, Spreydon 2; Linwood 19. Hagley 1. . Intermediate.—Linwood 20. Belfast 19; Standard 14. United 12; Linwood 35, Hagley 11. Junior.—Vanguard 21. Avon Royals 17; Kaiapoi 22, Monowai 21. Forces Match The United States Air Force softball team had an easy 20-4 win over Burnham Military Camp in a special forces challenge match played at Burnham yesterday. Burnham opening secured a runner on base, but three perfect strikes ended the innings scoreless. Air Force suffered a similar fate, going down scoreless to two catches and a strike out. Strikeouts ended Burnham’s second innings, and the Air Force were three up-three down at

Burnham was three up-three down in its third innings and Air Force, taking advantage of dropped catches and wild throwing, scored with a home run on errors by Schoppa and a three base hit by Dhoty. Burnham was still without score in its fourth innings, in spite of having two runners on base and passed balls and errors added two more runs to the Air Force total in its fourth.

Burnham’s first runs of the game came on a passed ball and a long hit by Sinclair, who hit in two runs. Air Force gave a demonstration of power hitting and scored 10 runs with three baggers by Russell and Dhoty being the outstanding hits of the innings. Burnham failed in its sixth, and Air Force went further ahead by four runs gained on more good hitting.

Burnham in its final innings scored one run, and Air Force was not requirec’ to bat its seventh innings, winning the game 20-4.