Softball MIRAMAR WINS EXCITING LENNON TROPHY FINAL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 11

Softball MIRAMAR WINS EXCITING LENNON TROPHY FINAL

(New Zealand Press Association)

ROTORUA, January 2.

In an exciting final, Miramar (Wellington) won the men's national club softball title, and with it the John Lennon Trophy when it beat Cardinals (Lower Hutt) 3-0, at Rotorua on Saturday afternoon. About 800 persons saw the game.

Miramar. held a 1-0 lead obtained in the first innings and clinched the game with two more runs in the final seventh.

Miramar’s quickness between bases was the deciding factor. Cardinals worked hard, especially its pitcher R. Smith, who fielded smartly and pitched consistently. Miramar's pitcher, M. Walsh, did nothing wrong. He had no strike-outs, gave away no walks and allowed four hits. Smith gave away two walks to Walsh, and allowed four hits. Miramar got its first run when Walsh was walked to first base, was allowed to second on a fielder’s choice, went to third on P. Priddy's bat and came home on an error by D. Sorenson, i In the seventh innings J. Cowan hit to first base, stole to second, was allowed to third on a fielder’s choice to retire J. Mc-

Donald and came home on a two base hit by D. McKerchar. McKerchar went home through a sacrifice hit by L. Hallam. In the semi-finals Auckland United, which was unbeaten, had its first loss and was eliminated by Miramar (Wellington) 2-1. Last year's winner, the Hutt Valley Railways team, was beaten by Cardinals, 5-1. Cardinals scored four of its runs in the fifth innings on Railways’ errors. . The United-Miramar game was close all the way, with the scores level at the final seventh. 1-1. At the bottom of the tenth Miramar scored the winning run with a homer to the right outfield by P. Priddy. Miramar’s pitcher, Walsh, had the edge on P. McKinley. Both had seven strikeouts and allowed three hits. However, Walsh gave away no walks, whereas McKinley gave away six.| K. Gerrie scored Miramar’s first run. McKinley scored for United.

Cardinals won well against Hutt Valley Railways after being one down until the fifth innings. Errors by Railways then brought home M. Symonds. G. Baldwin and D. Sorenson while R. Smith also came home for a fourth run on a sacrifice- Cardinals got one more in the sixth innings when Symons was brought home on a sacrifice. Cardinal’s pitcher. Smith, had one strike-out, no walks and allowed three hits. Railway’s W. Massey had two strike-outs, gave away two walks and allowed six hits. Results:— »

Hutt Valley Railways 5, Demons (Wellington) 1; Auckland United 9, Alhambra (Dunedin) 0: Wanganui Braves 10, Saints (Hawke’s Bay) 2: Hamilton Technical 9, Panthers (Southland) 1; Auckland Bears 6. Wanganui Railways 2; Richmond (Christchurch) 19, Dodgers (King Country) 2; Ohakea 6, Rotorua Buzzards 2. Semi-finals.—Cardinals 5, Hutt Valley Railways 1; Miramar 2, Auckland United 1. ; Final.—Miramar 3, Cardinals 0.