Women's Softball Both Canterbury Teams Unbeaten

Press, Volume C, Issue 29712, 4 January 1962, Page 5

Women's Softball Both Canterbury Teams Unbeaten

"The Press” Special Service

DUNEDIN, January 3.

The Wellington women's softball team, after giving Canterbury a hard game yesterday, today beat Auckland, the titleholder. 6-5. in the interprovinciat tournament at Dunedin. R. Muller showed grand form with the bat for Wellington. Canterbury had to play hard to beat Otago. 5-1, in the morning, but in the afternoon had little difficulty in beating the West Coast. 23-0. The only unbeaten team is Canterbury, and it is drawn to play Auckland tomorrow. In the first innings against Canterbury. M. Robson, of Otago, with one away, made second or. errors and scored on fielders’ choices. Canterbury failed, as did both teams in the second innings. Otago was 3 up--3 down in the next, and N. Beale, of Canterbury, with one away, got walked, she went to tnird on a hit by H. Johnson and both runners scored on a home run by B. Makinson. Otago, scoreless in the fourth, held Canterbury, 3 up-3 down. Both teams were out to a similar fate in the fifth. Otago was scoreless with loaded bases in the sixth, and Canterbury, with some good base running, two passed balls and a hit by J. Hudson, scored two runs. Otago was held scoreless tn its last for Canterbury to win without batting its final Innings, 5-1. In its afternoon game. Canterbury was not extended to shut out West Coast. 23-0. The superior fielding by Canterbury allowed only two West Coast batters to get on base throughout, and J. Batu and J. Hudson. of Canterbury, showed good form with the bat. Canterbury B Canterbury B held Southland. 3 up. 3 down, in its first two innings, and. in reply, forced Southland into errors to score three runs. Southland retaliated In the third, after H. Campbell was walked. Errors and good base running brought two runs. Canterbury. with hard drives and good batting, by J. Gaskell. L. Alston, and C. McCormick, upset Southland to score eight runs. J. Allan, of Southland, was walked, and placed on third by ar. overthrow. She scored on a hit by H. Campbell. A hit by J. Phillips brought Canterbury's only run. Southland had another run in before a good double play between M. Hapuku. J Jones, and U Alston ended the innings. Canterbury was scoreless with loaded bases. A sacrifice allowed L Allan to score for Southland. after she hit on in the sixth, and Canterbury replied with a home run by L. Honeyman. Southland lost its first two outs to a fine double play between M Hapuku. I. Jones, and I. Alston, and after a good hit by R. McLeod, a force-out ended the game in favour of Canterbury. 13-5. Canterbury B. with strong batting in its first two innings, scored nine runs against Otago. T.nen a new pitcher. J. Blue, replaced V. Simpson, and Canterbury was held to two runs on the next five innings. K. McCormick hit well. Otago found Canterbury safe Ir the field, and its only run came from Y. Smeaton. who scored on a hit by N. Deacnrass.

Canterbury, unbeaten at the tournament won the New Zealand B grade title. Results were:— A Section (Bansel Cup).—Waikato 4. Hutt Valley 1; Canterbury 5, Otago 1; Auckland 22. West Coast 1; Otago 5. Waikato 3: Canterbury 23. West Coast 0; Wellington 6, Auckland 5; Wellington and Hutt Valley, byes. B Section.—Canterbury 13, Southland 5; Otago 16, Hutt Valley 7; Canterbury 11, Otago 1; North Otago 16, Southland 9: North Otago and Hutt Valley, byes. Points—two for a win and none for a loss—were: A Section.— Canterbury 10. Auckland. Wellington 8. Waikato. Otago 4, West Coast 2, Hutt Valley 0. B Section.— Canterbury 8. Otago. Southland. North Otago 4, Hutt Valley 0.