Women’s Softball Monowai Starts Defence With Two Victories

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30015, 27 December 1962, Page 6

Women’s Softball Monowai Starts Defence With Two Victories

"The Press” Special Service

PALMERSTON N., Dec. 26. Monowai the holder, was one of three undefeated teams aifiter the first day’s play in the New Zealand inter-club women's softball tournament at Palmerston North today. The others to retain an unbeaten record were Samoan Society and Y.W.C.A. Monowai, due to good pitching by B. Makinson, who gained nine strike outs, superior fielding and stronger basting, defeated Poneke in the morning, 7-1. Makinson had four hits out of five. Monowai held Poneke three up, three down till the fourth when one baiter made first safely but the side still failed to score. In the fifth it scored its only run when J. McKniighlt, after hitting on and going to third on a hit by K. Farrell, scored on an error. Two-Base Hit The Canterbury team opened its account in the third on a two-base hit by J. French, and French and L. Leask brought in two runners in the fourth. Monowai scored another run in the fifth and sixth innings and stronger batting by C. Brown and Makinson drove two more runs home in the last. In its afternoon game against Huia, which began in rain Monowai opened strongly for three runs. It added another two runs to its total in the second and was retired with loaded bases.

Strong batting in the third produced a further three runs with a drying ball. The Huia pitcher showed better form for the remainder of the game, and backed up by safe fielding, Monowai failed to score again. First batter up for Huia, J. Robinson, drove the ball to the outfield for a three base

hit and scored on a fielder’s choice. In the remaining six innings. Huia was held three up, three down on four occasions and scoreless with one on base in one. In its third innings a dropped catch and two good hits by D. Drinkwater and L. Taitoko enabled tiie side to score two runs. The final score was 8-3 to Monowai. Results were: Huia 38, United 0; Monowai 7, Poneke 1; Y.W.C.A 7, Miramar 0; Samoan Society 12, Braves 2; Monowai 8, Huia 3; Poneke 14, United 13; Samoan Society 13, Miramar 8; Y.W.CA. 14, Braves 5.