Canterbury Undefeated In Inter-provincial Softball

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30635, 29 December 1964, Page 13

Canterbury Undefeated In Inter-provincial Softball

Canterbury, the defending champion, was one of three teams undefeated after two rounds in the senior A women’s inter-provincial softball tournament which began at Rugby Park yesterday. Wellington and Auckland are also unbeaten.

In the senior B section, being played on a round robin basis, Wellington, Canterbury, Auckland and Hawke’s Bay are undefeated.. Hutt Valley, Manawatu and Southern King Country all had wins. After the tournament was officially opened by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), players and officials stood in silence in remembrance of Wendy Rouse, a well known and accomplished softball player who was fatally injured in a recent motor accident. Conditions were hot and the grounds hard. Games continued throughout the week with the North Island v. South Island games on Saturday. The New Zealand players selected to tour Australia will be announced after the tournament on Saturday evening. The New Zealand team will tour Australia and participate in a World Series in Melbourne. The team assembles in Wellington on January 24 and returns to New Zealand on March 9. Strong Start Canterbury batted first against Otago and started strongly when, from hits by H. Johnson and B. Makinson and a good bunt by T. Lutters, the side scored four runs. A few Otago errors and a hit by N. Beale gave Canterbury a further two runs in its next bat.

T. Lutters bunted well to open Canterbury’s third innings and with good base running scored on a sacrifice by L. Leask. A three bagger by W. Beale opened Canterbury’s fourth, and with good hits from T. Lutters and L. Leask, the side scored two runs.

Good fielding by Oatgo held Canterbury scoreless in the next three innings. Canterbury started sluggishly in the field and from a good hit by C. Roberts scored two runs. Otago scored another run from a fine three bagger by J. Fraser. Otago was three up three down in its next two innings, but scored two runs in the fifth Innings when A. McCammon hit on and scored on a fine homer by Flyover. Canterbury held Otago well in the final two innings to win, 10-4. Handy Lead Hutt Valley, scoreless in its first innings against Canterbury, opened its account in the third innings when it scored three runs to take a handy lead. Scoreless in its next two bats, Hutt Valley upset the Canterbury fielders to score two runs. Canterbury came to life in the field in Hutt Valleys last bat and with M. Hapuka and T. Lutters fieldings well to the reliable L. Milligan, Hutt Valley was three up three down. Canterbury failed miserably with the bat in its first four innings to be scoreless. Canterbury’s first batter up in its fifth innings gave the side inspiration with a hard drive to the outfield for a homer. This seemed to upset Hutt Valley and with hard drives and good hits by B. Makinson and C. Mullally, Canterbury scored another two runs. Trailing by one run entering its sixth innings, Canterbury produced better batting, including a fine home run by H. Johnson, to score a grand six runs and put the issue beyond doubt. Without taking its last bat it won, 9-4,after an exciting duel. Waikato Loss With its first batter struck out against Wellington, A. Coulson hit on, a walk followed and then R. Muller hit a two bagger. From good base run-

ning three runs were scored. Loose fielding by Waikato, plus a hit by M. Ward, enabled two Wellington runners to score in the second innings. Two walks and another hit bv M. Ward allowed Wellington another three runs in the next innings. In its fourth bat. a two bagger by S. Harrington and a hit by J. Dunne, saw another two runners cross home plate. The fifth innings saw S. Harrington hit another two bagger and a J. Langley hit score two runs. Scoreless in its sixth innings Wellington batted strongly, including a hit by P. Mcßandall and a homer by R. Muller to score five runs.

Good fielding by Wellington held Waikato scoreless in the first four innings. Waikato struck back tn the fifth innings by scoring four runs, a good hit by J. White being the climax of the innings. K. Green hit on in Waikato's sixth innings and scored on a hit by J. White. Waikato, well down, was then three up three down in its last innings, to lose, 5-17. Only One Run Hutt Valley was scoreless In its first Innings against Auckland and scored Its only run of the game in the fourth Innings when P. Quartley. after being walked, advanced on a hit by D. Lambert and errors to cross home plate. Auckland began strongly with three runs, one of these coming from a hit by A. Hallas. Auckland was three up three down In its next three Innings and scoreless In its fifth innings. With one batted away in Its sxth but, a walk, a good bunt by P. Mack and hard drives, allowed the side to score one run. Auckland did not require to last bat to win, 4-1. Powerful Batting Waikato was scoreless in four of its five innings game against Auckland, the only run coming in the third innings when a hard drive by B. Preddy allowed her on base and with slick baserunning she advanced to third base and scored on an outfield error.

Waikato tried hard in the field but could not contain the powerful Auckland batters. G. Bezzant took some nice outs for Waikato.

Auckland pounded In seven runs in Its first innings with B. Smith hitting a three bagger. Auckland, scoreless In the next bat, added one run to its score in the third innings when E. Roadley scored. A homer by J. Bower brought in both Auckland's first innings tally and still driving the ball hard. Auckland had sufficient runs In hand to win. 13-1, at the last of the fifth Innings. Began Well

Otago had a good start against Wellington when B. Simpson hit a nomer but was unable to build on this good effort, falling to score again till the sixth innings. In this innings B. Simpson again batted well. Otago aided by a walk and a good sacrifice bunt by M. Barnes, scored another two runs. The side failed to improve its score in its last bat.

Otago held Wellington well in all except the second innings when errors, bunks, hard drives and a homer by A. Coulson gave Wellington a four run lead to score five runs. Wellington failed in its next but scored its last run when L. Dailey strode home in the fourth bat. Wellington did not take its last innings to win. 6-3. Results were:—

Senior A.—Canterbury 10, Otago 4; Auckland 4, Hutt Valley 1; Wellington 17, Waikato 5: Wellington 6, Otago 3: Auckland 13, Waikato 1; Canterbury 9. Hutt Valley 4. Senior B.—Wellington 14, West Coast 4: Hawke’s Bay 16, North Otago 10; Hutt Valley 13, Marlborough 8; Canterbury 15, Southern King Country 3; Auckland 16. Otago 5: Manawatu 11, West Coast 9; Canterbury 11, Hutt Valley 2: Hawke’s Bay 13, Otago 4: Auckland 8, North Otago 5: Southern King Country 6, Marlborough 3; Wellington 6. Manawatu 3.