PAPANUI TIGHTENS GRIP ON SOFTBALL

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31921, 24 February 1969, Page 10

PAPANUI TIGHTENS GRIP ON SOFTBALL

Papanui A tightened its grip on the senior men’s softball championship when it overcame a determined challenge from Richmond at English Park on Saturday.

Papanui now has a lead of three points over Richmond. Richmond has played one game less, however. Deep Freeze was again disappointing, losing to both Papanui and Kaiapoi. In the B section, Avon survived a great tussle with Western Suburbs to take a onepoint lead. Results: Section A.—Papanui 9. Deep Freeze 0; Papanui 2. Richmond I; Kaiapoi 10. Deep Freeze 5. Section B.—United 8, Papanui 1; Avon 8. Western Suburbs 6. Points.—Section A: Papanui 17, Richmond 14, Kaiapoi 10. Deep Freeze 7. Section B; Avon 7. Western Suburbs 6, United 6, Papanui 2. Papanui 2, Richmond 1 ] Richmond went into an early ] lead when D. Lew made home <

on a passed ball, but it was evident very early that there would be a close struggle for victory. Richmond’s pitcher, K. Smith, was in good form and the Papanui batters had difficulty getting good hits away. The deliveries of the Papanui pitcher, M. Reid, were being hit but the team did not get many runners on bases.

Papanui scored its runs in the third innings. C. Chee hit past A. Hall and scored when the next batter, D. Chee, cracked a solid hit to the right field. This caught D. Bradbury on the wrong foot and D. Chee was able to complete a home run.

Richmond continued to hit the pitching of Reid but could not score. For three more 'nnings Papanui clung to its slender lead. In the final frame D. Chee, on first base, made his only

i mistake of the game, allowing R. Storer safe. However. Storer was tagged by D. Phillips on a forced play. With two down. M. Nalepa hit the ball into the waiting hands of I. Pollock to give victory to Papanui. Papanui 9, Deep Freeze 0 In its early game at English Park, Papanui was not greatly troubled to shut out Deep Freeze R. Beckworth (Deep Freeze) failed to hold a soaring hit from C. Chee in the first innings and Chee completed a home run with only one down. At this stage Papanui seemed set for a big score but the outfielders, R. Beckworth and T. Schadel, held the next two catches to keep Papanui down to one run. But in the third innings, with two runners on, I. Pollock hit a powerful drive to centre field for a home run.l

Deep Freeze had difficulty managing the pitching of M. Reid and Papanui forged ahead. A series of errors in the fifth innings gave Papanui three runs and this put the issue well beyond doubt. Deep Freeze tried hard in the last frame, with B. Stull getting to third base. But he was stranded there when the side was dismissed.

Kaiapoi 10, Deep Freeze 5 Playing in its second game at English Park. Deep Freeze showed slightly more determination, and after being held scoreless for two innings took a 3-1 lead.

But in its fifth innings, Kaiapoi swelled its total by five runs. Deep Freeze narrowed the gap with a magnificent home run by K. Marcum but in the next innings Kaiapoi went further ahead, finally winning by 10 runs to five.

United 8, Papanui B 1 In a B section game at Hagley Park, United was not expected tn have much difficulty

in disposing of Papanui B but encountered unexpected opposition in the early stages. Pitching for Papanui, T. Prescott did well to hold United in check for four innings after a series of errors allowed United batters to get on top. Papanui settled down again to tighten up its game, but by then United had made its winning break and did not have much trouble in maintaining its load.

Avon 8, Western Suburbs 6 Avon and Western went to nine innings in their B section game at Hagley Park. The lead changed several times before Avon got the winning runs. After six innings the scores were level at 5-all and excitement mounted as the game went into extra time, in the ninth innings Avon went into the lead for the (Inal time with three runs. Suburbs was not quite equal to the occasion in its ninth innings, although some smart base running by O. Stuart gave it some hope. It was out with only two more runs, to add to its total and the game went to Avon.