Close Games In Men’s Softball

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31933, 10 March 1969, Page 15

Close Games In Men’s Softball

pitchers In.the men’s softball games played at Hagley Park at the week-end had to contend with a stiff breeze. In spite of this, there were some cloee games, especially in the “B" section. There was no change in ladder positions In the “A” section with Kaiapoi having a comfortable win over Deep Freeze, then losing almost as easily to Richmond.In the ”B" section, Western Suburbs came from behind to befit United by one run, then lost to Avon, which was fielding a weakened team. Papanui “B” had a narrow win' over Avon but- is still doomed to take the "wooden spqon" In the competition. Results:— ' "A” Section.—Richmond 11. Kaiapoi 4; Kaiapoi 13. Deep Freeze 4. “B” Section—Avon, 11, Western Suburbs 10: Papanui 10, Avon 3; Western Suburbs 8, United 7. Points.—“A”- section: Papanui 17 (18 games), Richmond IS (19) Kaiapoi 11 (19), Deep Freeze 8 (20). "B” section: Western Suburbs 9 OH. Avon 8 (21), United 7 (20), Papanui 4 (20) Richmond 11, Kaiapoi 4 The main game at Hagley Park was played In very windy conditions. Richmond held on to its position as second team in the competition with a comfortable win. L. Seaward pitched well but the Richmond batters scored well in the second and sixth when they were able to get on top. With three up. three down In the first innings it looked like being a tight game but A. Hall and G. Smith hit well in the second for Richmond. D. Edgar opened Kalapol’s Scoring with a home run to the centre field and the gap was further reduced when the team took advantage of loose Richmond fielding in the fifth. G. Smith. D. Bradbury, P,

Joyce and A. Hall scored In the sixth for Richmond. Bradbury finished the match with nine strike-outs.

Kaiapoi 13, Deep Frtaia 4 Kaiapoi had little difficulty in beating Deep Freeze. By the fourth Innings it had a 10-0 lead.

In the fifth the Deep Freeze batters attacked the pitching of L. Seaward, gaining four runs and forcing the game to the full seven innings. seaward became more settled, and It was Kaiapoi which added a further three runs to its score to win comfortably. Avon 11, W.st.rn Suburbs 10 Even with two substitute pitchers, R. McKenzie and R. Fife, Avon was able to take an early .lead and hold it for five innings. Fife, a senior schoolboy, was pitching well until R. Mullally, M. Monteith and K. Smith got his measure in the sixth, when four runners crossed the plate, with only one away. The regular pitcher. D. Edward, took over and managed to prevent any further scoring. Mullally was in good form on third base and some good pegs to first helped to keep Avon scoreless in its last turn at bat.

Leaving B. Mansfield at catcher, D. Edward stayed on the mound, and with two down had the satisfaction of striking out Mullally to keep the game safe for Avon. Papanui B 10, Avon 9 Papanui came from behind to beat Avon by one run and so score its fourth win at the season. Avon was without key players, however. J. Ballantyne hit a home run in the sixth to give Avon a lead of three runs, 9-9. but Papanui struck back in the last innings. With two home and two runners on bases,. B. Austins made a soaring hit which was misfielded, and K. Easton and J. Ballantyne were allowed home for the winning runs.