Softball Under Handicap

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 20

Softball Under Handicap

The senior mens handicap competition began last evening at under floodlights and in difficult ground conditions. All teams have bee " t ,^ d ® ? according to their positions at the end of the 1949 pre-Christ-mas championship. Hence, Richmond, the champion, must forfeit one run to Papanui a, the runner-up, and successively more runs to each other team. Services, the lowest team, has a handicap of 10 runs, but each team must score at least one run during the game for the handicap to be applied. United, an A section team, has a handicap of four runs for each of its games in the competition. Last evening, it met the Papanui Aces, a B section team with a handicap of seven, and finally lost the game.

The later game, between Kaiapoi (handicap of eight) and Services, began amidst heavy showers of rain, which consequently affected the fielding performance of both teams and helped produce a high-scoring, 23-20, win to Services. Papanui Aces S, United 7 Papanui just managed to prevent United from overtaking its score after United Ijpd hit

three runs to the Aees one. United only succeeded in outbatting its opponent by hits to six. but »c®«d singles in the fourth, sixth and final Innings. The Papanui Aces got their run at the bottom of the fourth innings and so led United <wj‘h the handicap)—B-9 at that stage. M. Barker hit into centre-field where D. Edwards dived for the fly, which evaded him. allowing Barker, a swift base-runner, to reach third-base. He then scored on a passed ball. United, however, was quick to retaliate and got its first run of the game immediately. D. Bradbury hit to right-field, got > to second-base on a passed ball and came home on a hit to left- 1 field by J. Crookston. Another run was added when J. Peterson hit to centre-field, advanced to second-base, stole third and scored when J. Maule's weak hit to A. J. W. Prescott, the Ace's pitcher, was fumbled. It seemed only a matter of time before United reached its opponent's score when B. Mountford after a hit. a sacrifice by Bradbury and another hit by Crookston. For United, Bradbury got seven strike-outs, walked a

. batter and gave up six hits; . Prescott, his opposite, struck: : six batters, walked one and i conceded eight hits. For United. Mountford (three). Crookston (2). Peter- , son. G. Roberts, and Bradbury got hits. For the Aces. K. Easton, M. Clarkson, K. Buckler. Prescott. Barker and A. Austlng hit safely. Services 2>, Kaiapol 20 A determined Services team had its second win of the season. its victim on the first occasion also being Kaiapol. Even without the advantage in handicap. the improved performance by Services would have been good enough to give it a onerun lead. Kaiapol looked likely to over; come Its opponent In the early innings, and it led 16-18 at the bottom of the fourth Innings However, some good batting by the Services teem, resulting in «««> “ ,e Wt * wh, s h ml « ht not have been mede under good conditions, geve it an additional seven rune in the sixth innings. For Services. J. Mclver got two safe hits, while for Kalapoi.i h Seaward (three, including a ?• Joh n«on and M Pullin (two) were the best I natters. j