Canterbury Match For U.S. Team

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 15

Canterbury Match For U.S. Team

fißy Our Softball Reporter) The Canterbury men’s softball team should have a great chance of improving upon its record against overseas teams when it meets the travel-weary Arizona All Stars at English Park on Saturday.

Because it will be playing the third test match against New Zealand later in the afternoon, the Americans might be tempted to rest several of their leading players against Canterbury.

However, such a mov< could prove disastrous for the tourists, if the result of the last garni between Canterbury and an overseas team is anj indication. The San Antonio All Stars [took Canterbury too lightly

■giin 1968 and suffered an igno | minious five innings, 1-12 de ,s feat. The Canterbury captain le’and former New Zealand re , presentative, E. L. Noonan le K. Smith. C. I. Chee and B 4; Mountford were the destroy ers of the American pitchini y on that occasion. ; Canterbury has had a con s'stently good season so far ts | losing only to Hutt Valle] ly (1-0) and Otago (7-3), durini - its total of 11 games played It has beaten Hawke’s Ba] (5-2), and Marlborough (10-2) both of whom have defeatet the Arizonans. Because the New Zealant selectors will have first cal on the Canterbury third-base man, C. I, Chee, the provin cial selector (Mr H. Gable) has moved the usual second baseman and New Zealant soccer goal-keeper, D. Phil lips, into that position. Phillips’s swift reflexes make him a natural in any of the infield positions, and Mr s " Gable is most happy about the ‘'l change. | However, it has left a pos ’’ sible weakness at second-base n where three players of lesser >* experience are vying for Phild I lips's former position. L. A. r ‘ Scherp, the former All Black Rugby trialist, would have S been the logical replacement d but he does not return from <- a business trip to Hong Kong

until Saturday morning, thus missing much of (he team’s training sessions. Mr Barry (Western Suburbs) or K. Thorn are the other contenders. R. Johnson, who last played for Canterbury when it sue- . cessfully challenged Otago for . the Jeffries Cup, symbol of South Island supremacy, at ’ Dunedin last season, seems likely to gain one of the out- ’ field positions. ’ M. A. Reid should be Can- , terbury’s starting pitcher In ’ the game, while its batting strength will lie amongst J. ’B. Guerrero, Phillips, I. R. ' Pollock and M. P. McOscar. , J. Cordova, a nephew of ’ Orville Moody, the present , United States open golf champion, N. Wedepohl, W. How- : ell and D. Watson should continue to lead the Arizonan , batters if they are selected. I I NARROW VICTORY At Invercargill yesterday. - Southland maintained its unbeaten record against the touring American softball teams when it beat Arizona, 11-0, in a hard-fought game Capable fielding and accur- ■ jate pitching enabled the Alli Stars to keep Southland scoreless until the bottom of the sixth innings and then only good judgment stopped South;land from gaining at least two runs. I However, the All Stars never really looked like scorling and were constantly troubled by the captain and .pitcher, G. Tattersfield. He 'gained 11 strike-outs and conceded only two hits and a Iwalk.