Softballers on trial

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33064, 3 November 1972, Page 10

Softballers on trial

(By our toftball reporter)

Twenty-three of the province’s leading softball players will be on trial on Sunday before the Canterbury selectors (Messrs I. R. Pollock, K. Bingley, and A. Hall) in a special match at Papanui Domain at 3 p.m.

Ten of the Beatty Cup national tournament squad last year were newcomers, but the team finished fifth in the tournament — the province’s best for more than a decade. The catching position in the team this season will probably go to G. A. Roberts (Papanui), in the absence of D. Bradbury (United), who is unavailable. The Richmond pitcher, K. Smith, will probably be included in the 14man squad as a back-up to Roberts, because he is also a very fine batter. R. Fife (Western Suburbs) will also >be in the running.

The experienced Canterbury and Papanui catcher, G. Phillips, should make the final 14. He will face competition from R. Winfrey (Papanui), who caught for Canterbury last season, and G. Panagiotidis (Richmond).

First base J. Summers (Deep Freeze), T. Smith (Richmond), and R. Johnston (Western Suburbs) will contest the first base position. Smith may be the first choice but Johnson is a left-hander and could be especially useful at first base. D. Rea (Richmond) must be favoured at second base, but he will face strong competition from A. Sweat (Papanui) — in his first season of softball in Canterbury — and K. Thome, one of United’s best batters. B. Mountford (United) proved to be one of New Zealand's best batters at the national tournament last year, and he will be a certainty, probably fielding at third base. Others who might be considered at third base

are the 16-year-old, P. McFarlane (Richmond), D. Eager (Papanui), who played well for Canterbury last year, and the veteran Deep Freeze pitcher, A. G. Mansfield.

A New Zealand triallist, D. Phillips (Papanui) will cer. tainly be selected as shortstop, but others who might be considered for this position are J. Krauss (Deep Freeze), and R. Johnston. Out-fielders

The specialist out-fielders in the trial squad are D. Daw (United), G. Dunn (Papanui), S. Richardson (Deep Freeze), M. Irie (Western Suburbs), and A. Ruruku (Papanui).

Richardson is a young player with much potential, and Irie, a tiny Japanese outfielder, has made an impressive debut into competitive softball.

The 14-man Canterbury squad might be: Roberts, KSmith, G. Phillips. T. Smith, Johnston, Panagiotidis, Rea, Thome, Mountford. Eager, ,D< Phillips, Daw, Dunn, Irie,