Three now share softball lead

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 14

Three now share softball lead

Richmond joined United A and Papanui at the top of the Canterbury men’s softball table when a three-run rally in the seventh innings carried it to a 7-4 victory over Papanui at English Park last evening. All three clubs have accumulated 20 competition points from 14 fixtures, comfortably clear of Western Suburbs (14) and Well ahead of the other two sides, United-City and Somerfield (4 each).

After a most impressive start —safe hits by P. Joyce and E. S. Kerrigan leading to a two-run advantage — Richmond slumped badly as Papanui extended a strong mid-match challenge. Siiakey fielding by Richmond, a fine home run by A. Bishop and a three-base hit by A. Sweat were the features of the sudden change in fortunes as Papanui moved to a 4-2 margin by the bottom of tile fourth innings. However. Richmond responded well. W. Williams capitalising on fielding errors during his team’s fifth turn at bat and Kerrigan levelling the scores in the sixth innings. More mistakes crept into Papanui’s play in tile final innings, and Williams and Joyce reached bases because of them. Both were brought home by G. Panagoitidis. who also crossed home plate on a hit by Kerrigan. Papanui was kept in check in its last innings.

In the curtain-raiser. Western Suburbs required only five innings to beat Somerfield, 14-1. Ten runs in the third innings

'stamped Western Suburbs's superiority. K. Easton provided some compensation for Somerfield by returning the best batting analysis of either team—three hits from as many turns at bat.