SOFTBALL Leaders win

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 7

SOFTBALL Leaders win

The difference in strengths among the Canterbury men's softhall teams xvas clearly evident on Saturday when Ihe three leading teams scored easy wins in the second series of third-round matches. Riehmond aebieved the largest score of the season when if demoralised United City, 19-6, and both Papanui and United A jogged to wins against Somerfieid and Western Suburbs. Papanui, Canterbury’s nomination for the national John Lennon tournament, retained its grip on the major championship by beating the bottom-placed Somerfield. 10-0. The only excitement left in the competition is tile result of clashes between the three leading teams. In the final games of the championship, these teams will be trying for the highest seedings in file ehampion-of-champions contest. Papanuis nearest challenger, Richmond, plays a vital match against United A in the final night round on January 19, Richmond, two points behind Papanui witli one game in hand, must win to keep within reach of the leader.

A win by United will mean that; Papanui will be lour points dear and certain of winning the eham-; pionship for the second time in I three seasons. The result of the United AWestern Suburbs clash at English Park was certain after United scored three runs in the first innings. Suburbs was unable to overcome lite early rush by United and lost. 2-9. Saturday’s play was highlighted by live home runs—by Papanui’s D. Eager and XI. Reid—Richmond’s E. S. Kerrigan and D.: Rea, and United City’s T. I Lowndes.

SCORING SPREE Richmond began its scoring spree from errors by United City and then drove home its advantage with strong, safe hitting. During the early stages the: City catcher persisted in throw-: Ing to second base to stop the: Riehmond batters from stealing bases. But on five occasions liis throws were- poor and the! batters were able to steal further bases. From these mistakes, Richmond built its score. Richmond scored six runs in the fourth innings with clean: hitting, including the home run. by Rea. Richmond's runs were scored? by: G. Lay (4), Kerrigan (3), G.. Panagoitidis (2i. C. Phillips (2),! Rea l2i. T. Smith (2), K. Smith, G. Smith, J. Graham and W. Williams. City's runs came from C. Vesty 12). Lowndes, It. Hutton, P. Thredenick and T. Mountford. Richmond made 13 hits and lour errors, compared witli City’s lodr hits and 10 errors. Richmond’s K. Smith gained six strike-outs and gave up no walks. TWO ADVANCES Somerfield managed only two advances from 17 batters during the match at Papain.) Domain. Papanui, on the other hand, called up 32 batters for 13 hits and 10 runs. Like Richmond, Papanui gained tile winning advantage will) six inns in the second innings. Papaiiui's runs were made byReid (3), G. Phillips i2), M. [Clarkson. T. Bishop. G. Roberts, E. Tomlinson and Eager. Somerfield’s scoring was! hampered by some fine pitching Hom Roberts. Pitching into a cross-wind, Roberts was able to move the bail more than a toot,, and he had tile batters in all sorts of bother. He made seven strike-outs and gave up two balls. His counterpart R. Hayes i (Somerfield) struck out only one batter and gave up one walk. [ The match was highlighted bv; lack of errors, Papanui having a copy-book day and Somerfield: . making the only error. B. Cameron iSomerfieJd) lead The;

I way in the field by taking fives well-judged catches in the left: ! [ field. ' The United-Suburbs match was a dull affair. Although Suburbs r showed it was capable of match-. ing its opponents in batting, the ■ ’imatch was spoilt by a string of: ,[errors from Suburbs. ■ United made 10 safe hits, com-: ; pared with Suburbs’ six hits, but • the latter made seven errors. When Suburbs could have made the match interesting, it made silly mistakes and United was able to increase its lead. ' Errors iu the first innings gavel ' United three runs, but Suburbs' ■ were able to hold United until 1 : a further three errors in the ■ ' sixth innings helped United to score four runs. There was some good hitting. *[B. Mountford (United) puf the ’ j ball on the track in the fourth '[innings for a three-bag hit. and: ' R. Fife (Suburbs) made a similar ! hit in the sixth innings. ' United’s runs came from. '[Mountford (2i. G. Dunn (2i, A, ‘[Hall (2), M. Nelepa. R. Collicul: 5 and K. Thorne. Ross and Leon ’[Fife scored Suburbs’ runs. The Canterbury pitcher. D. Bradbury (United), was again ini a dominating mood, gaining 13, JI strike-outs and giving up no I [ I walks. R. Fife gained five strike-1 I outs and gave up one wa'k.

The points table is: A Pts P W J. F Papanui 17 14 : 1 91 37 28 Richmond 16 12 1 129 50 24 U nited A 16 ii i 85 38 22 W. Subs 17 8 9 79 70 16 United City 17 3 H 1 52 142 6 Somerfield 17 2 15 35 102 4