Softball tour ends with crowd booing

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33776, 24 February 1975, Page 3

Softball tour ends with crowd booing

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Petulant behaviour by the Canadians robbed their own pitcher, Peter Landers, of the chance to be remembered for his magnificent pitching in the third and final softball test between the Oshawa Tony’s and New Zealand at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Saturday.

Landers was un>| doubtedly the outstanding player of the test.

Against the best batters oi l New Zealand, Landers, fac-I mg 44, struck out 18 and. allowed only two safe hits, a performance which ranks him! as easily the best pitcher to! have come here. But he will be forgotten I too easily. Instead, the memories will be of the ugly scenes which interrupted the innings at odd. times and which marred the; finish. The Oshawa/Tony’s found, mainly in decisions by the umpires, plenty of reasons for anger during the final two tests, the first of which j was won comfortably by New I Zealand, 7-2, and the second, 'sensationally, 2-1 by New! Zealand after 15 innings. LONG GRASS The first of these tests was I very tight until the New Zea- h land captain, Dave Sorenson, Iwith the first of his three safe hits (in the fourth innlings), drove a ball close to the right field foul line and lit stopped in some long grass. I Technically, the ball was; (“blocked.” After the Cana-'

■ Idians retrieved it and had ! Sorenson tagged at home, [Sorenson was allowed home by the umpire

jand the crowd was treated ■ to uncomfortable scenes as I the Oshawa coach, Mr Ken Courtney, and some of his players, stormed at the umpire and had to be restrained. As it happened, New Zealand looked much superior in I this test and won 7-2 easing up. Owen Walford, for New Zealand, took five strike-outs and gave up three hits, while 18. Domik, for Oshawa. pitched five strike-outs and gave up seven hits. SCORING CHANCE The second match (the { third and clinching test) was| entirely different as Landers, for the Canadians, and Kevin. Heriihy, for New Zealand,! two of the best pitchers in {the world, mastered the I Ibatters. • Oshawa had a scoring! chance' in the fourth but itj was New Zealand which; scored first when Wayne; Baldwin, helped by a bunt I from Barry Exeter and an in- | field error, ran home. Jim Rowden, the Oshawa i third base, replied in the next innings with the longest hit;

iof the day for a great home run and the two teams settled [down for innings after innHngs with very few batters'

I reaching first base for eithet 'side. I To allow pinch hitters to !be brought on both Heriihy (in the seventh by Walford) land Landers (in the thirteenth by Paul Pannamaker) were ; replaced. UMPIRE THREATENED Only with the removal of 'Landers did a New Zealand breakthrough look likely, with Phil Davies, on a passed bal, a sacrifice by Exeter, an {infield error, and finally a fielder’s choice, scoring the 'winning run. i On this last play Peter | Priddey was taken out at first ibase and Davies made his ! dash for home from third. In !came the throw to Bob Solomon, the catcher, and after { a flurry the umpire, Mr Ray Letford, ruled Davies safe—l and the game over. ; An angry Solomon threatened the umpire, pushing him 'back yards until players and other umpires stepped in. Solomon picked up the match ball and threw it far away. Thus the tn”>- *nded amid I booing.