Big hit gives victory to Eden-Roskill

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 30

Big hit gives victory to Eden-Roskill

Bu

TIM DUNBAR)

A mighty home nm by Maurie Dormer gave EdenRoskill ( Auckland) victory over Island Bay (Wellington) in the John Lennon national inter-cluh softball tournament, sponsored by Stars Travel, at Rugby Park, Christchurch, yesterday .

Island Bay, the holder of the John Lennon Trophy, seemed set to win when it scored two runs in the top of the seventh innings and then disposed of the first Eden-Roskill batter.

Both lan Dormer and Peter Cameron made base, through a walk and an error respectively, and then Maurie Dormer came up to the batting box under great pressure. His

booming hit brought all three home to give the Aucklanders a last-minute victory.

Later in the day, EdenRoskill nearly succeeded in another coup, all but ending Cardinals’ (Hutt Valley) great run of 43 straight wins.

Down 1-2 as it batted in the bottom of the seventh, Eden-Roskill was unperturbed as it faced the fiery pitching of John Dawson. Max Maoate, who earlier in the match had a three-bag hit, batted safely to make first base; and Alf Dormer made base on an error. Chance lost Barry Exeter advanced both batters with a sacrifice bunt, and a solid hit from Ron Roff saw Maoate race home, but Dormer was inexplicably pulled up at third, and the winning chance was lost.

Exeter and the next batter, Rodney Newby, were put out on a double play which ended the innings, and then the match — called off by the umpires with the scores tied, 2-2, because of the light and the now heavy rain. A replay will be necessary. Earlier, Cambridge (Waikato), too, had gone close to beating Cardinals in the battle of the big pitchers — Dawson and Kevin Herlihy.

Cambridge led twice during the match, and was very unlucky not to win. It was still ahead, 2-1, as Len Barlow batted for the Cardinals in the bottom of the fourth. Barlow made a short hit to the first baseman. Garth Stacey, which would normally (have been an easy out. The i ball, tricky on the wet sur|face, hopped out of Stacey’s I reach and Wayne Baldwin (came home from third base. Wild throw

Making matters worse, Carl Mossman threw wildly over the head of first base in the next innings, allowing Terry Bell to score what proved to be the winning run for the Cardinals. Mossman, one of New Zealand’s most reliable fielders, would never

have made such a bad error in normal conditions.

Cambridge later made up for its misfortunes by beating Island Bay, 1-0. and almost certainly preventing the Wellington side from repeating last year’s tournament victory.

In a game of very few hits* (Cambridge 4, Island Bay 3); [the pitchers dominated and the only run was scored by] Mackintosh in the bottom of I the first innings, after he had| originally made base on an error. Wolves (Hawke’s Bay) was' the only other side to win: both its games (in view of! the Cardinals-Eden Roskilll replay). Papanui beaten It was untroubled to beat Ellis Park (Otago), which was without the services of its top pitcher, Peter Roberts, but was given a much harder ( time by Papanui. Inspired by its top-of-the-order batter, Colin Chee, Papanui went down, 1-2. Unfortunately, not enough of its other batters were able to cope with the fast pitches of Owen Walford.

Dale Eagar made what would usually have been a comfortable home run in the top of the fourth. The ball

stopped abruptly in the outfield and he reached only third—the whole effort was [thus wasted, as Papanui was already two down, and the (next batter, John Petersen, [was quickly struck out. i The local side easily won I its earlier match against the (Wanganui Braves, 6-2. thanks (to pitching from Geofl' Roberts and Murray Reid who (collected 16 strike-outs between them and fine allj round batting, particularly bv Petersen. Results:— John Lennon Trophy Wolves (Hawke’s Bay) 5, Ellis Park Wintest lOtago) 0; Papanui (Canterbury) 6. Wanganui Braves 2; Cardinals (Hutt Valiev) :: Cambridge iWaikato) 2; EdenRoskill i Auckland) 3, Island Bav (Wellington) 2; Braves 17, Elbs Park 0: Wolves 2, Papanui i Cambridge 1, Island Bav 0; Car’ dinals 2, Eden-Roskill 2 ireplav ordered). Tom Voyle Cup Section A.—Arataki Dodgers (Bay of Plenty) 11, Army 2; Ma--Ist (Wairarapa) 11, Celtic (South Canterbury) 0; Panthers (South land) 3. Marist 1: Arataki Dodgers 13, Richmond Pirates i Mid lands) 1; Army 7. Celtic 3; Panth ers 2, Pirates 0.

Section B.—Dodgers (Nelson) 3. United (Horowhcnua) 1: Puke kohe (Counties) 3. Dodgers I. R.N.Z.A.F. 18. Railways (North Taranaki) 0; Saints (Marlborough> 4, United 0; Waitaki Industries (North Otago) 15, Railways 2; Dodgers 10. Waitaki Industries 0; Pukekobe 11, Railways 3; R.N.Z A.F. 7. Saints 1; Pukekobe 5. R.N.Z.A.F, 2.