Bradbury in form

Press, 6 March 1978, Page 6

Bradbury in form

Jaks-United’s pitcher, Dave Bradbury, continued to show his all-round form in the senior men’s softball competition on Saturday, when his team beat Papanui, 2-0. Listed at the bottom of the batting order, Bradbury hit his second home run in a week, and took six strike-outs off Papanui batters.

Bradbury also managed a further safe hit in his three trips to the batter’s box, in the top of the third innings, blit had the misfortune to be taken out in an unusual double play. Paul McFarlane attempted a sacrifice bunt to advance him, but the hit went foul and was caught by Gary Bishop who then stepped back on to first base putting Bradbury out. Jaks-City managed to beat Albion 3-2 in a tight match, which featured some hard hits by both sides. Western Suburbs had a bye, and Richmond was away at the national club softball tournament in Invercargill. However, up to last Saturday, both teams were a game ahead of the rest of the competition. Jaks-United 2, Papanui 0 Papamii came close to scoring in the bottom of the first innings. when three of its batters, Tony Bishop, Gary Bishop, and Eric Tomlinson made bases. But it failed when Tony Bishop was tagged coming home, and, even more unlucky, Gary Bishop was tagged also trying to make home when a pass ball from

pitcher Dave Bradbury rebounded off the backstop net .and into the glove of United I catcher, Brian Mountford, who I made the tag. i Dale Eager was struck-out leaving Eric Tomlinson on third ( base, and the opportunity to' score was lost, something that; Papanui could not afford to do when up against the top team. In fact, the only further Pa-] panul opportunity came in the bottom of the seventh innings,’ when Tomlinson hit a three-bag-( ger with one batter down. But,: lie again remained stranded’ when Eager was struck-out and Brian Waine failed to make first base on a hit. United nearly scored in the top; of the first innings when lead-off batter, Paul McFarlane made it; to first on a hit, and to third oiv a sacrifice hit by Leon Fife. But,’ McFarlane was left on third! when a flyball by Brian Mount-j ford was caught by Papanui’sj short-stop, Tony Bishop. In the top of the fifth. United’s; Billy Rintoul made a safe hit,l, and Bradbury stepped up to the! plate and hit a home run, to score Rintoul as well, making it’ 2-0 to United. Pitching early Bradbury took six strike-outs for on* hit. and Hadyn Smith took seven strikeouts for one hit in three innings. For Papanui, Geoff Roberts pitched' three strtke-euts «nd ’ conceded seven hits. Jaks-Clfy 3, Albion 2 It was a family affair for Jaks-

■ City when in the top of the seventh when father Arnie Hall, ; who normally coaches rhe City side, made a three bag hit, and was hit home by son Alan HaU to give th* team a 3-1 lead over AlJ bion. i Earlier in the game broad- • shouldered City batter Roger (Hutton hit a homer in the first ; and followed it up with a threei bag hit in the sixth, to be scored I off the bat of Murray Lanini. I However, City did not have th* match its own way. ( Albion nearly scored in th* (bottom of the first when Vince Daly was left stranded on third base, after making first on a hit, and in the third innings his ■ brother, John hit a homer, to level the score, l-all with City. I There was an opportunity for Albion to equalise in the top of ’ the seventh, when City had gone (into a 3-1 lead. Alnsley Quested [hit a three-bagger and came (home on a sacrifice hit by Ken Stove to make the score 3-2. But, the next two batters failed to I make first base. ’’ For Albion, Vine* Daly took five strike-outs and conceded six safe hits, while for City Alan : Hal! managed three strike outs I for six hits.

POINTS TABLE p W L F A pts Jaks-Utd 9 9 0 44 2 18 Richmond 9 6 3 24 17 12 Papanui | 5 4 25 20 10 Jaks- Citv .. 9 4 5 It ,'•‘4 8 W. Subs .. 9 2 7 18 34 4 Albion 9 1 9 29 43 2