Softball Canterbury women win S.I. softball title

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 22

Softball Canterbury women win S.I. softball title

I Canterbury scored a convincing! i last-round win over Nelson in jibe South Island women’s soft- ! ball tournament at Rugby Park | yesterday to clinch the title for (the second year in succession. Both teams had fashioned unbeaten records in the previous lour rounds, played on Saturday and earlier on Sunday, and Nelson was expected to provide Canterbury with its stiffest opposition of the two-day tournament. It was not to be, as Canterbury powered away to win .11-1, which included a stunning six-run blitz in the seventh innings. Canterbury began well on Saturday morning with a good 16-4 i win over the Otago B side, and continued its form to drub South i Canterbury 14-0 in the second round. Nelson accounted for South Canterbury 22-2 in the opening round, but could only I squeak home 7-6 against tile I | strong Canterburj’ B team. i Canterbury’s third-round match, 1 against the top Otago side, pro-

ivided one of the dramas of the 5 tournament. Otago had been] leading by a single run until the bottom of the sixth innings, and! had the home side struggling two down and no runner on base. Marilyn Lee, the Canterbury catcher, iut on to first, and when another Canterbury batter drove a ball past the pitcher to tile second base a tag was a formality. But the ball was fumbled, Lee cannoned into the Otago player and sent her flying to the ground, and made her way ti> second. The Otago coach protested vigorously but the umpire did not rule on Lee’s apparent obstruction. The innings resumed and Canterbury, thanks to a massive hit by Christine Clothier, eased into a comfortable lead! .But the Otago side failed to turn up to bat the top of the seventh land forfeited the game. I Yesterday morning Canterbury ]A strolled away with its fourth round game with the B side, and Nelson made it four wins in a

row with a narrow 3-1 victory i against the revitalised Otago A (team. The Canterbury coach (Miss Nancy Beale) said she was quite pleased with the gradual improvement her charges displayed as the tournament wore on. but she thought there was still room for improvement in the batting. “The batting got better and improved over the whole weekend. especially that of Christine Clothier. Marilyn Lee. too, stood out with some fine fielding.” Miss Beale emphasised the Canterbury team was still only a squad, but must have been pleased with the side’s performance with the national softball championships, to be held in Christchurch, less than a month

away. P W L F A Pts Canterbury A iS 5 0 59 6 Nelson .1 4 1 45 21 4 Cant. B 3 3 2 40 30 3 Otago A 3 2. 3 03 24 2 Otago B n 1 4 42 41 1 Sth Cant. 5 0 5 18 79 0