Softball team improves

Press, 5 December 1978, Page 6

Softball team improves

Mr Dennis Rea, the Canter-, bury men’s softball coach, was a happier man after his team’s! efforts in the South Island tour-! nament for the Jefferies Cup! during the week-end. A week earlier Canterbury had shown many failings in a doubleheader against Otago and Mr Rea saw a vast improvement this time from that “shocking performance/* Canterbury lost, 0-2, to Otago in Sunday’s semi-finals, with the runs not coming until the top . of the seventh innings when there were “a couple of silly i errors.” There was no play-off i for third and fourth places, as ; Nelson faced a nine hour drive i back home. Southland easily 1 won the final. According to Mr Rea. Canter- < bury collected five hits while Otago really only got two—plus 1 three which went to the pitcher, - David Bradbury, and were mis- 1 fielded. “Apart from that Dave 1 went really well.” < Bradbury pitched only the one I game while the other two hurl-ji

, ers, Kevin Tuuta and Hadyn ; Smith, shared duties for the wins i against North Otago 20-4. and ' South Canterbury 15-5, and per- ! formed capably considering that it was “soaking wet and the balls like shot puts.” Mr Rea said that Bryan Mountford was the outstanding batter with seven hits in nine turns at bat (a .777 average) but Eric Tomlinson was a big disappointment in the batters box. Late last evening Mr Rea was still working on the final composition of the team—probably of 12—to contest the Rothmans national inter-provincial championships at Palmerston North from December 23 to January 2. He intended approaching a player from outside the squad of 16 which went to Timaru. Canterbury will play the New Zealand Combined Services team —now promoted to the top section—after the club matches on Saturday and there will be a double-header against Hutt Valley in Christchurch the following day.