Canterbury finishes third in softball

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 6

Canterbury finishes third in softball

Special eorresondent Hastings Wellington won Its.fourth successive -Rothmans . national women’s softball title at Hastings on Saturday after the tournament leader, Canterbury, had two-losses on the final day. Ip the morning, Canterbury lost 1-4 to Wellington and then lost 0-2 to Auckland in the afternoon.

It had been a courageous effort by Canterbury-to go so cloro though perhaps a lack of true match fitness in one or 'two key players and an inability,to bat St crucial times in the daily heat of 37 degrees cost the team dearly. Canterbury had the satisfaction of beating every team in-the A grade section: at least once and le professional attitude on defence earned it the award for the best fielding side of the tournament. This’Was a suitable consolation for the dedication of the coach, Miss Lyndsey Leask. anti the manager, Mrs Vonny Gibson. Lapses -of judgment in the outfield were decisive in the morning game when the Wellington batters pounded the pitching of Cheryl Kemp. Three inns were Scored ih the first innings. For several innings Canterbury was almost totally mesmerised', by the pitching of the 16-year-pMI Gina Weber. Linda Mannlns! scored the team’s only ran when she nan home from third on a sacrifice. Wellington sealed the win for Wellington with another run in the fifth innings and though Canterbury loaded the bases on three separate occasions, the batting failed under pressure. In th* afternoon game Auckland capitalised on the few Canterbury errors to score in both the second and the fifth innings. Robyn Storer gave, an admirable display of pitching for Canterbury and struck out several internationals with her rise ball. ■ ' Scoring opportunities -.for Canterbury went begging, one after the designated hitter, Danae Goosman, who had hit on safely, was tagged out in a risky attempted steal to second base. Natalie Hazelwood and Jane Earnshaw- both hit safely in the third innings without reward.

Rothmans Cup results on the final day were:— Wellington 4, Canterbury 1; Wellington 1, Hutt Valley O; Hutt Valley 6, Counties 1; Auckland 9, Southland 0; Counties 7, Southland 3; Auckland 2, Canterbury 0. The New Zealand . selectors later named three teams.

The North Island and South Island teams were named for the inter-island match to be played

at'Fraser Park, Hurt Valley, next Sunday, . The selectors also ram * tournament team which, although not having a scheduled, gives players, an indication of the preference the selectors have for future national The' teams are: North Island.— Pitchers. Debbie Myatad (Auck ; land), Carol Love (Wellington), catchers, Elwyn PrenticetHutt Valley), Lesley Monk (Wellington); first base, Ran* Philips (Auckland); second base, Nadi Clarke (Auckland); -third base. Naomi Shaw (Hutt Valley); short Stop, Marilyn Marshal! (Wellington); Outfield, Deslea WrOthall (Auckland), Kathy Hall (Wellington), Deanne Puat* (Hutt Vallej), uifilitlea, Debbie Leonidis (Wellington), Vivian Spaart (North

Shore). Rosie Ah Wong (Counties). South Island.— Pitchers, Cheryl Kemp (Canterbury), Haled Maxwell (Southland); catchers. Penny Salton (Canterbury), Jan Miles (Nelson); first base, Christine Tew (Canterbury), second base. Ann Wansborouth (Canterbury): third base, Linda Manning (Canterbury); short stop, Robyn Storer (Canterbury); outfield, Karen Fraser (Nelson), Danis Goosman (Canterbury), Jane Ber-. nshaw (Canterbury); utility, Sus’ Hammond (Southland).: The -tournament team.— Debbie Mygind, Cheryl'Kemp, Penny Salton. Elwyn Prentice, - Ran* Phillips, Nadi .Clarice, Naomi Straw, Rosie Ah Wong, Danis Gooseman. . Deslea wraths!!, Deanne Puata. Debbie Leonidas,' Marilyn Marshall. Vivian Spears.