Luck plays big part in Burnside’s double win

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 26

Luck plays big part in Burnside’s double win

The second-seeded General Lee Burnside team could consider itself lucky to have won its two matches in the Dalgety Travel senior women's softball competition on Saturday at Hagley.

In its first game Burnside had to come from 4-2 down to finally beat Monowai. 6-4. and only just managed to beat United 2-1. If Burnside is to have any chance of downing the strong Albion side, it will need to produce far better results with the bat and tighten its fielding up considerably. In contrast to Burnside's rather lack-lustre performances. Albion had little difficulty in downing Woolston Diamond United 16-2 while disposing of Western Suburbs 10-0 in six innings.

General Lee Burnside 6. Monowai 4 In to bat first. Burnside opened I he scoring when its twe New Zealand representatives Jane Earnshaw and Robyr Storer crossed home plate. Monowai came alight in its second turn at bat when the lead off Kathryn Eiffe hit safely tc right field. Wiki Martin and Ra Hapi Ihen made base on errors while Grace Tuavera managed first on a fielder choice, the

choice allowing Eiffc to score. Shirley Rainsbury then forced another error which bought in Martin. Anne Wansborough hit safely to centre field to score Tuavera and Rainsbury and suddenly Monowai were up 4-2.

Both teams in the third and fourth innings displayed some tight and controlled fielding to prevent any runners advancing past first base. The match flew into action in the fifth when Burnside's Chris John and Storer came home off a magnificent centre field home run from the hat of Anthea Reaver, the ball completely clearing the fielders' heads. Monowai. chasing two runs for victory, looked determined going into its fifth turn at bat but was unable to get a runner on base as a result of Burnside's Linda Mannings slick and accurate fielding.

Burnside tried desperately to widen the gap in the sixth and looked set to do so when the lead off Katrina Deaver hit to the outfield only to have all hopes squashed as the left field Phil McLean took a brilliant catch only centimetres off the ground. Monowai could not peg back the required runs and Burnside's final run came at the top of the sixth innings as a result of an unfortunate outfield collision between Marlin and Eiffe. Eiffe was taken to hospital with concussion and a possible fractured jaw. Alhinn 111, Western Suburbs 0

With the New Zealand pitcher and the coach of the Albion side. Cheryl Kemp, in devastating form Western Suburbs had absolutely no opportunity at all of getting into the match. Kemp

faced 19 batters and look 13 strike-outs.

Coupled with pitching dominance. the Albion side complemented its game with a display of power batting. Linda O'Cain opened the match with a three bagger and came home bv a sacrifice outfield fly by Kemp. Christine Tew produced a tremendous home run to also bring in Pennv Salton.

Kemp. Nat Hazelwood and Salton all scored in the third, while in its fourth turn at bat O'Cain and Kemp scored their second runs of the game. The final play was made when Vicky Paskell and Janenne Gould scored in the sixth. For Suburbs. Barbara Gordon was the only runner to make base from a centre field hit. Albion's Tew finished the game with the creditable batting average of .666. while Hazelwood. Kemp. O'Cain and Salton had averages of .500. General Lee Burnside 2. United 1 In a dour struggle Burnside looked more effective in its first turn at bat then it did at any other stage of the game. Its first run came in the first innings when Anthea Feaver hit safely to centre field and was bought home by a right field two-bagger off the bat of Tracev Ellis. Neither side looked like scoring for the following five innings as three up three down occurred frequently. However. Burnside's Chris John was unlucky to have a scoring opportunity taken away in her second turn at bat when she hit to left field but a

great diving catch by Barbara Fletcher left John stranded half wav to first.

United's equalising run finally came in its sixth turn at bat when the lead-off Liz Siatago thumped a right field home run. Burnside immediately replied in its next turn at bat when Chris Patterson made third base on an error after hitting safely to right field. Ellis again came up trumps, batting a safe hit to score Patterson.

With the pressure on. United's lead off Barbara Fletcher made base on an infield error and the scene looked set for extra innings. Donna Gooch then put down a bunt and United's coach called Fletcher round to three only to see the equalising run thrown away as she was tagged out by Linda Manning. Albion 16, Woolston 2 Albion proved in this match it is still a strong side without Cheryl Kemp on the mound as it comfortably beat Woolston in five innings, with the New Zealand outfielder Natalie Hazelwood taking over pitching duties.

Hazelwood worked intelligently on the mound, working to the field rather than trying for a high strike-out rate.

Woolston's only runs came in the fourth when Kathy Lagosse and Lyn Brand scored. Brand's being a three-bagger to centre field. For Albion. Penny Salton and Christine Tew scored three runs each; Linda O'Cain. Sharon Constable. Hazelwood. Vicky Paskell and Nicky Hudson all crossed home plate twice while Teresa 0 Rourke scored her first run of the season for the senior side.

PointsI' Albion 3 Burns 3 w I. !•’ A 42 2 20 5 Pt I'nited 3 West Sub 2 1 1 1 12 24 10 Munov.ai 2 II 2 IO 14 0 Woolston 3 0 3 2 40 0