Monowai springs surprise

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 31

Monowai springs surprise

Monowai. for the first time this season, kept its game together. and caused an upset in the Dalgety Travel women's softball competition, by beating the highly rated General Lee Bumside, 3-2. in a tense and tactical nine innings struggle. Earlier in the day, Monowai had another good’ win. 9-3. against Aseot Woolston and it has now assured itself of staying in the top four to compete in the competition after Christmas. Until Saturday’s play. United was tied with Monowai on the points table and it was between these two teams as to which was going to be relegated. United's lethargic performance in its double-header resulted in 8-2 losses against Albion and Western Suburbs and it looks as if it will be joining Ascot Woolston in the senior reserve competition. The points table is:

Monawai 3. General Lee Burnside 2 In a cliff-hanger, which could have gone either way, Monowai won in the first game of the competition this season which has gone to extra innings. Both teams had scoring opportunities which went begging throughout the game and. in far 100 many instances, disputed calls by the base umpire cost both sides dearly. As the pressure was applied in the later part of the match, some brillant fielding was displayed by both sides, especially from Anthea Feaver and Sharron Mansfield. Bumside and Monowai's Lynn Tasker and Phil McLean. It was Burnside who took an early lead when Mansfield scored off a safe hit bv Marilvn Lee. - Monowai. at the top of the third, came back strongly when Kathryn Eiffe was brought in by a two-bagger by Tasker, who. in turn, scored off a McLean safe hit. Burnside looked set to score in the fifth when its lead-off, Lee. hit safely to right field and Robyn Storer laid down a bunt which was slightly errored, allowing Storer to make first. Lee; However, had turned down the third base line and suddenly found the play on her. She was too late and was tagged out. Storer, who. is one of the best base runners in the country, was then called out on a steal to second and suddenly Burnside had lost one of its best scoring opportunities of the match. The game burst into life in the seventh as Monowai endeavoured to extend its lead and came close with Wiki Martin, but she was left stranded on third. Burnside’s seventh turn at bat was one of pressure batting and tactical play. The lead off went out. when Katrina Deaver hit safely and was advanced to second by Sue Williams. Lee then hit to the pitcher who took Dreaver out on a force to third, leaving Lee on first from a fielder’s choice. With two down and runners on first and second, Storer came to hat. .Monowai’s coach, Marg Wong, called time out and when

play restarted it was obvious she had instructed her pitcher, Ra Hapi, to walk the big-hitting Storer. The tactic could have cost the team as Hapi then walked Linda Manning unintentionally and Willians came home to tie the game. Still on shaky ground, Monowai desperately needed one more out, especially with bases still loaded when the designated hitter, Jane Earnshaw, came to hpt. Earnshaw, wanting to bat in the winning run. struck a ball and it trickled to McLean at short stop for the easiest of outs. The eighth innings remained scoreless and in bat at the top of the ninth, the lead off. Hapi, made base on a safe left-field hit. Hapi eventually made third but was out on a force play at home. Meanwhile, Shirley Rainsbury had made third on a number of fielders’ choices. The break for Monowai came when a high outside bail was delivered and it went through the catcher, allowing Rainsbury home for the winning run on a pass ball. Burnside tried valiantly to at least tie the same in its final

turn at bat. but controlled intelligent fielding by Monowai prevented any hopes of a run. Albion 8, United 2 Although winning by a comfortable margin, the performance of Albion was well below par. The side made a number of uncharacteristic errors in the field and failed on numerous occassions to bring in runners on base; in total, nine runners were left stranded on base. Albion began the game well with Linda O’Cain. Cheryl Kemp and Nat Hazelwood all’scoring. However, the team event went off the boil from that point as it hit far too much in the air for easy outs. With two down in the sixth. Joanne Gould hit safely to centre field and was bought home by O’Cain. who struck a great triple between centre and right field. O'Cain came in for her third run of the match when Kemp hit safely to centre field. In the sixth innings tor Albion. Penny Salton hit a fine left-field home’ run. The length of the hit was tremendous as Ballon is not known as a fast base-runner.

United's first run came in in the fourth off an error when Sandra Ewing crossed home plate and the second was by Liz Sialago. Monowai 9. Ascot Woolston 3 Woolston took the initiative in the first innings by scoring two runs from Sue Allen and Sue Spivey. As has been characteristic of Woolston's play this season, its field let it down as errors allowed Monowai to equalise in its second turn at bat. Julie Loader and Ra Hapi coming home. The fourth resulted in Monowai equalising again and then Lyn Tasker. Kela Smith and Hapi gave the side a three-run advantage. The lead was further extended in the sixth as Kathryn Eiffe and Anne Wansborou’gh scored, with the final run being scored by Wiki Martin in the seventh Western Suburbs 8. United 2 These two teams normally have an evenly-fought tussle, but Saturday’s match was completely one-sided, with Suburbs dominating all phases of plav.

WOMEN'S SOFTBALL P L W F A Pt Albion 13 13 0 108 7 26 Burnside 13 8 5 62 34 16 West. Sub. 13 7 6 73 45 14 .Monowai 14 7 7 52 49 14 I'nited 14 5 9 47 100 10 Woolston 13 0 13 30 137 0