Softball Wellington’s cup win deserved

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 22

Softball Wellington’s cup win deserved

Special correspondent Wellington deservedly won the Rothmans Cup at the national women’s softball tournament at Hobson Park. Auckland, on Saturday by beating Auckland. 4-0. Over all. Wellington's performance with the bat and in the field was far more disciplined and controlled than Auckland’s, which had no answer to the fiery performance of Wellington’s 19-year-old tall pitcher. Gina Weber. In contrast, Auckland's pitcher, Debbie Mygind. looked to be struggling from the outset and she was not helped by some sloppy fielding lapses. Under the new double-life system. Wellington went into the final fresh. Auckland had faced Hutt Valley two hours earlier, taking that match, 4-2. Wellington’s Lesley Monk opened the scoring at the bottom

of the third innings after making base on a safe bunt. She was sacrificed to second, made third on an error, and came home on a fielder's choice. The lead was further extended when Weber hit safely to right field, was replaced on base, and a series of passed balls and a wild pitch brought the runner home. In the sixth, it became an almost hopeless case for Auckland as the talented Rhonda Hira and Carol Moore scored Wellington’s final runs. In the bottom four play-off in the A grade. Southland won the Gibson Cup and Otago, which had an ’excellent tournament, earned the right to play in the premier grade at next year's nationals. It was ironical for Canterbury, which failed to perform with the bat, that Robyn Storer took the Worth batting trophy for the A

grade section with an average of .408. while Natalie Hazelwood’s tournament record was .400. However, the pressure batting averages told the tale of Canterbury’s disappointing performance on the last two days. The Canterbury team’s effort did not go unnoticed'and it was rewarded the Berlie Cup for sportsmanship, conduct and appearance. The team acted with dignity both on and off the field. Leslie Monk was named "player of the tournament”. At the end of the tournament, the national coach, Mr Ed Doljes. announced an all-tourna-ment team. It is: — P. Salton. R. Storer, N. Hazelwood (Canterbury); G. Weber, B. Swinton, K. Hall, L. Monk (Wellington): D. Mygind. E. Tuavera, R; Rutter, V. Murray (Auckland): P. Craig (Southland); N. Shaw (Hutt Valley); K. Fraser (Nelson).