Flawless exhibition by N.Z. pitcher

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 30

Flawless exhibition by N.Z. pitcher

Michael White, whose tremendous pitching helped New Zealand A to 2-0 shutout wins over both the United States and Canada at Porritt Park during the week-end, has almost forgotten what it is like to concede a run in top softball. White, aged 21, curbed the big-hitting - North American batters as New Zealand A completed the Christchurch sector of the Lion Brown world invitation men's series without a loss.

White, making his international debut, although he was. a member of the New Zealand squad last season, has not had a run scored against him at any level of softball since last November. “It's been an excellent season for me so far ...

touch wood.” said White yesterday. On' Saturday, White had put in a flawless performance, pitching a no-hit nowalk game to the out-of-season United States team. Not one of the 21 batters he faced even made base and nine of them were struck out.

Yesterday. White grabbed eight more strikeouts against Canada, but this time the tight fielding of the New Zealand A team was required more to back him up. One catch by the right outfielder, Mike Nichols, right on the fence was especially brilliant.

Four of the Canadians hit safely, but none were allowed to proceed past first base.

The batting hero for New Zealand was the tall catcher. lan Stringer, previously hitless in the tournament. Stringer, the "player of the

day," batted in both the runs for his team, scoring the lead-off, Jimmy Cotter, in the top of the first innings and second baseman, Eddie Kohlhase, in the third.

United States (three wins) and Canada (two wins) are both expected to be a bigger threat in the Hutt Valley sector of the series later this week as further cobwebs are brushed off their batting.

None of the crowd of close to 2000 which saw the United States in action yesterday, would deny their awesome batting power. Over the three days of the series nine out-of-the-park home runs were scored and six of those automatic homers were hit by the United States batters yesterday. Five of them were in one game against Japan with Brian Rothrock and Bob Quinn actually clearing the fence from consecutive pitches by the little Keiichi Fujiwara.

Rothrock, a left-handed batter and outstanding outfielder. was a popular winner of the “player of the series" trophy. He batted .583 for the tournament with seven hits from 12 turns and. like his team-mate. Denny Place, had two automatic homers in the game against Japan. United States appeared to be cruising to an easy win over New Zealand B in the final game of the series last evening after a huge automatic home run by Dave Jackson, scored in two other base-runners, in the bottom of' the fourth.

However in a spirited rally, New Zealand B scored in both the sixth and seventh innings to all but pull back

the three-run deficit. First Nelson's Darryl Stratford batted in David Wall with a lovely double and an innings later Wayne Nichols brought in his captain, Peter Hartley. However even the advent of a pinch-hitter, Canterbury's Graeme Anderson, could not advance the runner. The New Zealand A coach and convener of selectors. Mr Mike Walsh, will be. taking a close look at one or two players in the B team. Although it won only one game. New Zealand B held both Canada and the United States well and in both cases the hit count was four each.

On Saturday a special award went to the little Japanese outfielder, Tadayoshi Ohishi, for his spectacular catching near and, in one case, literally over the fence when he all but lost the point of balance gathering in a huge hit from a Canadian, j, Each time Ohishi. aged 22, won the applause of the crowd he delighted it further by doffing his cap and bowing — several times. i Results:— •

Saturday.— Canada 11, Japan 1 (six innings); New Zealand A 2, United States 0: Canada 3. New Zealand B 1; New Zealand A 5. Japan 0. Sunday.— New Zealand A 4, New Zealand B 0; United States 12. Japan 1 (six innings); New Zealand A 2. Canada 0; United States 3, New Zealand B 2.

Points table.— F A Pt W L N.Z. A 4 0 13 -0 8 U.S. 3 1 23 8 6 Canada 2 2 17 12 4 N.Z. B 1 3 12 10 2 Japan 0 4 2 37 0