Burnside wins softball

Press, 21 March 1983, Page 3

Burnside wins softball

The Burnside Softball Club pulled off the big champion-of-champions double for the first time when its premier teams won both the men’s and women’s titles in tightly contested finals at Porritt Park yesterday. Noel Leeming Burnside was hotly favoured to win the men’s final against Papanui, though it took until the bottom of the seventh innings before WaynePoorebattedinMurray Lanini for the only run of the game.

But the women’s final brought about an upset of some magnitude with General Lee Burnside dishing out Albion’s first defeat in the domestic competition since the 1980-81 season, in a 2-1 scoreline. The Burnside men outbatted Papanui by six hits to two in the end, but the game was close-run with both teams having royal chances to score.

Papanui’s best opportunity came in the top of the sixth innings when, with two down, Tony Bishop made

base on a dropped third strike and then advanced to third when his brother, Garry, singled to right field. Unfortunately, Dale Eagar then popped up a foul fly to the Burnside third baseman, Alan Hall, for the third out.

Only some excellent fielding by the Papanui players, coupled with some inspired pitching by Colin Sutherland, kept Burnside out in the middle stages of the game.

In his last game for Burnside before leaving with Jimmy Hall for a season of softball in the United States, Chubb Tangaroa took six “Ks”, facing 24 batters, and giving up two hits and no walks.

It is said things happen in threes and the loss suffered by the Albion women was their third in as many games after two at the Pan Am national tournament. Before the Pan Am Albion had not lost a game at any level since March 1981. The 2-1 win will undoubtedly boost Burnside’s confidence when the teams meet next.

The game began on a sombre note yesterday when both sides stood on the baselines in respect of Les Quested, who had died suddenly the previous evening. Mr Quested was the father of the Albion captain, Christine Tew.

However, the final had excitement from the first innings when Albion’s pitcher, Cheryl Kemp, hit a centre field double and was sacrificed, to third. However, she was left stranded.

Burnside’s Jane Earnslaw blew the game wide open at the bottom of the first when she thumped a magnificent centre right home run to also score Robyn Storer. Albion looked to be in further bother when Anthea Feaver hit safely to left field, making second on a right field drive by Chris John with Marilyn Lee sacrificing to advance both

runners, but tight fielding by Albion prevented any further runs being scored.

Albion’s second turn at bat saw Sharron Constable make base, but Burnside’s pitcher, John, took two strike-outs to kill any scoring opportunity, while Burnside went three up, three down. Other results: Women Senior A.— Ascot Woolston 8, United 5. Senior B.— Monowai 14, Burnside 4. Senior C.— Albion 5, Woolston 3. Senior D.— Hornby 7, Army 2. Senior E.— Avonhead 14, Rangiora 12. Men Senior A— MerivalePapanui 5, Woolston 1. Senior B.— Richmond B 5, United B 2. Senior C.— Woolston B 7, Albion C 6. Senior D.— Kereru 18, Richmond C 1. Senior E.— MerivalePapanui 5, Woolston C 1. Senior F.— Woolston E 11, United D 9.