Albion out of contention in softball

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 76

Albion out of contention in softball

Special correspondent

Robert Brown Albion is out of contention in the Pan Am national women’s interclub softball tournament at Norana Park, Auckland, after another 0-1 loss, this time to Metro (Auckland). The narrow loss to Metro last evening followed a 0-1 loss to Island Bay (Wellington) on Thursday evening. The best the side can do is finish third by beating Saints (Hutt Valley) today, while the final will be fought out between the two unbeaten sides, Metro and Island way.

Albion’s batting and again its fielding let the side down. Only two runners made base to Metro’s seven, while the error count went 3-0 in Metro’s favour.

The game was lost at 0-0 in the top of the fifth when, with one down, Sue Poiall made base on an error, second on a passed ball, and then the pitcher, Kelly Barnes, saw the fielded ball of a bunt go sailing into right field to score Poiall. The match late on Thursday night against Island Bay was a nail-biting endurance test lasting more than two hours and a half and

loaded with drama. Albion lost, 0-1, in nine innings. It was a battle where both sides sustained incredible pressure right from the first innings and in the final analysis Albion’s field cracked, giving the win to the titleholder.

The game had everything, controversial umpiring calls, tremendous double plays, three Albion batters hit by the speedster Gina Webber, deliberate walks and an incredible battle on the mound between Cheryl Kemp and Webber, a battle neither won as the statistics were tied at the completion

of the match. Albion had its best opportunity to take the lead at the bottom of the first, with one down and a runner on base and Christine Tew in the box. The runner mistook a signal, attempted to steal second and was given out Tew then blasted to centre left-field and Kemp hit to centre-field but with two already out the next batter flied the ball to the out-field to squash all hopes of an early lead. Both sides had chances to score, but tight and at times incredible fielding kept the runsvput until the top Of the

ninth when Webber flied to the out-field. The catch was dropped and the throw badly errored allowing Webber on to third. The big-hitting Cindy Wiki was then given a deliberate walk and Joe O’Brien came into the box. O’Brien flied to the out-field, the catch was taken but the throw delayed and Webber, not known for her speed around the base' was safe at home. In its early game yesterday Albion had no difficulty beating Melville (Waikato) which is yet to register a win, 8-2. Leonie Woods pitched the majority if the

game for Canterbury performing creditably, and in the field taking a great double at the bottom of the seventh. For Albion, Natalie Hazelwood scored three times, Sharon Constable twice, while Lynda O’Cain, Vicky Pascall and Janenne Gould all scored once. Results.— Metro (Auckland) 5, Manakau (Counties) 0; Saints (Hutt Valley) 14, Melville (Waikato) 0; Manakau 5, Rajahs (Otago) 0; Island Bay (Wellington) 3, Lions (Hawke’s Bay) 1; Albion 8, Melville 2; Lions 10, Rajahs 0; Metro 1, Albion 0.