Close softball matches

Press, 8 November 1984, Page 38

Close softball matches

TIM DUNBAR

Imperial Merivale’s now traditonal late innings rally was not enough to preclude it being beaten, 2-0, by Amalgamated Batteries Suburbs in a tight senior men’s softball game at Papanui Domain last evening. In a match dominated by the pitchers, Mike Ash (Suburbs) and David Bradbury (Merivale), all the runs came in the top of the sixth innings through the Suburbs batters, Mark McFarlane and Alex Bennett. Bradbury, who went into the sixth sitting on a nohitter, conceded a safe bunt to Mark McFarlane and, with two out, Bennett and the veteran player-coach, Bryan Mountford, strung together one-base hits to bring in the two runs. Merivale, which outbatted Suburbs by four hits to three, could consider itself unlucky. In the bottom of the fifth Ernie Goodhue had slammed a triple to left field with two down, but the next batter could not advance him past third base. In the sixth, Eric Tomlin-

son hit on, only to be stranded on second base. Darren Rea singled to left field in the seventh and subsequently got around to third base, but was left to languish there. Ash bragged 13 strikeouts, and Bradbury seven. At Western Park the home team, A.G.C. United, was pushed surprisingly hard by Richmond, going into extra innings for its 2-1 win. United had not opened its score until the top of the fifth when the team’s top batter of the night, Paul Shannon, came home. In the bottom of the seventh Richmond rallied, Peter Babbington scoring the equalising run and only an out at home precluded a second run. United came through in the top of the eighth with a run to Neil Stuart, who was hit home by Maia Toa, and in the bottom of the eighth Leon Fife took three strikeouts to end the game. Progress points are: Burnside 14 (8 games), United 12 (7), Merivale 8 (8), Suburbs 6 (8), Papanui 6 (9), Richmond 2 (8).