Kereru gets first win

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 26

Kereru gets first win

Kereru recovered from an early loss to defeat Monowai for its first win in the Dalgety Crown Travel senior women’s softball on Saturday. Kereru was the only side playing a double-header and came up first against Clarity Press Papanui. It had chances, especially because it picked up more hits than Papanui, but finished on the losing end. In its next game it made no mistake and floored Monowai to the tune of 6-1, and in doing so scored its first victory since it was promoted to the senior competition. Clarity Press Papanui 2, Keren) 0 If a purist’s statistics were an indication of match results, Kereru should have won. The side picked up three hits to Papanurs one and Kereru did not make any errors in the field while Papanui made three. Both sides left five runners on base. The difference lay with the pitching staff, as neither side began with its front line hurlers. While Papanui’s Debbie Chase, in the absence of Lednie Woods, strayed on a few occasions, she generally managed to keep the opposing batters in check However, Kereru’s Maxine Butler failed to find the spot on too many occasions and was replaced in the fourth by Ra Hapi, who managed to keep Papanui well and truly tied up. Kereru kept Papanui under control in the first by taking lead runners, .and just managed in the second to prevent a Papanui player from crossing the plate. The bubble burst at the top

of the third for Kereru as a succession of walks and a Lee Glasson hit resulted in loaded bases with none down. Nicky Fleming was the first to score from this position when Chase was walked. Glasson was taken at the plate on a fielder’s choice, while Jo-Anne Burrows raced home during the confusion about a Dea Minchan in-field fly, this giving Papanui its 2-0 lead past this point, with Hapi on the mound, only one further Papanui player made base. For Kereru it was a match of frustration on the bases. Of the five runners left on, four had to return to the dugout from third. Kereru 6, Monowai 1 Kereru’s performance in this match was a direct contrast to that of its early match. For the first time this season, it realised its full potential. In previous matches the team has had ample opportunity to win but has faltered under pressure in the final few innings. However, on this occasion, it kept cool, calm and collected throughout, allowing Monowai very few opportunities to get into the match. The game was won and lost in the batters’ box. Kereru picked up 13 hits while Monowai could only manage a meagre two. This effort gave Kereru its first win in the A grade since its promotion. Sharron Marsh opened her team’s account at the top of the first when Jill Hakaraia, who had a great match with the bat, drove to centre-field. In the second, Kereru took command of the match. The lead-off, Judy McCann, drove powerfully to third and Monowai’s Lyn Tasker could do nothing to get her glove to the ball. Lyndal McMeeking filed out and then Shirley Rainsbury hit to centrefield. Maxine Butler also flied out and with two down, Kereru picked up a

succession of excellent singles to score McCann, Rainsbury, Marsh and Ra Hapi, thereby giving the side a commanding 5-0 lead. Further runs went begging in the third for Kereru and it took a Hakaraia rightfield triple, and Monowai’s only blemish in the field to give the side its six-run lead in the fourth. In the bottom of the frame, Monowai produced its sole run of the match. Anne Wansborough forced an infield error to make first, then Margaret Machirus was taken out at first allowing Wansborough to second on a 1 fielder’s choice. Wansborough then applied the pressure by taking off immediately to third. The throw was not picked up cleanly and Wansborough broke for the plate to score. Monowai looked set to fight back in its sucth and seventh turns at bat, however, Kereru kept its act together. It fielded intelligently, by taking the advance runners; whenever the situation allowed or taking the percentage out when circumstances dictated. For Kereru, it was a richly deserved win. Monowai remains in the doldrums, especially when in the batters’ box.