Suburbs tests Albion again

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 24

Suburbs tests Albion again

The highlight of the Dalgety Crown Travel women’s premier softball competition on Saturday was the clash between the local champion, Robert Brown Albion, and A.B.L. Suburbs. In recent weeks when these two teams have met, the young Suburbs side has put Albion under pressure and Saturday's match was no exception. Albion came away the victor, 1-0, but the side was made to work for its two competition points. Suburbs fielded with confidence throughout, and Carolyn Arthur, on the mound, kept Albion’s batters tied up. While Arthur only conceded six hits, Albion’s Karen Pimm had an equally convincing match. She gave up only four hits.

The competition leader, Burnside, went on the rampage in its five-innings encounter against Monowai.

winning 10-0.

Burnside built on its run rate throughout each innings and gave Monowai no opportunity to get into the match. Monowai could manage only four runners on base, while only one of Its batters managed to get the ball into the outfield.

Results in the senior grade were relatively predictable. Clarity Press Papanui comfortably beat Woolston, 1303, in six innings, and Kereru beat Robert Brown Albion B, 4-2.

Albion caused Kereru a few problems. In the seventh innings it had the equalising runs on second and third, but the Kereru outfield held, taking two excellent catches to prevent Albion from edging closer.

Burnside 10, Monowai 0 - The relentless Bumside batting machine swung into action at the top of the first and continued throughout the match to completely shut Monowai out.

Jane Earnshaw began the first innings rally when she made base on a centre-field hit and raced home when Anita Perreau hit to the pitcher and played Earnshaw at the plate, but the speedster was comfortably home. Chris John also made base on a fielder’s choice and then young Helen Townsend knocked a left-field triple to score both Perreau and John. Monowai put up some resistance in the bottom of the final innings. The lead-off, Tricia Laird, made base on a hit but was taken out in a tag play at second, while Margaret Machirus made first on an error.

A series of errors enabled Burnside to extend its lead in

the second innings, Marilyn Lee and Linda Burrows both scoring. In the third, Monowai was again under pressure with bases loaded. However, it allowed only one runner in. Paula Kay, who had hit safely to centrefield, was •walked home. Monowai’s fate was sealed in the fourth. The lead-off, Linda Manning, hit to centrefield, and then Perreau smacked a magnificent leftfield home run. John was not to be outdone and also hit a tremendous homer, which shot between the left and the centre field. Robert Brown Albion 1, A.B.L. Suburbs 0 Albion’s failure to effectively score runs was a direct result of the 15 fly-balls it hit. Albion’s lead-off, Linda O’Cain, gave the side a promising start at the top of the first when she drove to centrefield and was sacrificed to

second by Janene Gould. However, the next two batters flied out leaving O’Cain stranded. .- Suburbs had Albion in bother in the bottom of the second frame when both Donna Roberts and Robyn Tait made base, but tight fielding enabled Albion to pick the lead runners off. Albion 1 went three-up, three-down in its next three turns at bat — only one ball in these three innings was fielded on the ground. In the top of the fifth Albion had a chance of scoring when it got Karen Pimm and Penny Salton on base. However, there were two down and yet another fly ball retired the side.

Suburbs fought gamely in the bottom of the fifth to break the deadlock but it was to no avail as Albion’s field again held. Then at the top of the sixth the break finally came for Albion.

P W L F A Pt Burnside 4 4 - 35 8 8 Albion 4 3 1 20' 9 6 Suburbs 4 1 3 12 22 2 Monowai 4 - 4 6 38