Improvement needed to test leading teams

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 38

Improvement needed to test leading teams

By

DANAE GOOSMAN

Robert Brown Albion will represent Canterbury for the seventh consecutive season at the national Pan-Am inter-club softball championships which start at Fraser Park, Lower Hutt, today. The team has a proud record at the tournament. It has won the title twice and had a second and third placing in the other three outings.

This season Albion has been pushed hard by its old rival, Bumside. Bumside must be wondering what it has to do to qualify for this prestigious tournament. In recent weeks Albion’s performances, especially with the bat, have been mediocre. If Albion is to be a threat it will need to improve dramatically in this department. The team, while not containing many power batters, has the ability to build runs. However, its batters will need to display a great deal more discipline than has been demonstrated in recent games.

Far too many of Albion’s batters have been swinging at balls outside the strike zone with the inevitable consequence of flying out and loss of power. The other facet of play which requires attention is the sacrifice bunting.

Defensively the side is as strong as any in the country, but it must maintain high levels of concentration throughout. While errors do not occur too frequently in the field it is the errors of judgment which must be eradicated.

In many respects the team has had an ideal build-up since the New Year. It has met Burnside on four occasions, competed in a demanding one day tournament in Timaru, and played Jim Beam Technical from Ashburton, a team Albion

will meet at the championships. Success for the team will largely depend on the performance of its player coach, Cheryl Kemp, on the mound. Ideally Kemp will be looking for her team to bat effectively against the "weaker” sides, allowing young Karen Pimm to pitch.

The catcher, Penny Salton, has had an excellent season behind the plate, while her batting lately has been authoritative, especially with base runners on.

Much will he expected with the bat of the outfielders, Lynda O’Cain and Trina Whittaker, the first base, Chris Tew, and the second base Natalie Hazelwood. This quartet is the strength of Albion’s line-up and must perform to keep Albion in the hunt.

Nicky Hudson is another strong batter but has difficulty at times against speed. If Hudson can produce against the likes of Debbie Mygiend (Metro), Gina Weber (Island Bay) and Lovey Waitoa (Whakatu Lions) it will certainly alleviate some of the batting pressure.

The utilities, Vicky Upton, Kim Hook and the promising Wendy Hughes are capable with the bat and will undoubtedly be given every opportunity by Kemp to force their way into the top nine. The other two in the team are Janene Gould and Sharron Constable. Both players are strong in the field but at times lack penetration with the bat. The side has a comfortable draw. It will ease into the hard matches. On the first day Albion plays Celtex (Manawatu) and Jim Beam Technical,

both matches it should win.

On the second day Albion meets Metro (Auckland) and Melville (Waikato). The later match should riot prove too difficult. Metro though, has a powerful batting line-up and the New Zealand representative, Mygiend on the mound.

Friday will be the real test of Albion’s ability and character when it plays Island Bay (Wellington) and the current titleholder, Whakatu Lions (Hawke’s Bay). If Albion can get through this day unscathed, and having beaten Metro, it has every chance of winning the title. It meets Totara Park (Hutt Valley) on the last day.

It is the first time Totara Park has represented the Valley and will have the advantage of a home crowd. Albion beat Totara at a tournament earlier this season and there is nothing to indicate the outcome should not be the same this week. For Albion to win the title it will need to graft for every run, work witti dedication and application in the field, and rely on the team spirit which has been evident in the side for several reasons.