Auckland softballers supreme

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 21

Auckland softballers supreme

DANAE GOOSMAN

in Palmerston North The Auckland women’s softball team collected its third consecutive national title with a 5-4 trouncing of Hutt Valley in the Rothmans inter-provincial championship at Palmerston North yesterday. There was little doubt that the Auckland side was a deserved winner as it is by far the most complete softball combination in New Zealand. Auckland bats with power and authority, while its field is a well drilled machine. Gina Weber pitched the final and finished the tournament without conceding an earned run. Hutt Valley had the better of the game for the first four innings, outbatting Auckland four hits to one,

but then the Auckland batters exploded into action. The lead-off batter, Lesley King, blasted a left-field double then the designated hitter, Donna Ewe, was deliberately walked. Gay Tiplady also picked up an unintentional walk to load the bases. Hutt Valley’s pitcher, Debbie Fitzhume, struck out the next batter, but then had the daunting task of facing Auckland’s top order. Karen Mills brought in King with a centre-field drive. The talented, young Fiona Timu then cleared the bases with a drive to left field, which was errored, to give Auckland a 4-4 lead and have Timu on third. Nardi Clarke, Auckland’s captain, justly brought Timu in with a left-field hit to give her side a comfortable margin.

Hutt Valley went through the motions in its next two turns at bat as it went threeup, three-down to put little pressure on the Auckland field. Hutt Valley put Canterbury out of contention on Saturday with a thrilling 3-2 victory. Canterbury was trailing, •- 2, going into the top of the seventh innings when Jane Earnshaw and Anita Perreau tied the match. It was heartbreak time for Canterbury when an outfield error handed Hutt Valley the game to leave Canterbury a disappointing fourth in the championship. Southland won the Gibson Cup (division two) after its 3-2 win over Manawatu while Bay of Plenty picked up the Merewether Cup (division three). Auckland’s Karen Mills

was named the most valuable tournament player and also collected the batting trophy for the Rothmans section with an excellent .521 average. As no New Zealand team is competing this year a tournament team was named and the only Canterbury representative to make this side was Jane Earnshaw. The team is: Pitchers: Gina Weber (Auckland), Lovey Waitoa (Wellington). Catchers: Lesley Monk (Wellington), Lesley King (Auckland). Infielders: Fiona Timu, Nardi Clarke (Auckland); Rhonda Hira, Lorraine Claydon (Hutt VaHey); Charmaine Pankhurst (Southland). Outfielders: Karen Mills (Auckland), Jane Earnshaw (Canterbury), Gabrielle Sparks (Southland).