Marist clinches softball title

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 44

Marist clinches softball title

PA Wellington A grand final eventuated at the Cowans 10,000 Softball Classic yesterday when Auckland Marist twice defeated frontrunners Auckland United to win the title. After an indifferent start to the tournament on Friday, and loosing, one life to Miramar on Saturday, Marist at last fulfilled its on-paper potential in its two clashes with United.

Marist first had to overcome Miramar (won 3-1) and Poneke Kllblrnle (won 2-nil) to win the right to contest the final. United went straight into the finals yesterday when beating Poneke Ki!birnie 3-2 to conclude an unbeaten run. A first-up win against Marist would have won it the title.

In a dour struggle dominated by the pitchers, the first final was all tied up nil-all going into the bottom of the seventh innings. * The Marist captain, Eddie Kohiase, got a safe hit away to make first base and with some clever running advanced to third. Dean Wally then struck fiercely, the ball rebounding off opposing pitcher Graham Robertson and bouncing away. Kohiase had plenty of time to cross home plate and score the matchclinching run. This victory gave Marist the upper hand going into the grand final with pitcher Steve Jackson thriving on the tenseness of the situation.

Marist also enjoyed a better success rate with the bat and was rewarded at the bottom of the fifth Innings when Roddy Fowler came home from third base off a Neil Howe hit.

This effectively wrapped up the title and the 16000 first prize.

Auckland United won $2500 as the runner-up, while Poneke-Kllbimie won $lOOO for third. The top pitcher award for the tournament went to Chubb Tangaroa (Auckland Marist); top batter to Mark Sorenson (Cardinals), and the most valuable player to Graham Robertson (Auckland United), who pitched unchanged throughout the tournament.