Softball Burnside thwarted in comeback

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 21

Softball Burnside thwarted in comeback

Burnside was unable to avenge its pre-Christmas losses to Albion when the teams met again in the premier women’s softball at Hagley Park on Saturday. The reigning champion was not prepared to lose its hardwon position and it thwarted several Burnside scoring attempts to take the game 2-1. For Burnside it was a disappointing game, with lapses in communication and an inability to take advantage of scoring opportunities. In Saturday’s earlier game, Papanui held off a determined Monowai to win 5-3 and to place Monowai at the bottom of the premier points table.

Papanui 5, Monowai 3 After a spate of early scoring, both teams had to work hard to get runs in the first game of the day. Although Papanui started positively, with the first three batters, Debbie Chase, Karen Mills and Leonie Bloxham, crossing the plate, its game was characterised by lost opportunities. The first chance came in the third innings after Karen Mills had already hit a home run and Papanui spirits were high. Lee Glasson and Ra Hapi added to the confident mood and were poised on base ready to add more to Papanui’s score. With one down, the home plate proved to be elusive though, and

Monowai short stop Margaret Machirus ruined Papanui’s chances by catching the next two batters out.

It was in the sixth innings however, that Papanui really looked set to charge ahead. Nicki Fleming, batting for Leslie Buckingham, began the crusade by taking advantage of a Machirus fumble to make it to first base. Lisa Nuku made a sacrifice bunt to send Fleming to second and the latter stole to third while Lyndall McMeeking was extracting a walk from Monowai pitcher Chari McClean.

Fleming finally crossed the plate amid fumbling fielders to bring Papanui’s score to five. Meanwhile McMeeking was still on base, to be followed by Karen Calder who hit a nice drive to the centre outfield.

Karen Mills then got a walk and bases were loaded when Bloxham came up to bat. Papanui’s second chance to capitalise on an ideal position collapsed once again as Bloxham got out on first base. Monowai’s fielding gave Papanui the opportunities to score, but at the vital moments it was able to perform without error. Pitcher McClean lacked confidence, to give away five walks, often when she was under pressure. Machirus was consistent at shortstop but the remainder of the team had patches of lethargy in its fielding. Papanui’s fielding was more efficient, helped by steady pitching from Bloxham. It couldn’t stop Monowai from scoring, how-

ever, and in the first innings the lower ranked team showed what it was capable of.

The experienced Machirus crossed the plate first for Monowai after driving the ball to the left outfield. She was helped around the bases by another outfield drive from Tanya Hollander. A hit to the right outfield from Chris Tweedie got Machirus home on a fielder’s error and enabled Hollander to cross the plate on fielder’s choice. Papanui’s fielding tightened up after Monowai’s demonstration of teamwork and it was three up three down until the fifth innings.

In the fifth, Tania Wilson sprinted to first while Papanui’s fielders were deciding who should take her infield hit. Wilson then had an easy journey home courtesy of Lyn Tasker who powered a huge three bagger into the left outfield. The chance to score didn’t come again for Monowai whose optimistic hitting was stopped by the gloves- of Chase, Nuku and Mills in the sixth and seventh innings. Albion 2, Burnside 1 The atmosphere was tense at Hagley Park when longtime rivals Burnside and Albion met on Saturday. Albion, with the psychological advantage of two wins over Burnside before Christmas needed to prove that those wins were not just lucky. Burnside wanted to avenge those losses and reassert the dominance it once held over Albion.

In spite of the skill it has

shown in games against other sides, Burnside seemed to lack spark on Saturday. Its pitcher, Chris John, was not in form in the first innings, giving a walk to Natalie Hazelwood, and it was only the quick responses of Nancy Bulmer and Chris Kellam that prevented the first two batters getting to first base. Albion’s field was more aggressive with pitcher Cheryl Kemp striking the first two batters out. The third Bumside batter, Canadian Nancy Bulmer, had no difficulty hitting Kemp’s balls though, and sent a drive to the left outfield which was caught by Linda O’Cain. Kellam, always reliable for Burnside, was instrumental in getting the first three batters out in the second innings and by the third John was pitching more efficiently, to strike the first batter out. The next two batters quickly followed due to the strong arms of Bulmer and Anita Perreau. Kemp’s pitching slowed down in the second innings and Burnside was able to get bat to ball. Donna Ward was the first on base after hitting a calculated drive between fielders. A sacrifice bunt from Perreau helped her to second but the next two batters couldn’t send her any further. Two Burnside batters were struck out by Kemp in the third innings and a big hit from Kellam was caught on the run by Trina Whittaker in the centre outfield. At the top of the fourth innings neither team had come close to scoring and

players were becoming keyed up. It was at this stage that Albion took advantage of nervousness in the Bumside field. Penny Salton, back after an injury break, made the first move for Albion, hitting a ball past Jane Earnshaw in the outfield to get to first base. She stole to second and then slid to third while Kemp was batting. Kemp got to first on an infield hit, although play was stopped after Burnside protested that she hadn’t tried to avoid the ball when she collided with it on the way to first. Trina Whittaker, the next to bat, was out on first base but Helen Townsend, fielder on first, made a rare error and overthrew back to catcher Raylene Forde allowing both Salton and Kemp home.

Bumside tried to answer back at the bottom of the fourth innings and the experienced Robyn Storer showed she wasn’t affected by the pressure as she hit a threebagger which was uncharacteristically dropped in the outfield by O’Cain.

Bulmer, the next to bat, made a safe bounding hit and Bumside was in an ideal position to come back. It was here though that a misunderstanding occurred, resulting in Bulmer being tagged stealing to second. Bulmer made the dangerous move in order to distract the Albion field and allow Storer home, but Storer didn't run and the pressure on Albion was lifted a little.

Kemp walked Ward to first

and she stole to second. Bumside was still in with a chance to equalise when Salton, urged on by Kemp, caught a foul from Perreau. With Salton back as catcher Albion’s confidence was visible and the next Burnside batter was caught by Chris Tew. The jaded Burnside was quickly dispatched with in the next Innings and its players appeared to feel a loss was inevitable. Storer was an exception, however, and she came back in the sixth to hit a homer off one of Kemp’s changers. Bulmer, also unaffected by the pressure, got to first and worked her way round the bases withhelp from Ward. Another ran was not to be though and the next batters couldn’t send Bulmer home. Albion did not look dangerous again and Burnside’s fielders dealt efficiently with any hits that came their way. Bulmer took a difficult running catch in the seventh while Earnshaw, Perreau, Ward and Kellam also performed well. Albion was determined not to give Bumside any more chances in the seventh and the despondant greens were unable to get a batter on base. The win justified Albion’s representation of Canterbury at the inter-club nationals in March. With Salton back as catcher they are whole again and even more confident. Burnside has been unlucky in its clashes with Albion and Saturday’s game was no exception — it got five safe hits compared to Albion’s three and still did not equalise.

Points table: L F A Pt P W Albion 3 3 0 15 4 6 B'side 3 2 1 15 1 4 Pap. 3 1 2 5 11 2 Mnwai 3 0 3 6 24 0