Six left-handers chosen

Press, 1 December 1988, Page 44

Six left-handers chosen

By

TIM DUNBAR

As a pitcher himself the Canterbury men’s softball coach, Roger Keith, knows only too .well how awkward left-handed batters can be. “From my point of view they’re a bloody pain to pitch to. They seem to crowd that plate,” said Keith yesterday. < He therefore sees it as ya plus some people have overlooked that Canterbury has half-a-dozen/ batters who face the pitcher that way round. j The new coach did not have a lot of time to get together a representative squad for this week-end’s South Island men’s inter-provincial tournament for the Jefferies Cup in Christchurch. But the abilities of the batters he has selected are considerable. “I’m certainly pleased with the batting strength we’ve got,” Keith said, citing a nucleus of power batters and slap hitters. And lefthanded batters were, he said, an asset in any side. J Keith hopes to get through • this week-end all right with the existing pitching staff of Jimmy Hall, the inexperienced Steve Cate and, reluctantly, himself. ; The door has been left open for a strengthening of the pitching departmnt and it is no secret that Keith would dearly like to recruit Suburbs’ Canadian import, Rod Fewer, for the national tournament

in Invercargill from December 28. Keith said it would take pressure off the team in a number of areas if Fewer “did decide to help us.” A squad of 15 players is being taken into the Jefferies Cup with a question mark about the availability of the honeymooning first baseman, Paul Shannon. The home run specialist, Darren Rea, is otherwise committed to the Inter-Services tournament, but Keith hopes he will be available for the nationals. Keith says his No. 1 priority this week-end is to win the Jefferies Cup — Canterbury’s last success was back in 1984 — though it is very much a “dry run” for the national tournament. As coach he will be experimenting with players in different positions from usual, though hastening to add they had the ability to play elsewhere. The three-day tournament will begin at Cuthberts Green tomorrow with Marlborough playing South Canterbury in the early game and then Canterbury clashing with the Jefferies Cup holder and top seed, Nelson, under lights at 8.15 p.m. Although of the opinion that Canterbury has struck the tougher of the two sections (each of six teams) Keith said he thought it was “good for what I want to achieve on the week-end.” Along with Nelson, Canterbury has Otago and Mid-Canterbury in its section, as well as the lesser lights, North Otago and Buller.

In section B are south canterbury, Southland, Marlborough, East Southland, Central Otago and West Coast. Playing Nelson first on the Friday evening does not perturb the Canterbury pitcher-coach. He appreciates the time slot with the atmosphere of the No. 1 (enclosed) diamond and the cool of an evening instead of the heat of the day. One problem is deciding just which players to start with. Keith is not used to having as many as 14 or 15 men to call upon who can all move the ball. As Canterbury captain for the first time Hall will no doubt be hoping to extend his birthday celebrations an extra three days. He turned 26 yesterday. Section play will end on Saturday evening with semi-finals on Sunday morning and the final scheduled for 2.15 p.m. in the afternoon. ■Meanwhile Hotel Russley has been announced as the new sponsor for the Canterbury men’s team, taking in both the Jefferies Cup tournament and the Winfield nationals. Hotel Russley is in its third season as sponsor of the Bumside premier men’s club team. The team for the Jefferies Cup is: Pitchers: Jimmy Hall, Roger Keith, Steve Cate. Catchers: Simon Heath, Errol Byrne. Infielders: Paul Shannon (if available), Dean Taikato, Murray Lanini, Brett Seaward, Aaron Flynn, Chris Gray. Outfielders: Dion Kerr, Dennis Wiersma, Neil Stuart, Wayne Durey.