Tough double-header

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 92

Tough double-header

United’s player-coach, Paul McFarlane, will be “more than happy” if the national league team can pick up a win each day in its Lion Red Series softball double-headers at Cuthberts Green this week-end.

On paper at least this looks to be the Canterbury team’s toughest week-end in the double round-robin competition with a double-header against Auckland Marist today and another with the Birkenhead (North Harbour) tomorrow. Auckland Marist, winner of the Lion Red gauntlet last summer, boasts five of New Zealand’s 1988 world series

team on its roster, including the formidable pitching duo of Chubb Tangaroa and Steve Jackson and the great second base, Eddie Kohlhase. Birkenhead also made the top-four play-offs in the 12-team league last year and the big-hitting Americans, Danny Di Marzio and Mitch Munthe, are among the danger men in its team.

For all that United, with only two wins from six games so far, will be approaching the games with a positive attitude. The motivational skills of its long-time catcher and captain, Tony Mountford, have helped psych up the players, in both games

United will attack and try to get runs in the scorebook early on. The Canadian, Mike Ash, who threw well in* the second game against Fraser Tech (Waikato) last week-end will probably be the starting pitcher this time. Points table

P W L F A Pt Auck. Utd 6 5 1 30 5 10 Ak. Marist 6 5 1 26' 6 10 H.V. Marist 6 5 1 20 12 10 P-K 6 4 2 24 31 8 Bucks 6 3 3 11 14 6 Birk’head 6 3 3 16 22 6 Cardinals 6 3 3 18 27 6 United 6 2 4 20 20 4 Fraser 6 2 4 15 20 4 Hutt City 6 2 4 7 17 ’ 4 Miramar 6 1 5 16 21 2 Ramblers 6 1 5 23 31 2