BASEBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 17

BASEBALL

KNOCK-OUT MATCHES KEEN PLAY WITNESSED JOHNS AND PIONEERS WIN Keen play marked all the matches in Hie third round ot tho Auckland Baseball Association's knock-out competition. The- winner in each came at Blandford Park was flattered by the final score. An improvement in the standard of play was noticeable. There was an attendance of about 300 spectators. Ilay Steele, the American professional wrestler, opened the pitching for Pioneers in the main attraction aiyiinst Cherry and demonstrated that he is no mean exponent of (ho game. The Cherry team, which is composed mostly of Japanese, revealed great speed and sound backing up. Cherry was weakened owing to its captain, Taiji, having an injured shoulder and being unable to pitch for his side. Pioneers took advantage of this and scored six runs in the first innings, but the next few innings found Cherry fighting back and even play resulted until the seventh and eighth innings, when, with the Cherry pitcher tiring, Pioneers forged ahead to win by 21—5. Some brilliant fielding was witnessed from Inoue, whose smart anticipation was responsible for the dismissal of several opponents. Taiji, in siiite of his injury, was very sound, while the catcher, Minami, had a good knowledge of tactics. Dell excelled for Pioneers, his fielding and returning to (lie basemen earning applause. Lamb as catcher also showed out in good play. In the first game between Johns and PanAmerican, the early innings found both sides evenly matched owing" to sound pitching by Leediiam for Pan-iAmerican and exceptional infielding by Johns. This state of affairs would probably have existed for the rest of the match and the scores would have been much smaller, but Pan-American changed ils pitcher. Johns maintained its close fielding, with Parsons as catcher demonstrating clever tactics-, and Pan-Americun could not score. Poor pitching enabled Johns to obtain several cheaii runs, but sound fielding prevented any home runs being recorded. The final score of 23 —3 in Johns' favour was not a fair criterion of the play. Mr. R. C. Blackwell umpired both games. . Keen games were witnessed sit the other grounds, where several new teams made an appearance. Following were the results of games on outside grounds:—Lucas, 10, North Shore Rugby B, 12; Richmond Racoons, 30, Y.M.C.A. B, 0; Johns B, 0, Eagles, 7; Suburbs A, (11, Wolverines, 15; Milne and Choyce, 9, Suburbs B, -1; North Shore A, 20, Pan-American B, 5. WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION An improved standard of play was witnessed in the games of the Auckland Women's Baseball Association held on the diamonds in the Outer Domain before a fair number of spectators. The A grade match between Greers and Silknit provided an even contest, the fielding of both sides being very good, while the general play provided many exciting moments before Greers gained a four-run lead, which it maintained to the end. Following were the results: — . A Grade.—Greers, 18, Silknit, 14; Swing A, '2O, Comrades, 7; Training College A, 8. Training College B, 5. B Grade.—Farmers' Trading Company, 16, Junior Blues, 10; Sevens. I<{, Swifts, 7; Farmers' Trading Company, 13, Swing B, 8.