Auckland complete second successive softball title double

February 21, 2016

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ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith

 

Auckland has completed the national softball double for the second consecutive year with their men's and women's teams retaining their titles.

 

Auckland's Ancelle van Molendorff slides into third base ahead of Hutt Valley catcher Melanie Gettins' flying tag attempt. Auckland beat Hutt Valley 2-0 in the National Fastpitch Championships' women's final in Christchurch.

Husband and wife Nathan and Katrina Nukunuku - captain of the New Zealand Black Sox and White Sox national teams - played pivotal roles in Auckland's twin triumphs in the National Fastpitch Championships finals in Christchurch on Sunday.

Nathan, the Auckland men's player-coach, slugged an automatic run, a stand-up double, an infield single and a Texas leaguer a perfect 1.000 average in their 5-2 victory over Hutt Valley to pick up the tournament MVP award.

 Katrina's bat played a major part in Auckland nailing their fourth women's softball title in five years.

 

Happy Auckland players celebrate their second consecutive national women's softball title success after a 2-0 win over Hutt Valley in the National Fastpitch Championship grand final in Christchurch.

READ MORE: Auckland on course for double titles

The Auckland captain clouted two safe hits in the 2-0 grand final win over Hutt Valley.

She joked that the Auckland women "set the standard for the guys because we play our final first".

 

Nathan Nukunuku said Auckland softball's sustained success was due to the province "blooding some talented kids" through the age-group teams into the senior ranks.

He said some of Auckland's younger players, notably outfielders Campbell Enoka and Alfons Oveinikovas, "had great tournaments" and were potential MPV candidates.

But just as the tournament officials were set to announce the individual awards, Nukunuku said he "quipped to the guys that 'I think I just stole your MVP'.".

But he said Auckland's success was a true team effort with Canadian import Kyle Linton and Thomas Enoka forced to shoulder most of the pitching burden after a first-day  injury to Bailey Pearson-Hoani.

Nukunuku said Auckland had to dig deep in the final against a Hutt Valley side that brought in some momentum after a 8-4 comeback win over Canterbury.

Black Sox pitcher Nik Hayes, who racked up 10 strikeouts for Hutt Valley, was firing on the mound and held Auckland scoreless for the first four innings.

"Then wily old Craig Wallace, my old mate [from the 1997 Junior Black Sox team[ got that two-run shot over the fence [in the bottom of the fourth]."

Nukunuku knew Auckland needed a big inning at that point. Nik [Hayes] with a lead is tough... he's tough at any time. But experienced heads prevailed."

Thomas Enoka and Oveinikovas both drove in two runs to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-0 lead, helped in part when the umpires ruled out the second leg of a home plate-first base double by the Hutt Valley infield.

Nukunuku added the insurance run with a solo shot homer over rightfield in the seventh and Enoka, the pitching closer, struck out four Hutt hitters.

Women's final

Auckland women's coach Venita Hokai said her side's title was the culminatin of a consistent week. "Our girls hit really well all tournament. They had a lot on the line with the selection of the White Sox coming up [on Wednesday], so they were out to prove a few things."

Katrina Nukunuku's two safe hits were important for Auckland in the final, but Hokai also had praise for her pitching staff. She started young White Sox pitcher Pania Monk, who gave up just one hit in three innings, to the first batter she faced, Yvonne Burgess.

"the plan was for Pania to face nine hitters, but in the end she went 10 02 11 and then we'd bring in Sammi Parks to upset their timing. If we had to, we could have brought on [White Sox pitcher] Jennifer Feret as well, but I thought Sammi was going well."

Parks closed out the final and picked up awards for the tournament's top batter and MVP. Young outfielders Ancelle van Molendorff and Gillian Wills were others to impress for Auckland.

Semifinals

A seven-run sixth inning spree earned Hutt Valley a stirring comeback victory over Canterbury and a place in the NFC men's final.

Hutt Valley were trailing 3-1 on Sunday morning until their big inning, marked by a two-run automatic home run by catcher Cory Timu. Past and present Black Sox Josh Harbrow, Gareth Cook and Tyron Bartorillo had two hits each for Canterbury, but the Red Sox paid the price for leaving starting pitcher Ethan Johnston on too long.

The Hutt Valley women's team qualified for the final with Auckland after thrashing Counties Manukau-Waikato, 13-0, in five innings.

Results

Men

Playoffs: Auckland 6 Canterbury 1,  Hutt Valley 6 Wellington 1, North Harbour 7 Counties Manukau-Waikato 0. Semifinal: Hutt Valley 8 Canterbury 4. Final:  Auckland 5 Hutt Valley 2. Final placings: Auckland 1, Hutt Valley 2, Canterbury 3, Wellington 4, Southern Pride 5, North Harbour 6, Counties Manukau-Waikato 7.

Awards: Top batter: Campbell Makea (Wellington). Top pitcher: Nik Hayes (Hutt Valley). MVP: Nathan Nukunuku (Auckland). 

Women

Playoffs: Auckland 7 Hutt Valley 2, Counties Manukau-Waikato 9 Canterbury 2, Southern Pride 12 Wellington 1. Semifinal: Hutt Valley 13 Counties Manukau-Waikato 0 (5 innings). Final: Auckland 2 Hutt Valley 0. Final placings: Auckland 1, Hutt Valley 2, Counties Manukau-Waikato 3, Canterbury 4, Southern Pride 5, Wellington 6.

Awards: Top batter and MVP: Samantha Parks (Auckland). Top pitcher: Jennifer Feret (Auckland).

 - Stuff