Canterbury, NZ - Papanui Tigers chasing chance at breaking 40-year softball title drought
Former Black Sox slugger Thomas Makea hit a three-run home run to help Papanui qualify for the Canterbury men's softball grand final series.
Flared trousers were in fashion, Starksy and Hutch was on TV and Rob Muldoon was prime minister when the Papanui Tigers last won the Canterbury men's softball title in the mid 1970s.
But Colin Sutherland's team now have their best shot at breaking a 40-year drought stretching back to 1976.
Papanui have finished as top qualifiers for the best-of-three grand final series against Canterbury and New Zealand champions Albion next Saturday.
The Tigers clinched their place with a couple of important wins at the weekend.
Thomas Makea and son Reilly starred with the bat in Papanui's 9-0 victory over the PCU Devils on Saturday.
Both Thomas Makea and his Junior Black Sox charge Jackson Watt smashed three-run home runs while Reilly Makea went three from three for a perfect 1.000 average after a double, a triple and a single.
Papanui pitcher Ben Watts held PCU to four hits.
His pitching colleague Ethan Johnston struck out eight Albion hitters in a 7-1 win over Albion on Sunday.
PCU hurler Ryan Britt threw a perfect game in PCU's 7-0 shutout of hapless Halswell, who ended the season without a win or a single bonus point. Britt struck out 12 batters and did not give up a safe hit or allow a runner on base. Curtis Dove hammered an automatic home run for PCU and Nopera Stockford doubled.
Britt also pitched PCU to a 4-1 win over Albion on Saturday, taking five strikeouts while holding the champions to four hits. PCU veterans Gareth Cook and Steve Ratu had two hits with Ratu smiting a brace of two-baggers.
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Papanui finished the round-robin competition with 63 points, two more than Albion.
The Papanui women will defend their title in the final series against Albion Cardinals after a double-header victory at Papanui Domain on Saturday.
Tessa Metuatini had two hits in Papanui's 2-1 win over Albion. She scored the first run and helped advance Steph Kepa, who notched the winner.
Canterbury Red Hawks outfielder Christina Paul blasted two triples in Papanui's 15-5 rout of Sydenham Kereru. Lauren Sutherland had three hits from three and Meg Glading two from two.
Krstyal Werahiko pitched a no-hitter and hit two three-baggers in Sydenham Kereru's 10-0 romp against Halswell.
The men's and women's finals series will be played at the Mainland Foundation Ballpark on Saturday with games at 10am, 1pm and 3pm.
Final competition points:
Men (after 21 games): Papanui 63, Albion 61, PCU 54, Halswell 0.
Women (after 21 games): Papanui 69, Albion 65, Halswell 32, Sydenham Kereru 19.
- Stuff
