Results from NZCT National League - week 1 men & women
January 21, 2007
Christchurch, NZ
Wellington unbeaten in men’s National League
Sunday January 21st 2007
Wellington has blasted their way to an unbeaten record after the openingweekend of the New Zealand Community Trust Men’s National League atCanterbury Foundation Park, Christchurch.
The team from the capital have been on fire with the bat inrecording five wins, 10-5 against Southern Pride, 4-0 over North Harbour,7-4 against the Canterbury Red Sox, 9-5 over Auckland and 10-3 againstnear neighbours Hut Valley.
Wellington’s biggest test came on Saturday night when they took on homeside the Canterbury Red Sox. While the score line of 7-4 looks convincingit was a close run thing with the game actually going to a tie breakerbefore Wellington came out on top.
Against the Red Sox Wellington scored early with Fabian Makea crossingthe plate in the second inning and then they added one more in the thirdwhen Fabian’s brother Thomas scored after originally getting on base viaa walk.
Down by two runs the home team struck back in the bottom of the thirdinning scoring one run through Paul Delatour and then they took the leadin the fifth inning when both Steve McFarlane and Gareth Cook scored.
In the top of the seventh inning the Canterbury Red Sox were actually oneout away from taking the game however Wellington catcher Stephen Ratustepped up to the plate and smashed the ball over the left field fence totie up the scores and send the game into extra innings.
In the tie breaker inning Wellington were clinical as they scored the goahead run and then added another three via a hit from the bat of DaveBishop and by applying pressure. The Red Sox pulled one run back in thebottom of the eighth inning but it wasn’t enough for them to claim thevictory.
Wellington coach Les Bishop was a satisfied man after the first weekendof games but was also aware of the need to continue the form in thesecond round of the league next month.
“The whole team batted really well this weekend but it is going to beharder next time around because all the other team have seen us now andthey will be better prepared,” said Bishop.
While Wellington have been impressive with the bat a lot of credit forthe winning run must go to pitcher Craig Gibson who has carried themajority of the work load over the weekend.
Wellington went to Christchurch with two pitchers but in the first gamepitcher Tane Richardson suffered an injury leaving Gibson on the moundfor the remaining four games of the weekend.
Bishop says the performance from Gibson has been outstanding whenconsidering that the modern men’s game is dominated by hitting.
“Craig pitched the last four games and has had a huge work load, it is ahitter’s game right now and it is a tough job for pitchers to shut theopposition down”, said Bishop.
Joining Wellington near to the top of the points table are Aucklandand Hutt Valley who both have a three win one loss record. Itis a different story at the other end of the table where the defendingchampions North Harbour have had a forgettable weekend claiming just thewon win 8-3 over Southern Pride.
New Zealand Community Trust Men’s National League Results SundayJanuary 21st:
Auckland 9 Southern Pride 2, Wellington 4 North Harbour 0, Hut Valley 5Canterbury Red Sox 4, Wellington 10 Southern Pride 5, Auckland 4Canterbury Red Sox 1, North Harbour 4 Hutt Valley 3.
Saturday January 20th:
Auckland 7 North Harbour 3, Hutt Valley 3 Southern Pride 2, CanterburyRed Sox 8 Southern Pride 0, Wellington 10 Hutt Valley 3, Canterbury RedSox 15 North Harbour 10, Wellington 9 Auckland 5, North Harbour 8Southern Pride 3, Hutt Valley 2 Auckland 1 (tie breaker), Wellington 7Canterbury Red Sox 4.
Points Table (after week one)
Team GamesPlayed Won Lost BP1 BP2 Total
Wellington 5 5 0 - - 25
Auckland 5 3 2 1 - 17
Hutt Valley 5 3 2 - 1 16
Canterbury RedSox5 2 3 1 1 13
NorthHarbour 5 2 3 - - 10
SouthernPride 5 0 5 - - 1
*BP 1 = Bonus point one represents two points awarded when a team loses agame in tie breaker.
*BP 2 = Bonus point two represents one point awarded when a team lossesby two runs or less where the losing team has scored a minimum of onerun.
* Note: Five points are awarded for a win.
Hutt Valley women on top despite first loss
Sunday January 21st 2007
By snatching a loss from the jaws of victory this morning in the NewZealand Community Trust Women’s National League the Hutt Valley team havegiven their coach Naomi Shaw a few points to work on at training thisweek.
Hutt Valley went into this morning’s game at Norana Ballpark, Aucklandagainst the Canterbury Red Sox unbeaten after three wins yesterday andthey looked on track to continue that winning run against the Red Soxwhen they jumped to a 7-0 lead after their first at bat.
However after starting the game so strongly Hutt Valley then took thefoot off the pedal and allowed the Red Sox back into the game and aseventh inning fight back saw them take the game 8-7.
Hutt Valley coach Naomi Shaw was disappointed with her sides drop inintensity against the Red Sox believing her side was experienced enoughto shut the game out and take the win.
“We wanted to go through this weekend unbeaten and the loss againstCanterbury shows what can happen when you take your foot off the pedal.We could have and should have done better but it has given us somethingto work on at training,” said Shaw.
Turning the defeat into a positive Shaw says a loss at the right time canbe good for a team and she is confident this morning’s result will act asa wake up call to her players.
The Red Hawks were desperate for the win this morning after somedisappointing results on the first day left them with only one win fromthree games. After a horror first inning in the field for the Red Hawkswhen they conceded seven runs with pitcher Ali Arnold giving up four hitsand three walks it appeared the forgettable weekend for the Canterburyteam was going to continue however they showed real resolve to get backinto the game.
In the bottom of the first inning Red Hawks lead off hitter Melanie Hulmepicked up a home run to the left field fence and then two more runes wereadded in the third inning and one more in the fifth.
Going into the bottom of the seventh inning Hutt Valley held a 7-4advantage but some strong hitting and errors in the Hutt Valley fieldingsaw the Red Hawks come back to take the unlikely victory.
The winning runs came off the bat of Emma Frost who with the scores leveland two runners on base hit a triple to left field to snatch the 8-7victory and get the Red Hawks NZCT National League campaign back ontrack.
Following the loss Hutt Valley were straight back on the diamond tofinish their weekend of games and they were far more convincing againstCentral Vikings as they took the win comfortably 8-1 in five innings.
Shaw says a real strength of her side is hitting and it was shown overthe weekend with some big score lines with Hutt Valley scoring 50 runs infive games while conceding just 12.
“Cindy Potae was on fire with the bat this weekend and with a middlehitting order including Zavana Aranga, Kiri Shaw and Sheree Cartwrightall hitting so well it can make it difficult choice of who to put where,”said Shaw.
Defending champions Auckland have started their title defence stronglyand following the first weekend of play have a four win one loss record.Auckland’s only loss came against Hutt Valley 9-3 on Saturdaynight.
New Zealand Community Trust Women’s National League Results SundayJanuary 21st:
Wellington 14 Central Vikings 2, Canterbury Red Hawks 8 Hutt Valley 7,Auckland 11 Southern Pride 1, Hutt Valley 8 Central Vikings 1, Canterbury10 Southern Pride 1, Auckland 8 Wellington 1.
Saturday January 20th:
Canterbury Red Hawks 2 Wellington 0, Central Vikings 3 Southern Pride 2,Hutt Valley 15 Southern Pride 0, Auckland 10 Central Vikings 1, HuttValley 11 Wellington 0, Auckland 7 Canterbury Red Hawks 0, CentralVikings 1 Canterbury Red Hawks 0, Wellington 9 Southern Pride 1.
Points Table (after week one)
Team GamesPlayed Won Lost BP1 BP2 Total
HuttValley 5 4 1 - 1 21
Auckland 5 4 1 - - 20
Canterbury 5 3 2 - - 15
Red Hawks
Wellington 5 2 3 - - 10
CentralVikings 5 2 3 - - 10
SouthernPride 5 0 5 - 1 1
*BP 1 = Bonus point one represents two points awarded when a team loses agame in tie breaker.
*BP 2 = Bonus point two represents one point awarded when a team lossesby two runs or less where the losing team has scored a minimum of onerun.
* Note: Five points are awarded for a win
By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
* mailto:kelly.mitchell@xtra.co.nz
http://www.softball.org.nz/
*mailto:snz@softball.org.nz
Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* mailto:vanf@ihug.co.nz
