29 January 2007 Fastpitch softball results from Auckland
Fastpitch softball: United club's 44th Vic Guth Memorial series, Mangere.
Results: Round robin: United 6 Otahuhu 2, United 6 Richmond 5,
Northcote 6 Waitakere Bears 1, Northcote 13 Glenora 1, Richmond
(Christchurch) 12 Otahuhu 0, Poneke Kilbirnie (Wellington) 10 Otahuhu
0, Metro 14 Bears 3, PK 6 Ramblers 2, Ramblers 11 Marist 4, United 5
Northcote 4, Marist 10 Glenora 5, Richmond 12 Otahuhu 0, Ramblers 6
Richmond 3, Ramblers 9 Metro 5, Richmond 2 Northcote 1, Bears 15
Glenora 0, Otahuhu 3 Bears 1, Metro 4 Northcote 1, PK 3 Marist 2,
Ramblers 14 Northcote 4, PK 13 Metro 1, Otahuhu 2 Glenora 1, Ramblers
12 Bears 3, PK 4 Bears 3, Richmond 1 Marist 0, United 5 Glenora 3, PK
10 United 0, Marist 6 Otahuhu 2, Richmond 7 Metro 6. Other Monday
matches were wiped out.
Semifinals: Poneke Kilbirnie (Wellington) 5 Richmond (Christchurch) 4
(tiebreaker).
Final: Mt Albert Ramblers 4 PK 3.
Twin power batters Nathan Nukunuku and Donny Hale inspired
Ramblers to take the 44th annual Vic Guth Memorial series at Mangere
yesterday in a close-fought final with old rivals Poneke-Kilbirnie
(Wellington).
Each hit a home run in the 4-3 win after leading the side to a
record-breaking 40 home run tally in just nine games. Japanese
pitcher Kengo Tenui pinned the visitors down to five hits, including
a home run to Les Poutama which tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning.
PK fielded brilliantly throughout, cancelling out five Ramblers'
chances as the title-holder took chances between the bases, most of
which faltered under pressure.
Ramblers downed local rival and host club United with an 10-4
batting epic in the semifinal, with one inning producing eight runs,
including home runs to Hale and Nukunuku, as well as Lawrence Naera.
Hale then hit another home run to clinch the game. United had one big
inning but wilted under the batting onslaught.
PK headed off Christchurch side Richmond in the other semifinal,
taking the match 5-4 in the tiebreaker. Each side built their runs
conventionally, compared with Ramblers' rocket blast technique.
Once again it was Poutama's batting which swung the game.
Ramblers' captain Lyndon Andrew was cautious about his side's
performance. "We will get better and better as the tournaments come
along," he said, anticipating another busy weekend with the coming
Marist Brother Patrick Memorial series over five days this weekend.
Ramblers is aiming to regain the national club title it relinquished
last season.
Top batter was Isaac Fletcher (United) who batted .843 in pool play
and .750 overall, which was an amazing feat.
Top pitcher was Tenui.
Hale led the RBI total with 13 and tied the home run battle with
Nukunuku, each on seven.
Nukunuku and Michael Cameron (Ramblers) stole three bases each and
Dave Metekingi (PK) was the MVP.
The tournament was sponsored by ASICS and Easton
vanf@ihug.co.nz
