Auckland & Wellington local club competition results
February 11, 2007
Auckland, NZ
Auckland fastpitch softball results - 10th Feb 2007
Waitakere Bears thrashed a pitcher-depleted United 14-0 at Henderson to sneak into the coveted third spot, ready to challenge Northcote for one of the two automatic spots on finals’ weekend.
Heinie Shannon, also a big batter and steadying influence on the side, was at home attending an ill relative.
His twin brother Patrick Shannon hit a three-run homer in the final inning as United’s defence crumbled after trailing by four runs throughout the game. Substitute pitcher Thomas Enoka had done well until then but his side’s game was ended under the mercy rule.
Marist, determined to head off the rivals for the fifthspot, took until the tiebreaker to down Te Atatu Roosters, sparked byin-form Carlaus Te Kawa’s seventh inning home run which put Marist backinto the game after trailing from the first turn. Te Kawa has been in sensational form all season and has forced himself back into the Auckland national league squad.
It was a rollicking game, with runs in every inning, and one of the few to go the full seven innings plus tiebreaker this season.Jamie Love was the winning pitcher with Greg Anderson conceding fewerhits for Roosters.
Marist is in a race with Otahuhu, Howick and Roosters forthe minor spots in the preliminary playoffs and the win was a key to theside’s future.
Otahuhu, keen to show the continued improvements which haveimpressed all watchers in the two recent cash series, was one minute fromtaking the field against Metro when a 70 minute thunderstorm drove everyone indoors and the game was wiped.
Metro was keen to keep in the second-place race and now faces matches against Bears and Ramblers at home next Saturday. It is make or break day for Bears and Metro with Northcote steaming along insecond position. Ramblers cannot be headed off for the minor premiershipand did not have a scheduled game.
Meanwhile international star Brad Rona and national captain Jarrad Martin batted strongly to lead Northcote to a 7-0 win over Howickto stay second to runaway leader Ramblers. Martin also hit a triple inthe fifth with Michael Boaler hitting a home run to score three in thesecond turn.
In the women’s section, Northcote continued the charge atthe top with two solid wins over Howick while Marist’s second placetussle with Waitakere Bears continues. There will be plenty of catch-upgames for both teams as the women move toward the finals’weekend.
Saturday 10 February
Men: Northcote 7 Howick 0, Marist 7 Te Atatu Roosters 6 tiebreaker, Metrov Otahuhu washed out, Waitakere Bears 14 United 0.
Points: Ramblers 32 (2 games to play), Northcote 24 (1), Bears 20 (6),United 20 (3), Metro 20 (3), Howick 10 (5), Marist 10 (4), Otahuhu 6 (6),Roosters 6 (2), Glenora 0 (3).
Women: Marist 12 Otahuhu 0, Northcote 9 Howick 2, Northcote 12 Howick 2.
Points: Northcote 32 (7 to play), Bears 22 (7), Marist 20 (8), Howick 4(9), Otahuhu 4 (9).
Wellington Men's Competition - 10th Feb 2007
Miramar have a four point lead in the Wellington Men's competition after two rounds of games played over the weekend. With a 9-2 win over Poneke Kilbirnie on Saturday and a huge 19-0 win over Johnsonville infive innings yesterday Miramar are in a great position to regain the Wellington championship from Porirua City United.
In the game against Johnsonville Damien McCullouch was in outstanding form with the bat with two automatic home runs, including a grand slam in the 3rd innings. Porirua City United kept their faint hopes alivewith 5-4 win over Kapiti and a 12-8 win over Royals.
Poneke Kilbirnie had a win and a loss going down to Miramar then shuttingout Newlands 1-0. Kapiti also had a win and a loss defeatingJohnsonville 8-1 after going dow to Porirua City United 4-5.
http://www.softball.org.nz/
* Email:snz@softball.org.nz
Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* Email:vanf@ihug.co.nz
