New Zealand Fastball Updates
    - from Gary Baughman
New Zealand Friday night
Another one bites the dust for Marist Premier men as they continued their hot form from the opening night of the Brother Patrick Memorial with a 5 – 2 win over Howick as the sounds of Queen warming up rang over Simson Reserve.
Jerome Haretuku was the stand out for the home side with the bat as he started the game off with a lead off double before being scored on the next play as Aaron Dormer laid down a bunt straight back to Howick pitcher Cameron Johnson who tried the underarm throw to first, however the ball was seen flying well above the first baseman and all the way to the fence. Dormer managed to make his way up to 3rd base on the play and was then bought in by Gerry Long to give Marist a 2-0 lead in the Top of the 1st.
Howick decided to answer straight back as Josh Kingi hit the third pitch he saw from Dallas Amai-Tatu well over the right field fence for a solo HR closing the gap to 2-1, Howick managed to keep the offense going in the bottom of the 2nd when Jordan Tahana hit a single to shortstop Aaron Dormer who couldn’t quite get Tahana going down the line after covering some large ground to make a tough play, 2 batters later Dormer had to make a similar play and with a quick pirouette over top of 2nd base managed to get the out this time. Campbell Gibson then hit a slow roller to Dormer who after making 2 tough grabs seemed a bit more casual and the ball bounced off his glove allowing Howick to tie the ball game.
Haretuku then picked up his 2nd hit of the game with a deep fly ball over the centre field fence giving the home crowd something to cheer about, however that was how it stayed until the top of the 6th when Maxten Sampson picked a base on balls, he was then advanced on Luke Peters single off a ball that barely made it out of the batters box, Dormer then scored off Amai-Tatu’s ground out, while Peters was bought across off a Jacob Oxley hit to Shortstop. Amai-Tatu went the full game for Marist shutting down Howick from the 3rd innings on and giving his side the 5-2 win. Johnson and Gibson shared the pitching duties for the Howick side.
Over on diamond 2 ,Pure Athletic Ramblers Women took on Howick for their first games of the weekend and it was a very on-sided affair with the girls in Maroon taking out the win 11-0 giving coach Fergus McAlpine a great boost knowing his team has bought the offensive power this weekend. Runs have been at a premium for the Pure Athletic Ramblers girls over the majority of the season, however as they close in on the upcoming NFS finals series and Club Nationals they seem to have turned that around as they have managed to pick up a few mercy wins in the previous weeks. Katrina Nukunuku and sister Leah Stockford were the standouts for Ramblers on the day, both picking up 2 hits each and 3 RBI’s between them.
Although Ramblers picked up seven hits in the ball game, they were also assisted by 4 errors from the Howick defence and six base on balls given up by Howick pitcher Alia Stachoski. The alarming stat for coach McAlpine would be that of 6 runners left on base over the 4 innings game. Yukiko Harara got the start for the Ramblers team and kept Howick at bay picking up 4 strikeouts and only giving up 3 hits before being replace by young left handed hurler Justine Taku-Bedwell who came in to close out the 4th innings , giving up the one hit in her one innings at work. Natasha Taylor batted 2 from 2 for Howick and Hannah Greenaway went 1 from 1, however it was not enough to break through the solid Ramblers defense or even compete with the monster 4th innings the girls from Mt Albert had putting 7 runs on the board to give them the comprehensive first up win to their Doreen Hutchings campaign.
At a glance:
Brother Patrick Memorial:
Marist 5- Howick 2
Pitchers:
W- Dallas Amai-Tatu (Marist)
L- Cameron Johnson (Howick)
Doreen Hutchings Memorial:
Pure Athletic Ramblers 11- Howick 0
Pitchers:
W- Yukiko Harara (Pure Athletic Ramblers)
L- Alia Stachoski (Howick)
New Zealand Saturday games 9 AM
 The 9am round at the little hideaway on Hugo Johnston Drive saw plenty of runs scored in both the Men’s and the Women’s competitions.
Seth Gibson put Howick on the board straight away in their match-up against Pure Athletic Ramblers with a solo home run off Taine Slaughter, however that was as far as the Howick boys got in terms of runs on the board as Slaughter worked hard to contain them over the following 4 innings only giving up a single to Leandre Crowther in the 2nd and a single to Gibson in the 3rd.
Pure Athletic Ramblers started with a bit of luck just like they did in their opening game against Roosters as Connor Peden reached base in the Top of the 2nd with a throwing error, Maddix Rice and Brock Evans then combined for back to back hits during the 2-down rally to score Peden before an illegal pitched by Seth Gibson bought in Rice from 3rd to give Ramblers a 2-1 lead after two complete innings. The boys from Mt Albert continued to fire in the 4th as Peden again reached base, this time with a leadoff double, before another illegal pitch and an error on the hit by Lewis Jerard allowed him to score. Rice then picked up his second hit of the game with a 2 run home run to center to extend the lead to 5-1. Heading into the top of the 5th Howick made a pitching change bringing on Tyler King to replace Gibson to try close it out and give his team a chance heading into the bottom of the innings, however it was not to be as Seth Bourgeois picked a base on balls as did Peden who followed, Jerard then hit a large fly ball to the back trees clearing the bases and giving Ramblers the 8-1 win. Rice would go 3 from 3 in the affair with a single, Double and a Home run.
In the Doreen Hutchings tournament Marist picked up double the hits that Howick managed in their 7-2 win, out hitting the girls from east 8 hits to 4. Tatiana Rouru started the charge for the home town ladies with a triple over the outfield head, Nita Hickey then picked herself a base on balls before Pania Monk picked up her first of 3 hits with a double scoring both runners. The offense didn’t stop there as Teagan Tautala-Hanita put down a cheeky bunt to beat it out safely before stealing second to put herself in scoring position, With 2 outs Aieesha Hooper stepped in a drove a hard ball straight through the middle to extend the Marist lead to 3-0. Leslie Miller started the bottom of the second off for Howick with a lead-off single before being advanced on a Wild Pitch, and then a fielders choice before crossing the plate on an error. Marist couldn’t manage to put much in play in the 3rd as Alia Stachoski shut them out which then gave her team a chance to claw another one back, and just like coach Mark Greenaway asked they provided. Natasha Taylor picked herself a base on balls for the second time in the game before a triple to import catcher Mikaila Etheridge saw Howick take the deficit to 1. That seemed to fire up the Marist girls as they came out picking pitches and moving the ball to extend their lead to 7-2 , courtesy of a 2RBI single from Hickey and another double from Monk. Monk shone on the day helping out her own cause on the mound as she went through 4 innings giving up 1 Earned run and going 3 from 3 with the bat picking up 3 RBI’s. Taylor stayed hot for her Howick side once again batting 1.000 going 1 from 1 with 2 walks and a single.
At a glance:
Brother Patrick Memorial
Pure Athletic Ramblers 8- Howick 1
Pitchers:
W- Taine Slaughter (Pure Athletic Ramblers)
L- Seth Gibson (Howick)
Relief- Tyler King (Howick)
Doreen Hutchings Memorial
Marist 7- Howick 2
Pitchers
W- Pania Monk (Marist)
L- Alia Stachoski (Howick)
Relief- Brooke Glassie (Marist)
New Zealand Saturday 10:30 AM
Waitakere Bears women took the diamond for their opening game of the Doreen Hutchings Memorial against the star studded Otahuhu side who were looking for their 2nd win of the campaign.
Tyneesha Houkamau took the mound for Otahuhu, whilst Sachi Clark was given the start for the girls from out west. Both pitchers worked hard through the first 2 innings not allowing a hit and keeping the runners on base to a minimum, however it was in the Top of the 3rd when the Otahuhu lineup started to find some rhythm. Number 9 hitter Kaiah Lee-O’Brien found a piece of grass out in left field for a lead off single before Logan Moreland followed suit with her own single up the middle. A sacrifice from Mereanna Makea saw both runners move up 30feet and into scoring position as Houkamau stepped in and helped her own cause out with a 2RBI double to the left center fence. Bears managed to extend the top of the 3rd with a single for Kaela Clark however that was all they could muster up as Houkamau got Auimatagi to ground out. The 4th started the same for Otahuhu with Bloom getting on base with a walk before Taylor Chongnee advance her with a single. Santana Hala then put down the sacrifice once again advance the runners in the same fashion Makea had done the innings before and just how Coach Brear had manufactured the team runs the previous innings Ariana Kingi hit a 2 RBI single to left field to extend the lead to 4 -0, causing Dion Nukunuku to make the change and bring on Tori Talamahina to replace Clark. Bears managed to show some fight in the Bottom of the 4th with singles from Rebecca Bromhead, Brooklyn Temu and Taylor Maxwell all picking up singles, however the tight defense of Otahuhu left all runners stranded and the bases loaded as they headed into the top of the 5th. A hit pitch put Houkamau on base for the second time in the game before Alyx Bloom picked a double to right field, closely followed by another double from Chongnee scoring both runners and giving Otahuhu the eventual 6-0 win. Loran Parker came on to close out Bears with a perfect 5th innings however it is Houkamau who picked up the win with her 4 innings of work taking 4 strikeouts and giving up 4 hits, she also helped herself out going 1 from 2 with 2 RBIs, and was closely helped by Taylor Chongnee who went 2 from 2 with 2 Hits, 2 RBI’s and a Base on Balls.
Over on the turf of Diamond 1 saw a fierce battle between hometown heroes Marist and the boys from the Shore, Roosters.
Both teams came out all guns blazing however it was the defence of both sides that dominated the ball game. Dallas Amai-Tatu and Eru Drage went the full game for their respective clubs each giving up only 1 earned run. In pretty much identical fashion both teams got on the scoreboard with a solo home run to the number 4 batter within the first 2 pitches they faced. Luke Peters hit a solo shot for Marist and Marty Cannons answered straight back for Roosters with a ball that ended up no further than 5 meters away from where Peters home run had landed. That was how the game remained for the next 4 innings and as time was called after the 6th innings it meant that the game would go to a tie-breaker to find a winner, however it was not without a slight heart attack for the Marist faithful as Roosters managed to load the bases in the Bottom of the 6th, Amai-Tatu rose to the job getting the third out and sending the game to extras. Marist had the first chance to score in the top of the 7th as David-Lee Alexander put down a sacrifice bunt, however it was picked up and Roosters tried for the lead runner who was tagged going to 3rd base, however it was deemed that Ryoyu Une fumbled in the ball and the runners were called safe at first and third. Jacob Oxley stepped up and got hold of a pitch from Drage and sent it deep to the Left field fence which looked certain to plate both runners and possibly even himself, Roosters outfielder Andy McMillan had completely different ideas though as he ranged a good 10 meters back to make the just as he went crashing through the fence, a play that would normally make ESPN plays of the week. Although the great grab it was still enough to score Wiremu Amai from 3rd on the sacrifice and gave Marist the much needed lead. Roosters settled in to their half of the innings and although loading the bases they could not find that breakthrough as the combination of Amai-Tatu and Oxley contained the Roosters hitters and set up and crucial 3pm game against Pure Athletic Ramblers as both teams remain unbeaten.
At a glance:
Brother Patrick Memorial
Marist 2 – Roosters 1 (Tie Breaker)
Pitchers
W- Dallas Amai-Tatu (Marist)
L- Eruera Drage (Roosters)
Doreen Hutchings Memorial
Otahuhu 6- Waitakere Bears 0
Pitchers
W- Tyneesha Houkamau (Otahuhu)
L - Sachi Clark (Waitakere Bears)
Relief
Loran Parker (Otahuhu) Tori Talamahina (Waitakere Bears)
New Zealaand- NOON
 The midday round saw two games in the Doreen Hutchings memorial with Pure Athletic Ramblers taking on Waitakere Bears and Otahuhu taking on Howick over on diamond two.
Otahuhu continued their offensive dominance with a forceful hitting display over the young Howick side. Leslie Miller took the mound for Howick as coach Greenaway opted for her off speed style of pitching as a way to minimize the offensive charge from Jamie Brear’s girls. Otahuhu once again was lead by Tyneesha Houkamau who went 3 from 3 with 2 singles and a double in her 3 trips to the plate.
Straight from the first pitch thrown Otahuhu found their way on base through Logan Moreland who laid down a safe bunt and hustled her way to first. Mereanna Makea then kept to the short game assisting Moreland across to second with her sacrifice, Houkamau then picked up her first hit and only RBI of the game with a Texas leaguer which scored Moreland from 2nd. Houkamau then stole third before a sacrifice fly from Ariana Kingi saw the score jump to 2-0 after the first. Howick managed to hit back in the top fo the 2nd as Leslie Miller picked herself a base on balls before a pass ball, a fielders choice and pick off attempt saw her score to cut the gap to 1. Otahuhu continued through the bottom of the second as the errors crept in for the Howick side. Santana Hala reached base on a throwing error, a walk to Heidi Leathart, who decided to swap the mask for a bat this weekend, put runners at 1st and 2nd before Moreland hit a fly ball to the right fielder who couldn’t quite contain it and it saw Hala and Leathart make their way round the bases to score. Hits in the 3rd from Houkamau and Chongnee score another run tacked on before the 4th innings saw another 5 hits from the Otahuhu bats , to Makea, Houkamau, Chongnee, Hala and Kaiah Lee-O’Brien saw the damage done and the game come to an abrupt end, Otahuhu winning 8-1.
Pure Athletic Ramblers started just how the finished their earlier game by putting runs on the board in their first turn at bat. Lisa Maulden picked a base on balls, off pitcher Sachi Clark, before a single from Katrina Nukunuku saw her get into scoring position. Long time Ramblers import Tomoka Goda drove a ball to left field to score Maulden and get her team in front early. Carina Hale picked a hit to third off Yu Harada, however it was one of only a few her girls in black could manage as Harada seemed to be able to get the ball to be hit directly to the rest of her fielders as each one of the Bears hitters made contact it just wasn’t in any of the gaps needed by coach Dion Nukunuku. Ramblers managed to extend their lead in the top of the 3rd as Maulden hit a deep triple to start the offense again. Nukunuku picked a base on balls before Zoe Tolhopf hit a single to right field scoring Maulden. A Fielders choice on the ground ball from Beth Reid saw Nukunuku cross the plate and take the score to 3 -0 in the favour of the Pure Athletic Ramblers side. Ramblers managed to tack on one more run the the Top of the 5th through the bats of Nukunuku and Goda as they both hit deep to the outfield that giving the women in maroon and white the 4 – 0 win and set them up in a strong position going into their final 2 games of the round robin against hosts Marist and the unbeaten Otahuhu.
At a glance:
Doreen Hutchings Memorial
Otahuhu 8 – Howick 1
Pitchers
W- Loran Parker (Otahuhu)
L – Leslie Miller (Howick)
Pure Athletic Ramblers 4 – Waitakere Bears 0
Pitchers
W- Yu Harada (Pure Athletic Ramblers)
L – Sachi Clark (Waitakere Bears)
