Softball titles go to Feilding women, Blue Sox men

The Feilding women and Blue Sox men have claimed the preChristmas Manawatu¯ club softball titles.

The final round before the Christmas break was at Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North, last Saturday and the two sides won the first-round titles.

In the women’s competition, Feilding United sewed up the title after a 15-1 win over Bramac Aces in a quick 62-minute game, a reverse of the result from last week.

Feilding scored in all five innings – one run in the first inning, then three, one, four and five.

The top batter was Cassie George, who batted 1.000, scored four runs and picked up five runs batted in.

She also hit two in-the-diamond home runs to left field. In the third and fourth innings, in-field home runs were scored by Shanelle Miller and Lynette Lambert.

Pitching for Feilding was Ashlee Hatzen, who faced 20 batters, gave up one walk, two hits and one run, and took eight strikeouts.

For Bramac Mary Ireland hit a three-bag hit to right field and came home on a fielding error. She also had pitching duty and faced 34 batters, gave up 16 hits, 15 runs and 10 earned, and took three strikeouts.

The top Bramac batters were Ireland and the returning Amanda Hansen, who batted 0.500.

Matua Ma won an exciting game 20-13 over Linton Storm, with the run-ahead rule invoked in the sixth inning.

Linton Storm started the scoring with five runs in the first inning and Matuama replied with three.

In the second inning it was reversed as Matua Ma scored five runs and Linton three.

In the third Matua Ma scored four and Linton none, then in the fourth inning Linton scored three runs and Maua Ma one.

In the fifth they both scored one run to take the score to 14-12 to Matuama.

In the sixth inning Linton scored just one run and Matua Ma took full advantage of the walks and errors that came their way, scoring six runs before the run-ahead rule came in.

The top batter for Matua Ma was shared by Miika Lind and Star Live, who batted 1.000.

Pitching was on Nia Pirini, who faced 38 batters, gave up 10 hits, 13 runs and four earned, and took five strikeouts.

For Linton the top batter was Kylie Tipene, who batted 0.666.

Toops Allan scored three runs and picked up a run batted in.

Pitching was Julz Hautapu, who faced 41 batters, gave up 20 runs, six earned, 11 hits and 12 walks, and took four strikeouts.

In the men’s competition, Blue Sox won 3-1 over Huia Chiefs in a rain-affected match.

Heavy rain stopped the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but because five innings were played it constituted a game.

Blue Sox scored their three runs in the second inning and Huia their run in the fourth.

Run scorers for Blue Sox were Liam Bassick, who started it off with a clean two-bag hit to left field, followed by Bryan Tairoa, with a single to centre field that scored Bassick and picking up the run batted in.

Then came Regan Manley, who hit a two-bag hit to left field and scored Tairoa and the run batted in.

Dom Colpman hit a single to centre field, scoring Sisa Vulaona, who was the designated runner and had come into run for Manley.

The top batter for Blue Sox was Liam Bassick, with 0.666. Regan Manley was pitching, facing 22 batters, giving up one run and three hits, and taking eight strikouts.

Gareth Greenfield was Huia’s run scorer, starting with a safe hit through the shortstop and ending up coming home on a fielding error when AJ Dyason came to bat.

Kelly Dyason was pitching and gave up three runs, all earned, six hits and two walks, and took nine strikeouts.

The match between Palmerston North Dodgers and Linton Sentinels was rained off. Both earned a point.

In the reserve grade, Palmerston North Dodgers won the A grade despite a 13-12 loss to Whanganui Braves in the last round.

In the other games Levin United beat Huia Warriors 7-3, Bramac Bombers won 15-2 over Feilding United and Athletic had the bye.

Kingswood Demons won section B after beating Blue Sox 14-11 in the last game.

In other matches, Castlecliff Mustangs beat Raiders 17-5 and Linton BBS had the bye. Panthers and Cowboys were to play on Thursday.

The Manawatu¯ softball fraternity acknowledged the death of Wi Kaipuke, the softball coach for St Peter’s College for many of his 35 years at the school.

Pa Kaipuke, as he was known, contributed an enormous amount to Manawatu¯ softball over the years and is going to be missed.

All games held a moment of silence in his memory.