Batters miss many gift opportunities

Otahuhu batters need to find their sweet spot fast if they are to make the Auckland premier women softball playoffs.

Their difficulty in scoring runs was no more apparent than in the final of the club’s Wayne Roper Memorial Tournament at Sturges Park, Otahuhu last weekend.

They were crushed 8-0 by Western Magpies in the final of a tournament that honoured Roper, the coach who made the Otahuhu women a force to be reckoned with before his untimely death in October, 2014.

Coach Jamie Brear says it’s a problem that needs fixing before the coming playoffs and the national club championships.

‘‘We left too many runners on base at the weekend so we really need to focus on our hitting.

‘‘We’ve managed to win games over recent weeks but have lacked runs.

‘‘Our defence isn’t as solid as we need it to be just yet and that could cost us games if we’re not scoring runs.

‘‘We have been playing lots of softball so there is no excuse not to score more runs.’’

Brear says it was a disappointing finishes to an otherwise faultless weekend.

‘‘We played some great softball and pretty much errorless until the final when a few errors crept in. Loran (Parker) and Sammi (Parks) were great on the mound whilst Sammi, Michal Fletcher, Kelsey Rangi and Alison Mohi were good with the bat.

‘‘Youngster Sapphire Finau also had a great weekend hitting just under .400.’’

Otahuhu is chasing a place in the premier women’s semi final. Their three remaining games against Ramblers, Howick and the Bears are must wins.

Parks was the tournament’s top batter. Otahuhu women won the Rehe Joseph Memorial Tournament in Hamilton in the build up to the Wayne Roper.

And seven Otahuhu players, Krysta Hoani, Allison Mohi, Nita Hickey, Sammi Parks (Auckland), Meg Glading, Loran Parker and Kelsey Rangi (Southern Pride) and Pania Monk (Counties) will be in action at the national fast pitch championships in Lower Hutt starting today.

In late news, Otahuhu beat Ramblers 9-3 on Tuesday night to consolidate their position in the top four of the premier women’s championship.

‘‘We played some great softball and pretty much errorless until the final when a few errors crept in.’’