Rams rule opening round
Saints Rams were the only side to score two wins during the first round of Intercity softball at Lansdowne Ballpark on Saturday.
Just four sides were in action, Rams and a Marlborough Under-19 combination, plus Waimea Eagles and Stoke Eagles from Nelson. Stoke managed a win and a loss, Under-19 picked up one win while Waimea lost both their encounters.
Rams welcomed ace pitcher Kurt Schollum back to the mound for their first clash, against Waimea Eagles.
The big hurler mixed up his deliveries, easing into his season, but was still too good for the Eagles’ batters, who managed just three safe hits from his deliveries. Riley Power was on the mound for Waimea and also threw well, keeping Rams under control through the early innings.
When the first run came it was in the top of the fourth, Schollum showing his batting prowess with an inside-the-park home run to put his side up 1-0.
With Rams fielding well, led by infielder Drew Roberts, Eagles battled to make progress while the home side were just beginning to find their range with the bat.
Roberts and Blake Wisdom made base in the top of the sixth then Kyle Marfell stepped up with an infield home run to push the score out to 4-0.
In the seventh, Wiremu Tuhimata and Josh Ludemann got on base, before a three-bagger from Wisdom brought them home. Then Tyler Bird got bat on ball to drive Wisdom home, completing a 7-0 win with a strong all-round performance. Derryn French managed two hits from Schollum’s pitching while Alastair Ching pro- It is: Pitchers - Kurt Schollum, William Macdonald. Catchers -
Josh Ludemann, Christian Marshall-Farrow. Infielders - Drew Roberts, Tyler Bird, Kyle Marfell (captain), Braden Healy. Outfielders - Anaru Anderson, Denham Wisdom, Wiremu Tuhimata.
Utilities - Blake Wisdom, Ethan Jones. Training Tuesday
November 14, 6pm at the ball park. If unable to attend call Steve 027 244 3493.
duced the other.
At the same time, on the number one diamond, Marlborough under-19 took on Stoke Eagles.
The home side had William Macdonald on the mound, while Stoke employed Gareth Oliver.
Stoke scored first, Josh Kelly coming home on a wild pitch in the first, but the Under-19s levelled in the second, Horouta Wilson slamming a three-bagger.
From then it was all Stoke, Macca Stringer, Josh Stobie scoring in the third and fifth respectively, before a Caleb Delaney home run gave them a 4-1 advantage. Further runs to Oliver and Nigel Kelly in the sixth pushed them well ahead, although Anaru Anderson’s run on the back of a Braden Healy hit reduced the final margin to 6-2.
The Under-19s turned in a better effort in their second encounter, beating Waimea Eagles 6-5.
The scores were tied 3-3 after the fifth inning, Todd Peattie having scored all three runs for the visitors. Runs to Te Ariki Peipi, Macdonald and Wilson pushed the home side ahead 6-3 and they rallied well to limit Waimea to just two runs in their final turn at bat, Nick Max and Power coming home on a two-base hit from Ching, who was left on base. Peipi, Healy, Macdonald and Ethan Jones hit well for the Under19s.
Saints won their second game, against Stoke, 3-1. They started strongly. Tyler Bird reached base in the first inning, and was brought home by a Kyle Marfell double, then Schollum hit well to score Marfell. In the third they added their other run, Roberts making base on a hit and scampering home on an error. Stoke scored a consolation run in the seventh but Schollum ruled from the mound, notching up 14 strike outs and conceding just two hits.
The second leg of Intercity play is scheduled for November 25.