Kaiapoi’s comeback falls short
Kaiapoi’s win streak came to an end at the hands of Papanui in the Canterbury women’s softball premiership on Saturday. Coming off three straight wins, Kaiapoi produced a lacklustre performance against Papanui.
A couple of fielding errors at the top of the first allowed Papanui to gain a 2 run lead. After a three up, three down scenario in the first three innings, Kaiapoi were left chasing a 0-5 deficit in the bottom of the 7th inning.
With Lauren Sutherland leading off with a hit to get on base and Layla Bailey-McDowell facing a full count, a bizarre umpiring call proved a set back in Kaiapoi’s comeback attempt. BaileyMcDowell received a ball, to earn a walk, and threw her bat towards third base dugout which was considered by the officials to be a strike at the ball, and Kaiapoi’s first out, rather than a second runner on base.
With Oriana Connell’s twobagger up next bringing Sutherland home, it could have also had Bailey-McDowell coming home to make it 2-5 – rather than 1-5. With two outs, Teagan Maxted produced a safe hit to bring Connell home but Kaiapoi was unable to add to their tally.
On the pitching mound, Sutherland faced 35 batters, giving up five walks, struck out eight batters with only one earned run and six hits. Overall it was a three-hit game with four errors and a double play, courtesy of Nerissa McDowell.
It was a forgettable round across the senior grades for Kaiapoi, with Hooters claiming the only win, beating Burnham 12-7 in women’s C grade. The reserve women’s Kanetz went down to Halswell B 11-12. The Krusiers had a frustrating 4-8 loss to Royals in men’s C grade, the Outlaws lost to Richmond 1-8 in men’s D grade and in the mixed grade, the Old Socks were outgunned by Otautahi 8-19.
In Monday’s Rookie League, the boys’ Knights lost to Papanui 2-15 while the Gold Sox women also lost to Halswell 2-9.
It was a mixed round in the junior grades. The U15 Boys’ Hurricanes drew 9-all with Rolleston. The U13 boys’ Comets had a 13-7 win over PCU while the Stickmanz went down 4-19 to Rolleston
The U11 girls’ Top Kats beat Riccarton 10-2 after home runs to Kahurangi Burgman Abbie McCurrie and Kadince Robinson. In the U9 Tee Ball, the Nuggets lost a high-scoring battle with Rolleston 18-28.