Potter hits homer for White Sox

Pallas Potter’s home run could not stop the White Sox going down 4-1 to pool co-leaders Puerto Rico at the women’s world softball championships.

The teenage Hutt Valley outfielder slammed the ball over the outfield fence in the top of the fifth inning for New Zealand’s first home run of the tournament in Chiba, Japan.

Potter – an 18-year-old heading to a college scholarship in America – smashed a pitch by Meghan King, the top college pitcher in the United States, out of the park yesterday.

The White Sox are now all but out of the running for a place in the top playoffs bracket after one win and four defeats.

They were not expected to beat a Puerto Rican side boasting southpaw pitcher King, who hurled Florida State to the Women’s College World Series title.

But the White Sox – disappointing in their first few games in Chiba – produced a better allround display against Puerto Ric0, but would rue a costly tworun lapse in the field in the fourth inning.

Puerto Rico profited when White Sox captain and second baseman Ellie Cooper made a good stretch in behind first base to grab the ball on her glove side.

She flipped it to Potter, who could not glove the ball at first base, allowing Yahelis MunozCardona and Carsyn Gordon to score.

Pitcher Rita Hokianga gave up seven hits but exerted better control with her change-up pitch.

She gave up seven hits for three strikeouts and three walks.