Ramblers rumble on at club nationals
When Black Sox captain Nathan Nukunuku smashed an early homer out of the park you could sense Ramblers had their swagger back.
The Auckland side were stunned by 16th seeds Johnsonville during pool play but returned to Saxton Ballpark in Nelson on Friday looking like a team ready to fight for the New Zealand men’s open club softball championships title they last won just two years ago.
With Japanese international pitcher Kenzo Okazaki showcasing his talents with the ball and Nukunuku leading the way with the bat, Ramblers breezed past Auckland United 4-1 and Poneke Kilbirnie (PK) 4-0 to book their place in the semifinals with a game to spare in Group A.
The number one seeds showed real hunger as they look to end the 2015/16 season with some silverware following a disappointing conclusion to their Auckland campaign, which saw them place third.
The five-day national tournament is currently at the top eight stage which sees eight teams split into two different groups.
The top two from each group will progress into the sudden death semifinals on Saturday evening.
There’s still two teams from Group A in the running for remaining playoff spot, with Auckland United and PK to meet on Saturday after both teams ended day three with wins over Auckland Marist and defeats against Ramblers.
Auckland Marist appear out of the running after dropping both their games on Friday, and face Ramblers in their final Group A match.
Over in Group B, Hutt Valley Dodgers have booked their place in the semifinals after two memorable victories on Friday.
The recently crowned Wellington inter-city champions handed defending champions Albion their first defeat of the tournament, winning 3-0, after earlier accounting for Johnsonville 4-1.
Albion, who have Black Sox pitchers Penese Iofeso and Kurt Schollum in their arsenal, have to beat Johnsonville to stay alive in the competition while surprise package Eden-Roskill, led by the versatile Taiki Apu, will meet the Dodgers in their final Group B match and still have a chance of progressing after beating Johnsonville 3-2.
Meanwhile New Zealand White Sox pitcher Rita Hokianga continued her dominance at the national women’s interclub softball tournament with a perfect game and another shut out at Lower Hutt.
Hokianga gave up no hits and allowed no runners on base in Hutt Valley Dodgers’ 1-0 win over Poneke Kilbirnie and backed it up by blanking highly-rated Auckland club Otahuhu 4-0 at Fraser Park on Friday.
Dodgers’ immaculate fielding also impressed, marking Joe Ferriso’s unbeaten side as the team to beat in the tournament which ends on Sunday.
Hokianga was the dominant figure in the PK game in which Dodgers could only score once after leaving nine runners on base.
White Sox utiilty Beth Stavert continued her consistent hitting form with two hits and two RBIs in the Western Magpies’ 7-1 win over Hutt Valley’s Saints.
Jennifer Feret pitched well for Magpies, the Auckland champions, and Aaria Tawha had two safe hits. Rebecca Jefferies was Saints’ best batter with two hits.
Magpies edged out Waitakere Bears 3-2 in a repeat of last weekend’s Auckland grand final.
Canterbury club Papanui picked up their first win, beating Poneke Kilbirnie 9-2 with Canterbury Red Hawks stalwart Emma Frost and youngster Tessa Metuatini picking up two hits. Oriana Connell slammed three hits as Papanui backed up with a good 9-3 win over Johnsonville-Newlands.