Masterton men hit Dodgers to title

Evans (shortstop), who celebrated his fourth national title after winning first with Hutt City United in 2006.

The Dodgers camp hailed Hayes, who won the tournament top pitcher and most valuable player awards for his dominance on the pitching mound and some timely hits with the bat.

‘‘Nik did really well for us,’’ captain Joel Evans said. ‘‘He pitched something ridiculous, like 68 innings, this week.’’

But it was the Masterton men – Thompson and Brown – who bossed the batter’s box in the final.

Thompson, a Masterton real estate agent, has been commuting over the Rimutakas for many years to play premier club softball. Brown, like Thompson, played his early ball for the Wairarapa Giants club, before heading over the hill to Wellington to link with Poneke Kilbirnie prior to joining Dodgers.

‘‘They both still live in Wairarapa and travel every Tuesday and Thursday for training with us, at 40 bucks a pop,’’ Evans said. ‘‘They are over the moon now.’’

Evans said it was ‘‘pretty special’’ to win a third national title with his father, Trevor. ‘‘That’s every kid’s dream. He’s now won two as a player, and one as a coach.’’

The game came alive in the top of the second when Thompson clouted a two-out home run over the Saxton Field fence to fire Dodgers into the lead.

Ramblers had a golden chance to equalise in the bottom of the fourth when Nukunuku raced around to third base on a throwing error by Hayes. But the Black Sox skipper was tagged by Wallace at home plate after second baseman Murphy Albright’s throw.

Pinch hitters Bradley Bennett and Connor Peden produced backto-back safe hits for Ramblers in the bottom of the sixth, although Bennett squandered his when he was picked off in a playback at first base by Wallace.

Dodgers responded in the top of the seventh with successive singles by Campbell Ngarimu and Murphy Albright and Joel Evans was walked to load the bases. Brown stepped up to drive a hit and score Callum Gates (running for Ngarimu) and Albright with Evans tagged out at third base.

Ramblers broke their duck in the bottom of the seventh when Lewis Jerard singled to score pinch runner James Johnston, but Maddix Rice grounded out to second baseman Murphy Albright, who completed a good game by firing the ball to brother EJ Albright at first base for the final out.