US imports inspire Angels

American imports Paige Crawford and Allyn Clark led the PCU Angels to a doubleheader win in the Canterbury women’s softball premiership.

The Kansas duo were prominent with ball and bat in PCU’s 2-1 win over champions Halswell and 6-0 victory over Sydenham Kereru on Saturday.

Leadoff batter Clark doubled in the top of the first inning against the Halswell Hornets. She advanced on Johanna Church’s sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch.

Halswell equalised in the bottom of the sixth inning when Olivia Cassin made base with a safe bunt. She went to second on Bev Lethlean’s sacrifice and was driven home by Nicole BaxterWarren.

The Angels clinched their win in the seventh frame after Carly Ratu picked a walk and scored after hits by Caitlin Kennett and Sam Henderson (her second of the game).

Elisha Smith struck a double for PCU and pitcher Crawford took nine strikeouts to Halswell hurler Jenni Mumm’s six.

PCU had a stranglehold over Sydenham Kereru after three runs in the first inning, following rightfield triples by Clark and Crawford, who both went two from three at the plate.

Former New Zealand White Sox shortstop Cassie Siataga – fresh from helping Canterbury win the national women’s rugby title – had two hits for SK while Danielle Bolton batted 1.000 after a safe bunt and a single.

Kaiapoi continued their fine recent form, beating SK 7-1 after six runs in the second inning off consecutive hits by Lauren Sutherland, Arnora Hesp, Christina Paul and Katelyn Bayer. Sutherland struck out 12 SK batters for four walks and three hits.

She scored Kaiapoi’s final run in the sixth inning off Raina Joseph’s second hit.

Men’s competition

Reilly Makea turned in a top allround performance in the Papanui Tigers’ 6-0 win over Albion. ‘

The game was abandoned in the fifth inning after the umpires ejected Albion batter Jamie Holmes. Albion had already used all their substitutes and were unable to continue.

Makea had two safe hits for the Tigers and pitched well to snare nine strikeouts and limit Albion to one safe hit – an Ant Stuart triple. Papanui’s Ash Reihana hammered a threebagger.

Albion beat the Halswell Hornets 8-4 with pitcher Josh Hartwig blasting a home run. Stuart and Connor Flynn had two safe hits.

A three-run home run by Bowen Annandale earned the PCU Devils a 8-5 win over Halswell. The scores were deadlocked at 5-5 after five innings, but Annandale’s shot settled proceedings. Louis Peters had hit a two-run homer for the Devils to tie proceedings after Isaac Nation had homered for Halswell with a runner on base in the third.