Grand slam does trick for Auckland

Connor Peden was the toast of Auckland softball after his grand slam home run lit up the National Fastpitch Championship men’s softball title.

Peden blasted five RBIs (runs batted in) in Auckland’s 9-3 win over a Wellington controversially deprived of Black Sox pitcher Josh Pettett.

Player-coach Nathan Nukunuku’s Auckland team scored eight runs in the final two innings at Christchurch’s Mizuno Ballpark yesterday.

Peden – a former catcher who has found a niche in the outfield – showed his power hitting prowess with three hits from four at-bats for a .750 average.

Auckland finished with six safe hits to Wellington’s four, but Thomas Makea’s Wellington team showed plenty of spirit to recover from the enforced loss of ace pitcher Pettett due to a concussion standdown.

Pettett – later awarded the tournament’s top pitcher award – was hit in the face by a ball driven by Nukunuku in Saturday’s semifinal, and although cleared of concussion, had to face a 24-hour standdown under Softball New Zealand’s concussion protocols.

The NFC tournament showcased the talents of players determined to force their way into Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson’s team for the June world championship title defence in Prague.

None more so than Peden, and Wellington second baseman Dante Matakatea, who batted two from four in the final to cap a fine weekend.

The Christchurch crowd were right behind Wellington in sympathy at Pettett’s exclusion. Eru Drage and Sam Marley tried manfully on the mound, but gave up a total of eight walks as Wellington missed their No 1 hurler.

Nukunuku said it was satisfying to win this year after ‘‘we had a hot tournament last year and fell in the final.’’.

‘‘We were up against a very worthy Wellington side, but I thought we took the pressure they put on to us.

‘‘I’m really proud of our boys in the last two games. We had to come back at the end of the semifinal [against Wellington on Saturday night] as well.’’

Earlier yesterday, Hutt Valley won their second consecutive national women’s softball title after beating Auckland 5-1 in the final.

Hutt Valley won back-to-back titles for the first time since 2009, bouncing back after three defeats to Auckland earlier in the tournament, including a 12-0 thumping on Saturday.

Auckland beat Wellington 4-3 in the Saturday night match to qualify automatically for the final.

Wellington thumped North Harbour 9-4 yesterday morning to earn a second shot at Auckland.