Iosefo impresses in NFC rehearsal

Davis clouted a two-run homer with Curtis Dove on base in the third inning and Cox produced a solo shot home run in the fifth.

Cox was PCU’s top batter with three hits from four, including a seventh inning triple. Davis, Stephen Ratu and Nopera Stockford, who belted a triple, had two hits.

Callum Bishop scorched around the bases to score a home run for Papanui in the bottom of the first but Callum Muir was the only other Tiger to cross the plate, off Nathan Watt’s sacrifice fly.

Young PCU pitcher Bailey Hamilton, who may assume pitching duties for the Junior Black Sox at this year’s under-19 world junior championships, held Papanui to two hits and chalked up seven strikeouts, but also delivered seven walks.

The Halswell Hornets took PCU the full seven innings distance but still lost 9-1. Davis went three from four for PCU while Gareth Cook and Louis Peters slammed threebaggers.

Kieran Nation scored Halswell’s only run after a rightfield triple but only two other batters managed hits off Ryan Britt. Former Canterbury pitcher Jenni Mumm threw a one-hit game and picked up two hits with the bat in Halswell’s 4-1 win over Sydenham Kereru in the premier women’s competition at Halswell Domain. Emma Thornley started Halswell’s spree with a home run in the first inning and Alex King later had a double. Mumm, who took four strikeouts, was heading for a nohitter until SK substitute Caitlin Davidson singled in the bottom of the seventh inning. Albion Cardinals beat Halswell 2-1 in the early game with all the scoring action in the final inning. King made base for Halswell on an infield single and scored on an error in the top of the seventh inning. But Katelyn Bayer batted in Te Awhina O’Hara for Albion’s equaliser and scampered home on an error for the winning run.

Sara Carter pitched well for Albion with five strikeouts.