Marlinz on top of batting blitz

Jayde Martin led a batting blitz by Marlinz in the feature game of Waikato premier men’s softball on Saturday.

Martin collected three of his team’s 13 safe hits in their 18-9 victory over Southnet at Resthills Park, including an automatic home run.

But he had plenty of support from his team-mates in the batter’s box with Te Ate Walker, Raiden Shepherd and Brendon Rogers each collecting a brace of hits.

The game was something of a hittingfest with Southnet managing nine hits themselves, including three home runs that accounted for eight of their nine runs.

DJ Bishop hit a three-run automatic homer in the bottom of the first in reply to Marlinz’ opening five-run blast, Toa Tauranga did the same in the fourth after an in-the-park homer to bring in two of their three runs in that inning.

Walker this week took on a back-up pitching role with Rene Martin given the start on the mound for Marlinz.

Martin faced 24 batters in four innings, taking four strikeouts and giving up two walks and eight hits for nine runs. Walker then took over, facing eight batters in two innings for three strikeouts and one hit.

Southnet’s pitching was shared between Raniera Taniwha, who faced 28 batters over four innings for two strikeouts, four walks, eight hits and 11 runs, and Vinny Harris, who took one strikeout and gave up two walks, five hits and seven runs over two innings.