Spartans and Boys’ High take early lead

File picture

SPARTANS continued their winning ways with a 10-0 victory over a young Tolaga Titans team in Tairawhiti men’s softball at the weekend.

With only four of last season’s team on the diamond, Spartans did not get away from Tolaga until the fourth inning. Then they piled on the runs.

A Maru Leach home run brought in a few of the runs, but good batting also came from Cleo Reihana and Jade Hikitapua-Wilson.

Treyson Hikitapua-Wilson and TK Reihana dominated on the pitching mound.

For the Titans, the pitcher-catcher combination of Austin Sidney and Chris Wanoa did a great job against the strong Spartans batters, while Year 9 student Waiariki Thatcher at second base stole the show with some acrobatic fielding and sound batting.

After two weeks of competition, Spartans and Gisborne Boys’ High School (1) lead the way with two wins each.

In the women’s competition, Uawa Scorpions shrugged off their close loss to Gisborne Girls’ High School last week by beating Lytton Gems 8-3.

Uawa got off to a great start with pitcher-catcher duo Jana Hihi and Ngahuia Emery restricting the Lytton batters throughout the game, while veteran Leesa Kingi was dominant at bat and in the field.

Diane Rangihuna chimed in with a strong performance in the field and at bat.

Lytton pitcher-catcher combo Taylor Teahorangi and Jonleigh Campbell did their best to tie down the Uawa batters.

In other games, Rovers (1) beat Uawa Magic 7-0 and Rovers (2) surprisingly beat Girls’ High 10-5.

While many of the Rovers (2) team had played before, the result was still a surprise.

After two weeks of competition, the grade looks wide open with all teams bar Tolaga having had a win.