Tie-breaker needed to decide final

WINNING MEN’S TEAM: Scorpions beat TWK Rams 8-7 in a Reid Reihana Memorial final that went to an eighth-inning tie-breaker. Scorpions are, back (from left): Adam Nepe, Hamish Long, Corban Richter, Corey Boocock, Reno Sidney and Ray Noble (coach). Front: Jake Noble, Jesse Hohepa-O’Keefe, Tane Ruru and Tupuhi Gardner. Picture supplied

SOFTBALL

SCORPIONS needed an eighth-inning tie-breaker to beat TWK Rams 8-7 in the final of the Reid Reihana Memorial Tournament for Tairawhiti men’s softball teams.

The scores were tied 6-6 at the end of the regulation seven innings.

Rovers won the women’s competition, the Raima and Stan Boyd Memorial Tournament. They beat composite team Cheese Supreme 11-3 in the final.

Three teams entered the men’s competition. GMC lost both their round-robin games, 6-5 to the Rams and 6-1 to Scorpions.

Scoring see-sawed in the final, with neither team able to make a decisive break in the seven innings.

For Scorpions, Adam Nepe hit four automatic home runs throughout the day, culminating with one in the final, the pitcher/catcher combination of Jesse Hohepa-O’Keefe and Jake Noble worked hard to keep the strong Rams line-up in check, and Tane Ruru continued his hot batting form from the under-18 nationals by consistently driving the ball through the infield.

Rams highlights from the final included automatic single homers to father and son Corey and TK Reihana, the pitching efforts of Corey Reihana and Tom Kingi Jnr, and the regular hitting by 13-year-old Ngahina Hinaki that enabled him to reach base safely.

Scorpions were made up of former Scorpion stalwarts Ray Noble and Walton Walker and Gisborne Boys’ High School players.

The Raima and Stan Boyd Memorial also had only three teams taking part.

Rovers and Cheese Supreme drew their round-robin game 3-3, Cheese Supreme beat the Under-13s 9-3 and Rovers beat the U13s 8-7.

Consistent batting was the key to Rovers’ win in the final.

Outstanding with the bat for Rovers were TC Topine, Doreen Fenton and Chevy Te Weri.

Pitcher Te Ratahi Campbell had an exceptional day, and worked well with catchers Taea Whitehead and Waiti Campbell to contain the strong Cheese Supreme batting line-up.

Cheese Supreme were well served by their experienced players. Pitchers Rochelle Hikawai and Jesse Collier, catcher Reece McBeth and infielder Ana Houia all played well.

Competition results from last Saturday were —

Men: TWK Rams 7 Uawa 0, Spartans 5 GMC 3. Gisborne Boys’ High School v GBHS (2) deferred.

Women: Uawa 7 Lytton Gems 0, Scorpions 7 Whatatutu 0, Rovers 13 GMC 9.