While Pakoti, the second youngest in the Dodgers squad, has played for the Hawke's Bay under-17s and under-15s in the past, he didn't play any rep ball last summer. He is hoping to make this summer's Hawke's Bay under-19s.
Close behind Pakoti in the battle for Dodgers player-of-the-match award was first baseman Hector Stubbs. He got on base with all three of his turns at bat including a double which scored Pakoti for the first run of the game.
Dodgers scored another two runs in the first inning when outfielder Phillip Mudd hit Stubbs home before scoring on a hit from Luke Herrick. Saints opened their account in the bottom of the first when short stop Jesse Little came home on an error.
Dodgers extended their lead in the top of the second when Pakoti hit Farrell home. Saints closed the gap in their second turn at bat when outfielder Taniera Miratana scored third baseman Hoani Crawford with a double.
With the count two down Saints player-coach Brian Dellow smashed an automatic home run over the left outfield fence on diamond two with Little on base in the bottom of the fifth to force the game into the tie-breaker.
Dodgers out hit Saints 7-4. Dodgers pitcher Jovaan Hanley accumulated eight strikeouts, two more than his Saints counterpart, Tamihana Hokianga.
Fast Pitch player-coach Mario Herbert was thrilled with the manner in which his troops bounced back from two consecutive losses to beat Maraenui Pumas 5-2 in the other game at Akina Park. The winless Pumas were leading 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth when Fast Pitch second baseman Stirling Bartlett hit a home run with pitcher Kane Herbert on base to spark his team's comeback.
The Fast Pitch batters collected five hits off the Pumas Canadian pitcher Alex Fehr while the Pumas batters produced three hits. Pumas short stop Tiwana Aranui produced two hits from three turns at bat.
