Softball: Bay's unbeaten start ideal birthday gift

TIDY OUT: Hawke's Bay's long-serving White Sox player Melanie Gettins takes an out at first base during last night's loss to Auckland. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Before the national under-19 boys softball tournament began in Hastings yesterday, Hawke's Bay second baseman Xavier Herrick was happy to reveal his three goals.

Helping the Bay win the tournament was top of the list. Making the tournament team and finishing among the top 10 batters were the next two.

Herrick put himself in serious contention for the latter two as the Paul Woon-coached fourth seeds opened their campaign with a 13-4 win against Hutt Valley and a 5-3 victory against Wellington at Akina Park. He recorded four hits from as many turns at bat against Hutt Valley and smashed an automatic home run with two runners on base with his first turn against Wellington.

"It was a pretty good start. The boys played well in both games and it was good to get Wellington back after they pipped us 6-5 in last year's semifinals," Herrick said.

"Finishing the day unbeaten was an ideal early birthday present for coach Woon," he added, referring to Woon's 51st birthday today.

Third baseman Tawhirimatea Fielding-Richardson gave the Bay a 4-0 lead in the second inning against Wellington with an automatic home run. Wellington scored their first run in the third inning before the hosts scored again in the fifth.

Left outfielder Tridan McClutchie got on base with a three bagger and 2016 Junior Black Sox pitcher Adam Woon hit a double to score McClutchie. Wellington scored their other two runs in the fifth.

Against Hutt Valley Hawke's Bay made a slow start and trailed 4-2. Sevens runs in the third inning sparked the hosts' recovery mission.

Members of the New Zealand White Sox women's extended training squad including the Hawke's Bay pitcher-catcher combination of Rita Hokianga and Melanie Gettins are playing in the 12-team tournament as part of their buildup to the 2018 World Championship, a key tournament in the qualification process for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The White Sox were beaten 8-0 by Canterbury, 6-3 by Counties-Manukau and 8-1 by defending champions Auckland.

Hawke's Bay-based White Sox head coach Kevin Gettins said his squad found the transition tough.

"The boys are a bit stronger and faster and adapting to that took a few games. We needed to speed things up and while we did it in patches we weren't consistent enough. At times we played poor defence and gave up soft runs."

Gettins said tidying up their defence would be a priority for his troops today. They have targeted wins against North Harbour who they take on at 11am and Southland, the other winless team in their section, who they meet at 3pm.

Hokianga impressed with her speed and location during her stints on the mound.

"Rita took seven strikeouts against Auckland who are a very good side," Gettins said.

Upper South Island and Hawke's Bay were the only unbeaten teams in section B after yesterday's play. These two teams clash at 1pm today.

Hawke's Bay will also take on Auckland B at 9am and Tairawhiti at 5pm. Canterbury and Auckland will start today as the only unbeaten teams in section A.