Softball: Giants too good for Pumas

Maraenui Pumas' catcher Joe O'Leary tags Fast Pitch Giants' runner Daniel Green out at home plate during the Giants 4-0 win on Saturday. Photo / Warren Buckland

An A-plus for sportsmanship but a C for performance and Maraenui Pumas premier men's team softball coach Karaitiana Aranui knew it on Saturday.

After Fast Pitch Giants' Canadian pitcher Kyle Crawford was ejected from the feature Hawke's Bay premier men's game at Akina Park, Hastings for reacting with threatening language when the Pumas players were calling his pitches in the bottom of the first inning, the Pumas convinced plate umpire Jade McClutchie to allow Crawford to continue playing.

Aranui had no qualms with the decision despite the Pumas' 4-0 loss.

"It was good for our players to face Kyle for future reference. You're only going to improve if you face quality pitchers like Kyle regularly," Aranui said.

He pointed out his players traditionally make a slow start to the season and were still experiencing "growing pains." And the controversy?

"There's always something like that when these two teams play."

The Pumas managed just two hits off Crawford who collected 13 strikeouts. One from outfielder Jacob Mita in the third inning and another from short stop and Junior Black Sox infielder Tiwana Aranui in the seventh.

The Giants produced five hits off the pitching of the Pumas' Canadian import Ian Wallwork who finished with nine strikeouts. Short stop Puhi Rapaea, 34, the oldest of the Giants, opened the scoring in the fourth inning after hitting a three-bagger and stealing home.

Outfielder Giovani Matairangi and second baseman Kane Herbert scored for the Giants in the fifth inning on a collection of errors and poor options from the Pumas' defence. Herbert scored again in the sixth inning on a sacrifice hit from Crawford.

Rapaea's defensive work and speed around the bases was the sharpest it has been for several seasons. He attributed his success to the high-intensity training he is doing at Patu Gym.

"We tried some different combinations out there today and everything clicked. The signs are good as we look ahead to the North Island Classic in a fortnight and the business end of the pre-Christmas competition," Rapaea said.

Equally as admirable as Rapaea's defensive work was that produced by left outfielder Cameron Willis.

As per the pre-match bet between the Canadian pitchers, Crawford earned a week's supply of sushi meals from Wallwork who reckoned McClutchie should contribute to the cost of his purchases. Wallwork was far from happy with the number of strike calls McClutchie didn't give him.

Fifteen-year-old second baseman Adam Woon was the hero in Saints' 6-2 win against Fast Pitch Rockets. Woon collected four hits from as many turns at bat including an automatic home run over the left outfield fence on diamond two, two doubles and a single.

Rockets pitcher Tridan McClutchie smashed his automatic home run over the centre outfield fence. Woon's father and Saints coach Paul Woon was thrilled with the progress made by 15-year-old catcher Sam Coldicutt in his premier debut.

-Bay senior representative men's team, the Central Vikings, recorded one win and two losses in their Wellington intercity competition games yesterday.

First baseman and lead off batter Callum Carson scored the only run in the first inning of their 1-0 win against Hutt Valley Dodgers. Crawford was economical on the mound in this win.

In their second outing against Dodgers the Vikings lost 5-1. Tamihana Hokianga pitched this game and conceded five runs during the first four innings.

The Vikings, with Wallwork on the mound, lost 3-0 to Hutt Valley Marist in their final game.