Slightly ahead of Karauria on Makea's list of heroes was pitcher Jovaan Hanley. A week after playing as a pick-up player for Saints in the North Island Classic, Hanley, struck out 13 batters while conceding two hits.
Hanley's Saints counterpart Tamihana Hokianga collected five strikeouts and gave up four hits.
Top qualifiers Fast Pitch walloped fourth qualifiers Maraenui Pumas 8-1 in the other semifinal. Pitcher Ahitana Kuru smashed an error-assisted in-park home run which was one of 10 hits his side collected off Pumas pitcher Alex Fehr.
Outfielder Rongo Rapaea collected two hits from four turns at bat as did his former Junior Black Sox teammate and first baseman Mario Herbert, third baseman Josh Tipoki and short stop Stirling Bartlett and one of Bartlett's was a double.
"They hit the ball and we didn't ... we made errors and they didn't," was Pumas manager Vicky Julian's accurate summation of the game.
