Softball: Pitcher rapt with series squad selection

Fast Pitch Giants celebrate an unbeaten run in Hawke's Bay's pre-Christmas comp which ended with Saturday's grand final win.

Giants 7 Pumas 0 Prem men softball

Could it have been the five rainbow trout Canadian pitcher Kyle Crawford caught on his birthday 24 hours earlier?

Or could it have been the fact Crawford, 27, was named in a 40-strong Canadian World Series training squad the previous day? It was probably a combination of both which had Crawford on a high as his Fast Pitch Giants walloped Maraenui Pumas 7-0 in five innings in Hawke's Bay's Premier Men's Pre-Christmas softball competition grand final at Akina Park, Hastings, on Saturday.

"I kept a couple of the trout which were around 2kg and released the rest," Crawford said as he reflected on his fly fishing expedition on the Ngaruroro River.

Crawford, who is in his second season in the Bay, was on target for a no hitter when he appeared to switch into sportsmanship mode and conceded three consecutive hits to Pumas youngsters Harris Gannaway, Manaaki Aranui and Callum Carson in the top of the fifth.

"It had nothing to do with sportsmanship. Pumas fought back well ... you never give hits away," Crawford said with a huge grin on his face.

His team, which completed an unbeaten run in the comp, scored six runs in the first inning. Third baseman Puhi Rapaea hit short stop Curtis Huata home, former Junior Black Sox outfielder Rongo Rapaea scored on a sacrifice fly from fellow outfielder Liam Udy-Johns, catcher and captain Te Rangi Chadwick and Puhi Rapaea scored on a double from first baseman and former Black Sox pitcher Regan Manley and Manley and Crawford scampered home on a hit from designated player and former Junior Black Sox utility Mario Herbert.

Giants' other run came in the fourth inning when Huata dashed home on a pass ball. Crawford, who collected eight strikeouts, was rapt the Giants retained their pre-Christmas title.

"After losing the post-Christmas title this year we will target it in March. We're also targeting the Poneke-Kilbirnie tournament next month and that title will go good with our North Island Classic one," Crawford added.

Pumas player-coach, short stop Karaitiana Aranui, agreed Giants deserved the title.

"They have been the best team all season and everything has come to fruition for them. There is so much depth in their squad."

He pointed out the absence of his younger brother and former Junior Black Sox infielder Tiwana Aranui, who started his Christmas holidays early, was a big blow to the team.

"Hopefully we will have a Canadian pitcher after Christmas and can close the gap," Aranui said.

"It was awesome that our young team made the final," he added, referring to their 7-4 win against Saints in their semifinal.

With the score locked at 4-all in the semifinal, pitcher Tridan McClutchie smashed a three-run automatic homer over the left outfield fence on diamond one to secure the win. McClutchie took two strikeouts and leaked three walks and seven hits during his four innings on the mound in the final.

Giants beat Vikings by default in their semifinal.