Softball: Premier clash falls short on firepower

Saints substitute Sam Coldicutt attempts to beat the throw to first base during Saturday's win. Photo / Paul Taylor

The standard of play in Saturday's feature Hawke's Bay premier men's softball match was well short of acceptable.

But one could appreciate the logic. Defending champions Saints were in development mode and Maraenui Pumas, who also fielded four players over 19, were again hindered by unavailabilities.

"This is a good time to give some of our younger players an opportunity. Some of our first-stringers like our Junior Black Sox pair of Jacob [Zurcher] and Adam [Woon] will be unavailable next week so it's important our youngsters are ready when they have to step up," Saints coach Paul Woon said after his team's five-inning, 7-0 win.

Last year Saints won the post-Christmas title with a 2-1 victory over Fast Pitch Giants. Caleb Leddie - then a 14-year-old and a substitute on Saturday once again - scored the winning run as a substitute tie-breaker runner.

"I'm confident we can reach next month's final and our youngsters will have enough experience by then," Woon said.

His oldest son Luke did well to pitch a no-hitter and strike out six of the 18 batters he faced. Catcher Matt Williams' three-bagger, which scored two runners, was the batting highlight of the match.

Outfielder Dallas Brown scampered home on an error to open the scoring in the first inning. Williams and infielder Xaviar Herrick extended the lead to 3-0 in the second when they came home on another Pumas error.

Short stop Adam Woon stretched the lead when he scored on a fielder's choice in the third. Williams triple-scored Herrick and third baseman Zurcher in the fifth inning and substitute Sam Coldicutt had the final say when he hit Herrick home.

Saints collected four hits off Pumas' starting pitcher Horowai Puketapu and four off his replacement, player-coach Karaitiana Aranui.

In the other match, pre-Christmas champions Giants beat Vikings 6-4. Third baseman Puhi Rapaea smashed a home run for the winners.

Giants' starting pitcher Ihaka Tangaroa didn't concede a run during his four innings on the mound. The winless Vikings did well to take the Giants to seven innings.

Outfielder and former national age-group baseball rep Dean Stafford did well to hit three singles for the Vikings. Former White Sox infielder Angela Stubbs turned out for the Vikings and was comfortable playing at this level.

Hawke's Bay's White Sox pitcher-catcher combination of Rita Hokianga and Melanie Gettins were members of the Hutt Valley team which lost 2-0 to Auckland in yesterday's women's final at the National Fastpitch Championship in Christchurch.

Auckland also won the men's title with a 5-2 win against Hutt Valley in the final.

Hawke's Bay's Black Sox outfielder Campbell Makea, who played for fourth-placed Wellington, was the men's top batter at the four-day event.