Softball: Unbeaten start for Hawke's Bay under-19s

Sam Coldicutt scored the Bay's only run in the win against Wellington. Photo/File

The ejection of coach Karaitiana Aranui and player Kahurangi Beamsley-Allan didn't stop Hawke's Bay from making an unbeaten start at the national under-19 boys softball tournament in Christchurch yesterday.

"We were ejected from our second game, which was against Wellington, because of a technical issue. The umpire didn't think the necessary paperwork had been done on a substitution," coach Aranui recalled as he reflected on a 1-0 victory which followed a 3-2 win against Southland earlier in the day.

He had every right to praise his troops' defence, particularly the work of pitchers Ihaka Tangaroa and Kristen Munro in both games.

Tangaroa, a son of retired multiple world champion Chubb Tangaroa, completed seven strikeouts during the first five innings of the Southland game before Munro collected three during his two innings on the mound.

Against Wellington, Munro had the first five innings on the mound and finished with eight strikeouts. Tangaroa pitched the final two innings and added another two strikeouts to his tally for the day.

"Both Ihaka and Kristen are eligible for this age group again next year, as are all but two of this team, so it was an awesome effort," Aranui said.

Against Southland, Hawke's Bay had to recover from a 2-0 deficit and scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning.

Against Wellington, outfielder Donvan Mataira produced the Bay's only hit, a double, which scored catcher Sam Coldicutt in the second inning.

Coldicutt, who caught well in both games, got on base with a walk. In the first inning Wellington loaded the bases before Munro was able to send the next three batters back to their dugout.

Second seeds Hawke's Bay are scheduled to play Tairawhiti, Waikato and North Harbour today. Coach Aranui was hoping wet weather, which is predicted to lash most parts of the country today, would blow out of the city before causing too many delays to play.

Hawke's Bay's sisters, pitcher Courtney and catcher Melanie Gettins are playing in the New Zealand White Sox team at the tournament as part of their quest to gain tougher matchplay to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The White Sox beat Hutt Valley 7-3 and lost 7-0 to hosts Canterbury and Upper South Island.

Top seeds Auckland and Auckland B are scheduled to take on the White Sox today.