Softball: Woon duo power Saints to three-peat

Saints premier men's softballers celebrate their third post-Christmas title on the trot. Photo / Duncan Brown

It was the Woon brothers show as Saints captured a third consecutive Hawke's Bay premier men's post-Christmas softball title in Hastings yesterday.

Captain and centre outfielder Luke Woon scored all of his team's runs, with an automatic home run over the centre outfield fence on diamond one at Akina Park when left outfielder Sam Coldicutt and catcher Matt Williams were on base in the second inning of their 3-1 victory against Fast Pitch Giants. His brother, Junior Black Sox pitcher Adam Woon, struck out 13 of the 26 batters he faced while conceding five hits.

While no doubt thrilled with his sons' input, Saints coach Paul Woon said the most pleasing aspect of the error-free victory was the fact it was achieved with a squad developed within the Saints club.

"We've got no imports and all of our youngsters contributed. They're at a level now when we can start going away to tournaments next season and in three years' time we'll have another crop of talented youngsters coming through because of the good work going on in our younger grades.

"The support the team and I get from everyone else in the club is tremendous. When everyone else is doing their job it makes my job easier," Woon explained.

Coldicutt, who represented Hawke's Bay at under-19 and under-17 levels this summer, made an outstanding double play in the third inning, taking Giants outfielder Corban Kireka out at home plate after Kireka had produced a three-bagger. Fellow outfielder and Hawke's Bay under-19 teammate, Dallas Brown, batted 1000 for Saints.

Player-coach and catcher Te Rangi Chadwick scored Giants' only run with some clever base running after third baseman Puhi Rapaea hit a single in the fourth inning. His team missed the services of former Black Sox pitcher Regan Manley, who was a late withdrawal.

Regular infielder Curtis Huata, a former Black Sox extended squad member, pitched for Giants and got three strikeouts while conceding nine hits. "While it was tough on Curtis we still had opportunities but couldn't string our hits together," Chadwick said.

Promising short stop Liam Udy-Johns batted 1000 for Giants.

Most of the Giants side played for Hawke's Bay's rep team, the Central Vikings, who were beaten 10-0 by Hutt Valley Dodgers in a four-inning Wellington intercity premier men's final in the capital on Saturday. Dodgers smashed six home runs, with Black Sox pitcher Nik Hayes and former Black Sox player Craig Wallace hitting two each.

"It's been a tough couple of days but I'm sure we can generate the necessary fire required for this week's interclub tournament," Chadwick added referring to the national interclub tournament which will be played in Nelson from Wednesday until Sunday.

The Hawke's Bay Evergreens men's team finished fifth at their Masterton-hosted nationals, which ended yesterday.