Hawke's Bay softball umpire Terry Whittaker was close to calling off the province's eagerly awaited post-Christmas premier men's final after just four turns at bat at Akina Park, Hastings, on Saturday.
"I could call this off," remarked Whittaker as he pondered his options following an all-in brawl at the top of the first inning which saw both teams, defending champions Maraenui Pumas and Fast Pitch, clear their dugouts.
Pumas catcher Karaitiana Aranui, who had returned from his university commitments in Auckland for finals day, took exception to the way Fast Pitch outfielder Cameron Willis looked at him after shoving him out of the way as he sprinted home. As the pair shaped up to one another the dugouts cleared and a short brawl developed before Whittaker, fellow umpires Stephen Cooper and Mark Chapman and coaching staff from both teams calmed the situation.
Whittaker ejected Willis for being unsporting and Pumas first baseman Luke Herrick for punching. Pumas coach Roger Aranui claimed Herrick was only pulling players out of the way but Whittaker saw otherwise.
Fortunately for the teams and the large crowd, Whittaker opted to continue the match. Pumas, who completed a three-peat of post-Christmas titles with their 3-2 victory, struggled during the first four innings.
They missed the services of Hawke's Bay captain Herrick who was later named the province's top premier men's batter for the season. Fast Pitch pitcher Jordan Waterhouse, who won the top pitcher award for the season, was doing better than Pumas Black Sox pitcher Regan Manley during the early exchanges.
Former Junior Black Sox outfielder Rongo Rapaea opened the scoring for Fast Pitch when he came home on an error in the first inning. Willis also scored but his run was eliminated by his ejection.
Fast Pitch short stop and Black Sox training squad member Aaron Kuru gave his side a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with an automatic home run over the centre outfield fence on diamond one.
Waterhouse conceded his first hit when the "baby" of the Pumas line-up, 15-year-old second baseman and No7 batter Tiwana Aranui, smashed an automatic over the centre outfield fence in the bottom of the fifth.
"It was my first homer of the season at premier level and it couldn't have come at a better time," Aranui said after the final.
Pumas veteran substitute Tama Houkamau, 48, got on base on the same inning and his runner, re-entered player Jacob Mita, was hit home by centre outfielder Vinnie Wildermoth. Wildermoth scored what proved to be the winning run on a double from Manley in the bottom of the fifth.
Manley and Waterhouse conceded four hits each in the match. Manley struck out seven of the 26 batters he faced during seven innings on the mound.
Waterhouse struck out six of the 24 batters he faced during his five innings on the mound before being replaced by veteran Rayner Te Wake for the final inning.
Pumas, who have also won the last three pre-Christmas competition titles, had earlier on Saturday beaten Harris Scrap Metal Saints 3-2 in their sudden death semifinal. Fast Pitch were unbeaten in the post-Christmas competition before Saturday's final.