SOFTBALL: Tamati still going strong but will step aside soon

SHANE HURNDELL
Dodgers softball veteran Cory Tamati laughed when SportToday asked him how much he was paying opposing pitchers.
With three home runs in two weeks from Tamati, 37, in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition the question had to be asked. He hit two in his side's 7-3 win over Scarfe Builders Tamatea at Akina Park, Hastings on Saturday.
"This is my 21st and last year of premier play and I want to go out in style," he said. "We've got a lot of good young players ready for premier play so next season it will be time to step aside for them. I'll move down to the senior B ranks where I can hopefully have a few games with my boys," said the short stop who has had regular stints in the Hawke's Bay senior men's team.
Tamati was fortunate Tamatea's new Canadian pitcher Mike Joseph was still jetlagged after getting straight off the plane and on to the mound on Saturday. Dodgers catcher Campbell Makea also hit a homer in the victory.
A Junior Black Sox representative, Makea was full of praise for the way Tamati is leading the younger players in the side.
"Not only does Cory want himself to have a good season, he wants the team to have one too, and as a result he's bringing the best out of everyone," said Makea.
Tamatea's second baseman Josh Paul also hit a homer in the match. In the other premier men's games Tamatea beat Saints 8-3 and Maraenui Pumas beat defending champions Fast Pitch 3-1.
A home run from pitcher Hone Mark Sinnott scored all of Pumas' runs.
ABC Software Taradale is the only unbeaten side after two rounds in Hawke's Bay's premier women's competition. They beat the other previously unbeaten side Diamonds 10-8 on Saturday.
Catcher Kay Schlierike was outstanding for Taradale. She reached base with three of her four turns at bat and batted three runners home.
Behind the plate she conceded one pass ball for her pitcher Kay Lorimer, who conceded 13 hits while striking out two of the 27 batters she faced.
Diamonds player-coach Rachael Kairau said defensive errors proved costly for her troops.
"Our top six batters went well, but down the bottom of the order we weren't too hot," she said.
Centre outfielder Angelique Rowe-Thompson was her best player with five hits from five turns at bat and two catches in the outfield.
Junior White Sox catcher Melanie Gettins hit a home run as her Dodgers team beat Fast Pitch 18-8 in the other game. Her side trailed 5-0 in the first inning and her teammates Angela Stubbs and Tagen Russell both collected two hits from three turns at bat. Fast Pitch's Junior White Sox outfielder Liani Samuel reached base three times.
* Results - page 17