PERFECT TIMING: Bailey Douglas of the Giants under-15s shows the batting style which saw the ball sailing over the fence. PHOTOS/CHRIS KILFORD
PERFECT TIMING: Bailey Douglas of the Giants under-15s shows the batting style which saw the ball sailing over the fence. PHOTOS/CHRIS KILFORD
Bayley Douglas carved himself a special niche in Giants Softball Club history during his team's Hutt Valley under-15 competition match with Demons in Masterton on Saturday.
He became the first player from a Giants junior team to register an automatic home run by smashing the ball over the South Parkfence.
And that wasn't Douglas's only contribution to an impressive Giants 14-0 victory. He also struck an in-the-park home run and was accurate and consistent in his pitching.
Giants allowed only five Demons to get on base and none of them was able to score. Catcher Curtis Krivan-Mutu, third baseman Tyson Kawana and outfielder Mason Murray also shone for Giants in an emphatic victory.
The McAuleys Giants vets maintained their unbeaten record in the Hutt Valley President's grade competition with a 21-2 thumping of Totara Park, a team which had beaten them by a double-figure margin last time they had met.
All 12 members of the Giants squad were given time on the diamond with Corie Karaitiana, Justin Karaitiana and Gordon Wilmshurst scoring home runs and Terry Waitere producing four safe hits from as many turns at bat. Pitcher Tony Nixon gave away only three hits while the highlight of a fine fielding event was a double play involving Gordon Wilmshurst, Corie Karaitiana and Russell Kawana. Designated runner Robert Glanville got on base four times and scored four times.
The Giants women's team were beaten 14-2 in their Hutt Valley major B match with Totara Park but still gave a spirited performance. Emma Kruszona was player of the day and others to impress were Ashleigh Edmonds and Makaylah Julian.
