Softball: Titleholders step up to the plate

By JULIE ASH

Auckland's dominance in the national league looks set to continue with both the men's and women's teams on track to defending their titles.

Going into this weekend's final round-robin matches the Auckland women's team sit unbeaten at the top of the table while the men's team are second behind Wellington.

The women have already done enough to secure a finals spot. The men need just one win to secure their place in the top four, which they can do by beating either Hutt Valley or the Central Vikings in Hastings this weekend.

Six of the seven teams can still qualify for the top four.

Wellington, Auckland and Hutt Valley all look assured of a finals spot and the last one will be between Canterbury, Central and North Harbour.

Canterbury have the advantage this weekend as they are already in fourth spot, 10 points ahead of fifth-placed Central Vikings.

But the Cantabrians were in much the same position last season going into the final round when they needed to pick up just one win from four games to qualify. They could not do it and finished fifth.

"Hutt Valley are strong and Central have got two good pitchers in John Hireme and Black Sox player Michael Gaiger, who unfortunately we had to put in the draft because we had too many pitchers," Auckland men's coach Ricky Earley said.

"It came down to a loyalty thing ... the guys I had last year didn't let me down and they were both pretty motivated to do well this year.

"I'd like to have all three of them but the rules state you can only have two."

Auckland will be without Black Sox infielder Taifau Maitai who has a back strain.

"We are reasonably comfortable this weekend with trying to get one or two wins so we are hoping to rest him up for the finals," Earley said.

He was happy with where the team were at.

"We didn't perform all that well in the first weekend but we are making progress. So as I said to the guys, as long as we keep making progress and we are playing our best softball in the last weekend that is all we can ask."

North Harbour play Central and Hutt Valley in Hastings and must win the majority of their games. They may have the team to do it with Black Sox players Roman Gabriel, Patrick Shannon, Brad Rona and Clayton Willocks back.

In this weekend's women's round Auckland play Wellington at home in a double-header tomorrow afternoon at Norana Park in Mangere.