Braves, Mustangs and Mustangs Black all win their respective Manawatu softball competition matches

Braves pitcher Brad Worsley carved up the Dodgers batting line-up with 16 strikeouts and giving away only two hits.

All three Whanganui teams won their respective Manawatu senior men's grade softball matches in Palmerston North over the weekend after missing the previous Saturday through rain.

Ezi Finance Wanganui Braves beat last season's premier grade runners-up Dodgers 6-2, while Mustangs and Mustangs Black came from behind to claim their scalps in the senior men's reserve grade competition.

Once again Braves pitcher Brad Worsley dominated the opposition batters taking an impressive 16 strikeouts in the seven-innings game, giving up only two hits.

Dodgers two runs came, funnily enough, through two Whanganui-based players, pitcher Caleb Watt and catcher Chase Pauro, the later smashing an impressive hit to the centre field fence.

Jamie Hollis had a good all round game, catching two bullet catches on 1st base, and getting a safe hit to centre field in the bottom of the 1st innings. Hollis scored the teams first run, brought home by veteran Peter Flood who hit to left field.

Braves scored another two runs in the bottom of the 4th innings (Flood and Worsley), when Dodgers made an unforced fielding error.

Carl Priddle slammed a hit to the Dodgers shortstop, Whanganui-based player Emanuel Savage, who threw a duster to their 1st baseman who could not gather up the throw allowing Flood and Worsley to make home on the error.

Three more runs where scored in the bottom of the 6th to Richie Smith, Glen Casey and Priddle, to round off a good day at the office for the Ezi Finance-sponsored side.

"Saturday was a bit of a litmus test for us, Dodgers were last year's premier finalists going down narrowly to Huia Chiefs in the final," Braves player-coach Shane Foster said.

"To beat this side 6-2 stands us in good steed for this Saturday when we play last year's premier champions Huia Chiefs at Colquhoun Park at 2.30pm."

Meanwhile, Mustangs played Bromac Bombers starting the game strongly with Duane Paranihi and Regan Calder scoring twice.

Hits by Jefferson Yacap, Matty Ranga, Petera Ruahawe-Martin and a massive home run by Danny Green put the Mustangs ahead 8-0. Bombers then replied with 3 runs.

In Mustangs' next turn at bat Ian Fisher hit a 3 base hit, but the remaining batters could not score him. Heading into the 4th innings, Bombers produced some hitting power of their own, and with some classic errors 8 runs were scored, putting them ahead 11-8.

With 15 minutes remaining Mustangs coach Ron Hollis called the team aside for a chat, and along with some very good vocal supporters, 5 runs were scored by Green, Ruahawe-Martin, Aaron Mahoney and the Hollis brothers Ben and Jake. Mustangs won the game 13-11. Pitcher Danny Green, returning to softball after a 9 year break, had a good day striking out 8 batters.

It was the first game for the second Mustangs Black team playing Bromac Cowboys.

Although it was a rocky start, the boys managed to put a few good innings in on the bat and glove eventually coming away with a 13-6 win.

There is some stiff competition in the weeks to come, so there is a lot to work on, but coach Shaun Pirere is really happy with the team over all. Mention must go to Bailey Kiwara for the team's first home run.