Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 08:33:48 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Vic Guth Day Two report from Trevor Rowse
Envelope-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
January 29, 2005.
Vic Guth Day Two report from Trevor Rowse in Auckland.
Metro has set the standard for the rest in the 43rd annual Vic Guth
Memorial series at Aucklands Norana Park.
All season the side, bolstered by Black Sox star Taifau Matai and
pitcher Steven Tau, has led the Auckland competition and the team has only
one loss, to national champion Ramblers on Friday night.
Trying to find out the exact formula for the play-offs is not easy but
the top points will count, even though the teams have not all played each
other and, as I have been told many times, there are not two sections at all.
United v Glenora. United made it four in a row with a 3-0 win started
by two infield errors which allowed Scott Rattigan to score in the top of
the first. Haydn Wildbore hit and another big error let in the second run
in the third.
Carl Hiko walked in the fourth and two further errors allowed United
the easiest of wins, taking only two hits from Ngawati Apanui and Troy
Caddy. Marko Lezaic managed Glenoras sole hit in the fourth, off Isaac
Fletcher.
Dion Nukunuku umpired and L Rogers was the scorer.
Poneke Kilbirnie v Tamatea. Both sides were still in the hunt for the
top four all day and Tamatea won 6-3 to make sure that their progress was
maintained. Johnny Stratford, in great form all season, led off with a hit,
stole a base and scored on a Craig Wallace single in the top of the first.
PK went two up with a third inning home run by Dale Metekingi, one of
the stars of the series and PK seemed to be doing enough to take the game.
Nobody told Tamateas gallant band and the side, with one out in the
third, scored six successive runs. Rakai Hokianga singled, Shaun Marino
doubled, Jerol Lajpold was deliberately walked, Stacy Taylor singled, Simon
Rodgers bunted on and Puhi Rapaea hit over right field. 6-2.
Steve McFarlane and Stratford combined for another PK run but the life
had gone out of the Wellington men in the last two bats. Shaun Foster
pitched, allowing nine hits, while PK grabbed eight from Marino.
Graeme Gollan umpired with Rowena Mackenly scoring.
Richmond v Waitakere Bears. Bears had a batting lesson/display as the
Christchurch side took 12 runs from 12 hits and confined the Auckland side
to four hits and one run, a homer from Travis Miller in the top of the
fourth. That was the only good news for the Bears, having a bad run at the
series.
There was a mini-rally in the third from Anthony Stuart and Miller in
the third before the run flow really started, but it came to nothing.
Hits from Paul Stead, Carl Franklin and Chris Eden-Huria scored two in
the first while Nigel Stevens and Stead hit in the second to score another.
Ten runs came home in the third with three successive hits from Phil
Mountford, Eden-Huria and Mike Sands. With none out, Aaron Risdon walked
and Nathan Taikato tripled. Stevens doubled and Craig Higgs provided a
single before Stead and Franklin walked. Mountford hit a grand slam over
the fence and then three batters went out in order after an amazing flurry,
but a frustrating inning for Bears pitcher Kyle Kouka. 12-2
Bob Mitchell umpired with Lynnette Leathart scoring.
Metro v Otahuhu. It was a tighter game for Metro, finally winning 3-0
with the runs coming in the fourth and fifth turns, the last of the game.
Otahuhu grabbed three hits, a ground-rule double by Taiki Apu in the fourth
and two in the fifth from Thomas Katene and Jimmy Kouka.
Metros five hits from Apus pitching saw four in the last two turns.
Taifau Matai, the Black Sox veteran, with three gold medals and a silver,
hit a double to lead off the fourth. Bernard Hale, on of the new crop in
the Black Sox training squad, walked and both scored on a hit by Metro
veteran Mathew Utatao, with a some help from a short shot from Josh Niu.
The final run came from a walk to pitcher Steven Tau, followed by two
wild pitches and an error, with Hales final hit not advancing the runner.
The game was called on account of lack of light.
Scott Couch umpired and Jan Hutchings scored.
Waitakere Bears v Marist. Marists woes continued as Bears recovered
some prestige with a seven-hit display for a 6-2 win. Jonathan Munden, who
had a perfect batting game, led off with a top of the first run after a
centre field hit, a stolen base, fielders choice and a sacrifice and
Miller hit over the fence to tie the score. Bears did the damage in the
third with the first six batters making base, with four scoring.
Stuart started with a hit, Miller walked, Rueben Topia forced an error,
Kyle Kouka hit and Gerrard Long, the pitcher, was walked and there were
back to back hits from Gordon Hooper and Paul Doolan.
Marists Jamie Matiu hit with Jerome Haretuku hitting a home run, but
Bears managed another through Stuart double in the fourth, followed by a
Topia hit.
Aporo Hiko and Tere Tuakana-Kapi umpired with Harriet Tomlin scoring.
In the late night Saturday game, United went into the match unbeaten
against Ramblers, shocked by the thumping from PK. Ramblers, after a
rollicking from coach Ricky Earley, started smartly with Scott ONeale
showing his value as lead-off man for the fourth time in four games of the
event.
This time it was a walk, followed by a Lawrence Naera hit and a walk
for ace batter Lyndon Andrew, but there was no follow up, letting United
off lightly. Naera had the second of his three hits in the third but his
double also failed without support.
Then United, the host club and keen to take the title after a long
spell out of the money, delighted its fans with a two-run rally initiated
by Roger Marshman, the sides reliable veteran. The Great Britain
international hit to right field, Haydn Wildbore sacrificed, Brendon
Rogers followed with a hit and Isaac Fletcher with a bunt, forcing an
error, and two runs scored.
It was a false hope as Ramblers, stung and not wanting more wrath from
the coach, started the next turn with an Andrew double, Jason Halloran
responded with a triple for one run and Halloran scored on a passed ball.
Lance Roberts, Mr Reliable, was walked and scored, with two down, on a
dropped outfield catch.
In the fifth Ramblers started with a Naera hit and an intentional walk
for Andrew. Errors allowed one run in before Halloran hit again for 5-2.
Bob Mitchell and Duncan Enoka umpired, with Harry Wooding the scorer.
Tamateas good run ended this morning with a 5-4 Northcote win but
Northcote must have wondered if the loss to Metro was going to be repeated
when Shaun Marino hit over the fence with Luke Herrick on base in the first.
Casey Eden had the answer to that worry with a first batter home run.
Two outs later and David Down did the same and it was 2-2. Rongo Rapaea and
Jerol Ljpold put Tamatea in the lead again in the third with hits and it
was Northcotes turn to tie at 3-3 with a Dean Wallace home run.
Coach Neil Morrison, who played the whole game, led off for Northcote
with a hit in the sixth, Jimmy Grego supplied the sacrifice and Aaron
Collier did the damage with a home run over centre-left field for 5-2.
But the worry was not over for Northcote after Kyle Van Abel hit over
with three outs to come. But the batters were tied up by Grego and the win
was secured.
J Edwin and David Sorenson umpired with L Rogers scoring.
Metro needed the win against PK to stay on top and Terence Hibbert, the
pitcher, started with a ground-rule double and Dion Nukunuku was walked,
setting the scene for a home run from Taifau Matai. Then Bernard Hale
repeated the medicine for 4-0. Steve McFarlane and John Stratford combined
hits to claw one run back in the bottom of the third.
Wayne Saunders, one of PKs most loyal men, recreated his youth with a
home run over centre field and McFarlane, not to be left out, did the same
two batters later for 4-4 but it was not enough. Hale forced a sixth inning
error, Des Permerika singled and an error let another Metro run in before
Permerika also scored after Josh Nius hit.
Bob Mitchell and Walter Nukunuku umpired with Lynnette Leathart scorer.
Ramblers v Northcote. Scott ONeale showed that he is of international
class with his fifth lead-off success, this time with a home run which set
Ramblers up for a win the side desperately needed. The 5-3 margin was
enough to guarantee a top four place by the end of the second day.
Lawrence Naera was aboard on an error and Aaron Thompson after a walk.
One run scored on errors before Lyndon Andrews hit pushed the other home
and it was a 3-0 first half of the first.
Not to be out-done, US import Luis Joglar hit over left field with
Eden, another fine lead-off man, on base after a hit. 3-2. Lance Roberts,
with one out, hit for Ramblers in the second and scored on another ONeale
hit. Andrew forced a third inning error and scored on pitcher John Hiremes
hit.
Jimmy Grego hit a home run and Aaron Collier followed with another hit
but the game faded out without going into the fifth.
J Edwin umpired and Cushla Shepherd scored the match.
Glenora had a wonderful start against the high-flying Richmond
when Troy Caddy hit a home run as lead off in the top of the first, Dennis
Gedye followed with a hit and Leon Hardie drew the cheers with another home
run for 3-0.
After that it was totally one-way traffic as Richmond thumped home 17
runs with 14 hits. Mike Sands was the man of the day with three home runs
and a single from four turns in a feat which equalled that of Lyndon Andrew
a few years ago.
There were seven Richmond homers as Glenora used its two top pitchers.
The second inning was the killer with Richmond going through the order not
once but twice, with Chris Eden-Huira, Sands and Aaron Risden hitting
successive homers. Risden hit two home runs in two turns and was then
substituted. What did he do wrong?
Phil Mountford hit a homer and a single with Clayton Ellis two for
three but there were two Richmond men without a hit between them.
Graeme Gollan and Walter Nukunuku umpired with Harriet Tomlin scorer.
17-3 and no joy for the Glenora men, until they beat close local rival
Bears 7-3 in the late game. Richmond, so happy earlier, struck reality when
Ramblers won 8-5 and Northcote kept Marists embarrassments going with a
13-7 win.
Metro and United battled until the sixth with little for the loyal
fans, including two of the 1976 world series team, Allan Russell and Jimmy
Fowler, to cheer. Then the game fell in for United.
Brennan Findlay was on base when danger loomed with two of the most
experienced players in the land. Dion Nukunuku, with four gold medals from
junior worlds and three senior world titles and the much-decorated Taifau
Matai.
Nukunuku did not wait but pasted the first pitch into right field for
1-0. Matai did the same to put two men on and Bernard Hale hit his first
pitch for two RBIs and 3-0. Not to be out-done, Des Pemerika hit the fourth
run home and Uniteds great run had ended.
Tamateas great sprint continued with a 7-0 shutout of Otahuhu and PK
disposed of Bears 10-2.
So the points ended up, with no sections but not every team played each
other but they were seeded
dont ask any more but the top was well
separated from the bottom.
Results: United 3 Glenora 0, Tamatea 6 PK 3, Richmond 12 Bears 1, Metro 3
Otahuhu 0, Bears 6 Marist 3, Ramblers 5 United 2, Northcote 5 Tamatea 4,
Metro 6 PK 3, United 3 Marist 1, Ramblers 5 Northcote 3, Richmond 17
Glenora 3, Richmond 11 Otahuhu 2, PK 11 Glenora 4, Tamatea 12 Marist 5,
Metro 4 United 0, Tamatea 7 Otahuhu 0, PK 10 Bears 2, Glenora 7 Bears 3,
Ramblers 8 Richmond 5, Northcote 13 Marist 7.
Points, with five games to play and top four to play off today 12.45 and 3pm:
Points: Metro 16, Ramblers and Tamatea 14, Richmond 13, United, Northcote
and PK 12, Bears and Otahuhu 4, Glenora and Marist 2. Tamatea will play
Ramblers, United v PK in key final games on Monday, with Northcote expected
to beat Marist and Metro to beat Bears. Marist and Glenora, the only other
match, will be playing for bottom place.
So the top four is open, with Metro guaranteed, Richmond has a bye so
goes to 15 so there will be three unlucky teams in what has been an
extremely even competition.
The semis are at 12.45 and the final at 3 pm.
http://www.softball.org.nz/
* Email: snz(at)softball.org.nz
Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* Email: vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz
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