Canterbury Avenges Softball Defeats

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 19

Canterbury Avenges Softball Defeats

Canterbury avenged its two defeats in the national men’s softball tournament by scoring a convincing, 5-1, victory over Marlborough at English Park on Saturday.

Some magnificent pitching by K. Smith early in the game, efficient fielding, and consistent batting were the essences of Canterbury’s win. Canterbury’s team-work was superior and six players scored safe hits. In all Canter bury scored seven safe hits to Marlborough's three. Fielding errors were reduced to a minimum by Canterbury but some of the Marlborough throwing and catching was wild and J. McMillan,

the first base, had a very trying day as balls whistled past his head with monotonous regularity. Brilliant Catches Tlie Canterbury outfielder, M. R. Napier, took several brilliant catches. In his first match for Canterbury, N. Hobson fielded efficiently, scored one safe hit, and made one particularly brilliant diving stop in the field. In a vain effort to keep the Canterbury batter, under control, Marlborough used three pitchers. The first, the lefthander, M. Singleton, pitched consistently in the first two innings but he conceded five hits and one walk in the next

two. W. Luke and B. Luke pitched for one innings each and each conceded one walk. Smith knocked much of the wind out of Marlborough by pushing through four strikeouts in the first two innings. Had the catcher, P. Joyce, not dropped another ball. Smith would have had five out of a possible six. Smith tired in the last Innings and gave away two walks to bring his match total to five strike-outs, three hits and two walks. Seven Safe Hits A. Graham led the Canterbury batting with two safe hits. Other safe hits were scored by E. Noonan, G. Clarkson, Hobson, Napier, and Cl Chee. Canterbury’s runs were scored by Noonan, Hobson, Graham, Napier and Chee. Marlborough’s three safe hits were recorded by J. Geeson, H. Cootes and P. Mcßae, the latter reaching home plate. The teams were: CANTERBURY: K. Smith, P. Joyce, G. Clarkson, A. Graham, C. Chee, N. Hobson, M. R. Napier, E. Noonan, I. Pollock. MARLBOROUGH: M. Singleton (replaced by W. Luke), J. Dans, J. McMillan (replaced by A. MeKnight), P. Ryan, B. Luke, H. Cootes, J. Geeson, P. Mcßae, W. Colley.

Two Wins By Wellington

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. The Wellington men's softball team showed form when it beat Auckland twice, 3-1 and 7-2, at Auckland on Saturday. Wellington turned in two grand displays of polished softbail! and Auckland could find no answer to its tight fielding and good batting.