Men’s softball lacks lustre

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 23

Men’s softball lacks lustre

Ray Marsh's booming hit over the outfield fence for an automatic home run was about the only thing that interested spectators in a rather lack-lustre premier men's softball match between A.G.C. Finance United and Home Bakery Lyttelton at Papanui Domain on Saturday. United won the game in'the end by a clear enough margin. 80. but managed only a meagre two runs in its first five turns at bat. The early run came in the bottom of the first when Tony Mountford made base on an error and plated on a sacrifice by Marsh. Marsh led off in the

fourth with his third home run of the season to make the scoreline. 2-0. Little of note was produced by United till the sixth when the team went through the batting order and scored six runs. Only two safe hits were produced, however, and basic "Port" errors were of great assistance to the opposition. Lyttelton actually took the batting honours by four hits to three even though the margin was loaded so far against them at the finish. Brian Collins. Ross Fife (twice), and Steve Bachop all hit safely without the ultimate

reward of a run. Fife's second blow was a big one that both brought him a two-bagger and claims from the United dugout that it was "wind-assisted." But there he was to stay and none of his team-mates got any further than that. United's contributors were Marsh (who batted 1000 with a sacrifice, a hit. and a.walk). Tony Mountford, and Maia Toa who earned two bases after hitting the fence at left field on the full and scoring Paul Shannon in the sixth. ' The team was happy to have its regular No. 1 pitcher. David Bradbury, back on the mound

after an injury, and taking 10 strike-outs. Five days earlier United had actually used three substitutes in a 1 single innings. Generally, the fielding was nothing marvellous though a neat little effort by the United second base, Paul’ McFarlane, deserved the reward of a double play in the top of the fourth. McFarlane tagged Fife on his way to second only to miss the next out when a swift throw to first spilled from the normally sure hands of Shannon. For the fourth Saturday in succession the championship leader. Noel Leeming Burnside, did not take the diamond as the

team was on its way to Lower Hutt's Fraser Park for the Qantel Computer Cup contested yesterday. Burnside, which played a series of catch-up games this week, beat United (7-1), Lyttelton (6-0), .and Papanui (4-1) on successive evenings. The team now has a 24 win. two loss record this season and has conceded a mere 12 runs in those 26 games. POINTS TABLE

P W L F A Pt Burnside 9 8 1 37 5 16 United 8 6 1 33 .13 12 Papanui 8 2 6 10 26 4 Lyttelton 9 1 8 6 42 2