Some Fast Softball Seen On Saturday

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1948, Page 8

Some Fast Softball Seen On Saturday

"Strike One")

(By

Softball players had a good 'day for their second start on Saturday and some very fast games resulted. New talent was seen from some of the more recently formed teams and will perhaps provide stiff opposition for the more seasoned players and teams. In the men's A grade, Wanderers seem to have the top seat at the moment with Pirates, Kimberley and Athletic running for second place. In the men's B grade, Achilles B, Otaki Colts and Kimberley should be up in the leading class at the end of the first round. In the ladies' teams Wanderers, Tuis, Aces A and Puhahau must be seen before a true estimate of their worth can be given. Following the next two Saturdsys, nominations are to go forward for the Beatty Cup the prize of ladies' provincial teams, to be played in Wellington early in the New Year. Of the players seen to date, Miss I. Hudson seems an ideal type, a sound hitter and a good pitcher. Miss J. Bird was especially good in her position on the third base and her throwing to first could leave little to be desired. In the Wanderers team, Miss J. Bagrie, a new player catching at second, especially when bases were well loaded was the anchor of her team. Miss P. Skilton also in her first season played well at first base for Wanderers.

It is players like these for whom the selectors are looking and it is well ty note that they have only two more Saturday's games from which to pick the feps. I hope to give more prospects next week. Each Saturday, one women's team will play two games to save the necessity of a bye. Last week, Punahau played twice, winning one and losing one. The game be'tween Ajax and Kimberley, ' played at the Training Centre, seemed to lack the keenness usually associated with softball. Ajax got into a handy lead and then eased up, a big fault often seen, and had" to fight hard to retain their lead in the final innings. Athletic's win over Punahau was not so marked, as the score of 39—12 would indicate and I pick Punahau as one of ;4the three leading teams at the ea4

of the season. Plenty of runs can be scored by running between bases, and base runners must try andr tempt the basemen to throw the ball, but must be in a reasbnably safe pos^ition to dive for the base if nec.essary. This was illustrated when an Athletic player -ran two home runs from only moderate hits. The Wanderers-Pirates game was full of fireworks, but' accurate throwing and clean-cut catching was .the deciding factor in Wanderer's favour. Good work by the clubs and the marking committee saw a very fine park over the weekend, stumps all but remOVed and splendid marking of the diamonds, which was a great • help to the Umpires. My sug'gestions this week to the association are the grading of the men's B . grade, and the appointment of a ground marshal for, each • Saturday . to

,/see that all games are begun on - time, and that the next teams and umpires are on hand to begiri the second series bf games. ShoUld a team miss a game through the default of another, they could see that, this team has -a practice with .another team or players of earlier games. All teams ne.ed mateh practice.