Local Softball Reps Battle Against Wellington's Southerly Winds

Chronicle (Levin), 17 March 1949, Page 7

Local Softball Reps Battle Against Wellington's Southerly Winds

"Stiuke One")

(By

On Salnrday last two Horowhenua men's representaive teams went to Wellington to play the city representatives .uid aiihoiig-h iieither had tlie pleasure of winning, both' games were hard and inlerestmg. Jn the A game against the WellingLon juniors, both sides had a hard game, the final seore being 12 — 6 with the city jchs having the better run oi the game. The two pitehers, ekiltoii and Flotcher, seemed to have difflculty in couniering he still southerly breeze fun.ielling through the gap at the ;outhei'n end of the stand at Athletic Park. Although not nahy walks were given, their pitching was not up to standard.

Morgan at first base playe'd we'g but- would normally have stopped the hand-drive between his fie ding position and base, but this ont passed him and meant two ea-a runs to Wellington. Stacknousi had an extremely fcusy time trying to cope with the moods of thcu pitehers and the variations of the breeze. Desgran'd played a safe game on second base, but on coming up to 'oat. iost his good eye for hitting. Marshall at third fumb'ed on two occasions when it wouicl have meant a batter out-. Bonner at short stop did a lot of work as usuaf and was aavays handy back-; ing up whether needed or not, but,! after calling for catch, stopped1 short and the ball dropped between, an outfieMer and bimseif. Fitz-i

gerald reptaced Bonner in thej fifth innings and unfortunately; •seeme'd nervous, especially wnen ; batting. Greatbach dfd not havea great deal of work and on one: tccasion had a long run when a hL.

sailed over his position, resulting .n three runners getting home and t homer to the better. Atkinson did not seem as confi■dent as usual and was replaced iater by Rossen, who sto'e the h( nours for Hiro whenua. He caught lorne- big hits effortlessly an'd batted well. Fletcher, at right outfield who a fortnight previously had played at Athletic Park for North island in a Noi'tlw South game, did aot have a great deal ta hand'e ind seemed to have slipped on his oatting. In the B gra'de game in the Courth innings the score stood .at 13 — 0 and seemed as if it would go m endlessly, but Morton as catcher ,vas changed with Manuel and Rose was brougnt on as pitcher in place >f Learmonth, and things took "hupe for the better. .The final' jcore of 25 — 18 was a fair indica-j ion of the play of the game, with Torowhtnua getting tne run of the ;4ay in the latter part of the! match. Rose, Manuel, Swan and Bellin take the hjnours for their game.

I Wellington -Auckland Game ! In the main game at Athletic Park, Auckland v. Wellington for tne B/atty Cup — the highest trophy in New Zealand softball — thwse fortunate enough to witness it saw a classic performance. Auckland deserved its win, 4 — 0, and most of the credit must go to Wareham, the Auckland pitcher who is 18 years of age. He has a marvefious control of the ball and strangely- enough has not the elaborate wind-up customary wiih 'fast pitehers. He 'delivers the ball in one swing and appears to flick it on the last movement. Any batters fortunate to hit him were easily caught in the outfield or handled by the Auckland catcher and captain, G. Dell, who had a wonderful control of the game. Once again I must remark on the behaviour of the spectators, who kept their remarks to themselves, and of the players who played like sportsmen.