HOROWHENUA SOFTBALL

Chronicle (Levin), 17 November 1949, Page 7

HOROWHENUA SOFTBALL

Closer Study Of Rules As Way To Improveraent

(By "Strike One") HoroWlien.ua softball competition games opened on Baturday and it was very evident that9 several teams started off on the wrong foot. The best game oi the day was at Kimberley, where Kimberley A defeated Achilles 15 — 12. It was also noticed that several of the umplres officiating need to study their rule books, as several glaring instances of bad decisions yere noticed. Umpires could also help' themselves in the- case of close decisions by moving toward the direcfcion that a play on a runner is likely to happen. This would also give more confidence to base men most affected by these decisions. Prayers could also help • themselves by studying the rule books and save quite a few unnececsary appeals. In the men's grade Wanderers, in their striking and smart uniforms, combined exceptionally well to defeat Punahau 21 — 3. Punahau's atoility is not to be underrated and it can easily be seen that a few pracLices an-d games will put them in the top bracket. Learmonth, catching for Wanderers, gave an excellen& exhibition and seems to have found his correct position. Wanderers' throwing generally is so much superior to any other men's team and this factor alone gives them fconfidence. Congralulations go to Mr. H. Warren on his umpiring of this match, especially the clear decisions given in every case, leaving no doubt that they were correct. In the Pirates-Athletic gams, whioh the former won with an easy margin, Pirates showed much improvement, while Athletic lost a lot of their usual snap. Aluhough Athletic were playing a man short, they held Pirates long enough to keep the total to 7 — 6 in the 5t:h innings. Some of Pirates' fielding was splendid, especially when three successive hits were returned to first base with all the appearances of top line softball, to put a batter out in each case. Gardiner (Pirates) and Ryan (Athletic) shared the honours for catching, while at all times S. Bonner, J. Litten and M. Taylor over-shadowed their opposites in the Athletic team. A. Pletcher's pitohing for Athletic was far below usual standard.Severely Trounced. At Otaki Raukawa • severely trounced Ajax 32 to 10 and T. Gray played no small part in this achievement by hitting four home runs. Ajax is a team that will improve as the season goes on, as they have several young players Who only require experience. In the women's and junior men's grade., Wanderers Stars, the new team of the season, were holding Raukawa Ladies to a very close game, but Stars' batting failed in t'he last four innings. There are several players of promise in both these teams. Punahau Ladies provide toc strong for Aces colts, defeating them 22 — 8. Punahau Ladies are playing well for so early in the season. e Achilles B played exceptionallj well and even with a handicap oi 10 defeated Wanderers Ladies 12 — 5. All these boys are very keen and grand sportsmen, and they have a fine leader in young Brett The association has been fortunate in the donation of a splendid trophy by Mr. E. Curtis, to be played for between Maori ana Pakeha teams, and it is my sug-: gestion that this game shoula take place at the end of this month as a trial for a representative team. Now that the pavilion on Cambridge Park is receiving a coat of cream paint and some of the long grass at the entrance has been scythed, the park is beginning to look a picture. With the , help of the clubs on Sundays the Work should be completed by the end oi this month. This Sunday Athletic and Ajax are to provide the working bees.