BASEBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1939, Page 7

BASEBALL

INTERESTING GAMES ON SATURDAY. IMPROVEMENT IN PLAY. The Wairarapa Baseball Association matches were continued on Saturday at the hockey grounds Te Ore Ore road, when three games were played. With the extra practice, and the experience of the earlier matches, all teams showed improved form and considering that only two players from all the teams knew anything of the game before, the standard of play is surprisingly high. During the weekend, Mr Alf Jenkins, of Wellington, president of the New Zealand Baseball Council, accompanied by two experienced Wellington players paid a coaching visit to Masterton. Some 30 players attended at the Showgrounds and spent a valuable afternoon learning the finer points of match play. The results of Saturday’s matches were as follow: —■ Reliance Tyres beat Pirates.

The teams were: Reliance —A. Saunders, F. Bodie, R. E. Barnes, B. Bodie, S. Cardno, S. Petersen, K. Welch, R. Edwards, I. Peters, and R. Bell. Pirates —J. Pauling, L. Dalberg, J. Claridge, G. Lawton, H. Wellington, M. Mulligan, N. Leadley, D. Pauling. G. Jones and V. Thompson. This game was marked by low scoring due not so much to good fielding as to bad running between bases. Generally, both teams are fairly strong, but teamwork is lacking. Reliance had sufficient lead not to need their playing a seventh innings. Scores were: Reliance, 1,0, 7,2, 0,3, total 13; Pirates 3 ,3, 0, 0. 0. 0, 0. total 6. Harcombe Motors beat Territorials.

The teams were: Harcombes—R. Bell. D. Hardy, W. Wickens, L. Allen. A. Harp, R. Foster, R. Currie, G. McCormack and G. Thornton. Territorials—C. Newland, B. Welch. P. Wingfield. J. Welch, W. Mason. H. Jones, I. Peters. G. Irons, P. Ryan.

Both teams played a man short and in consequence team work suffered. Harcombes had three particularly strong players in Handy, Allen and "Wickens, whose pitching, catching and fielding respectively helped them considerably. Territorials have a promising team, but their fielding was weak. Scores were: Harcombe’s 4,1, 0,5, 9,0, total 19; Territorials. 1, 1. 2,2, 0,4, 2. total 12.

Borthwick's Bears beat Fagan Motors The teams were: Bears —Alexander, Nelson, Mayes, Hodgetts, Serra, Turnbull. Beagle, Allen, Harman. Ford. Fagans—L. Wales, S. Button, L. Killington, N. Norris, B. Welch, R. Elliot, C. Wise, R. Gorringc, G. Hansen, J. Bruce.

Originally to play the No. 2 team. Bears met with some difficulty in fielding a full team so finally played a No 1 team though without two or three of the regular players. At this stage of the competition Bears are probably the strongest of all teams and Fagan’s were set a hard task. For a purely house team without the assistance of outsiders, Fagan’s did well, but their fielding was bad. With practice, however, they should be welded into a capable and steady side. Scores were: Bears —5, 6. 7. 0,5, 2, 5. total. 30; Fagan's. 0. 2,0, 0. 2, 1. 0. total

Next Saturday one match will probably be played in Carterton.