Saints march continues in Bay softball comp
Saints are the only unbeaten team after two rounds in Hawke's Bay's premier men's softball competition.
The Luke Woon-coached side needed just five innings to beat Maraenui Pumas 13-1 at Akina Park, Hastings on Saturday. Saints were boosted by the return of former Junior Black Sox utility Jacob Zurcher and experienced utility Tridan McClutchie who both didn't play in the previous week's 5-3 victory against newcomers METS.
While Zurcher had an automatic home run coach Woon was impressed with the batting of his entire squad.
"We batted well as a team. There's plenty of enthusiasm in the squad this season with everyone coming to trainings and it's paying off," Woon said.
He pointed out his brother, pitcher Adam Woon, who is tipped to make the New Zealand under-23 side for next year's world championship, had another economical game on the mound.
Former Fast Pitch third baseman Daniel Green and former Waikato-based second baseman Wesley Sinnott have also increased the depth on the Saints roster.
Experienced utility Karaitiana Aranui scored Pumas only run on a safe hit from fellow utility Jason Kelleher. Last summer's Junior Black Sox world championship hurler Kahurangi Beamsley-Allan played in the outfield to allow 16-yeare-old Bailey Carson to pitch for Pumas.
"Bailey wants to go where Kahu has been so we're keen to give him as much time as possible on the mound," Pumas player-coach Damian Allan said.
"We made a lot of fielding errors," Allan added.
METS recorded their first win in the new club's history with a 14-0 drubbing of Fast Pitch in four innings. First baseman Horowai Puketapu smashed a home run for METS in the first inning.
Puketapu and catcher Curtis Huata both batted 1000 for METS while pitcher Jordan Waterhouse batted 666. Taradale High School 16-year-old Jordan Turner did well to pick two walks.
Fast Pitch started with Triple Campbell on the mound. He was replaced by Nopera Tangaroa in the third inning.
Tangaroa did well not to conceded any runs in the third inning but normal transmission resumed for METS in the fourth. This weekend Saints will meet Fast Pitch and Pumas will take on METS.
