Home runs propel softball victories
Mets utility Horowai Puketapu and Saints infielder Hoani Crawford hit home runs during Saturday's play in Hawke's Bay's premier men's softball competition.
Puketapu displayed the benefits of having played in the previous week's North Harbour-hosted National Fastpitch Championship and his automatic home run came in the first inning of Mets 8-1 victory against Puketapu's former Maraenui Pumas side on diamond two at Akina Park, Hastings.
Mets led 6-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Karaitiana Aranui (pictured above) scored Pumas only run. Veteran Tama Houkamau, 56, the oldest player to take the diamond in the competition this season, collected the Pumas only safe hit in the fifth inning.
Jordan Turner hit a three bagger for Mets. His pitcher Jordan Waterhouse finished the game with 10 strikeouts. In addition to the one hit he conceded one walk.
On diamond one pre-Christmas champions Saints beat Fast Pitch 9-2. Fast Pitch led 1-0 after the first inning after Karaan Crawford got on base with a double and was scored by Te Rangi Chadwick.
Saints scored five runs in the second inning including one from Hoani Crawford who got on base with a double. Saints led 7-2 after the fourth inning which saw Riki Sullivan Snr score Fast Pitch's other run on a wild pitch from Brodie Boyce.
Hoani Crawford, who also displayed the benefits of having played in the previous weekend's NFC, smashed his home run for Saints in the fifth inning.
