Mets produce history-making batting display
Mets created a massive slice of Hawke's Bay premier men's softball history on Thursday night.
During their 14-5 win against Maraenui Pumas at Akina Park, Hastings, Mets, scored 11 runs with none down in the bottom of the fifth inning. Until then it appeared the match was progressing to a 2-0 victory for Mets, the competition newcomers, who were formed at the start of the season.
Both of those runs were scored in the first inning of the diamond one encounter. Curtis Huata got on base with a double and he came home on a spectacular automatic home run from former Black Sox utility Jovaan Hanley which saw the ball end up on diamond two.
The top of the fourth inning saw Mets pitcher Jordan Waterhouse (pictured above) walk the Pumas pair of Bailey Carson and Jason Kelleher with none down. They were scored on a double from Karaitiana Aranui who scored on a hit from Damian Allan.
Mets replied with another run from Hanley. With the score tied at 3-all Pumas took a 5-3 lead when a double from Kelleher scored Carson and Hamish Long.
Mets history-making batting display in the bottom of the fifth began when Thomas Hazard got on base with a walk. Josh Gettins was errored at short stop and Horowai Puketapu was hit by a pitch. With loaded bags Huata hit to the fence to score three runs. Hanley hit Huata home and a Waterhouse three bagger scored Hanley.
At this point Pumas Hawke's Bay under-18 pitcher Carson, who made the Central Region under-18 tournment team last month, was replaced on the mound by promising Taradale High School pitcher Long who couldn't stop the flow of runs.
Kyle Groner hit Waterhouse home and Cruz Paul used his tremendous speed around the bases to produce an in-park home run. The next two batters, Jordan Turner and Hazrd, picked walks and Gettins finished the game off with an automatic home run over the centre field fence.
Aranui was Pumas top batter with two safe hits from as many turns. For Mets Waterhouse went two from two while Huata and Hanley went two from three in the clash which was a catch-up game from the previous weekend.
Pumas missed the services of last year's Junior Black Sox pitcher Kahurangi Beamsley-Allan who had his jaw broken while playing for Hutt Valley Marist last month. He will miss the remainder of the season.
Because of Waitangi Weekend there was no play in the competition today. There will be no play next weekend as Hawke's Bay will be playing in the four-day North Harbour-hosted National Fastpitch Championship which begins on Thursday.
