• Saints softballers complete the double

Saints softballers complete the double

Expect Saints premier men's softball team to complete the Hawke's Bay double again next summer.

That was the promise from player-coach Luke Woon after his team (pictured above) pipped Mets 3-2 in a tight top quality post-Christmas competition final at Akina Park, Hastings yesterday. His side also won the pre-Christmas competition title.

"I'm over the moon after another big team effort in which we had to fight back from a 1-0 deficit. It was good to see Mets give us a good final but our depth proved the difference," Woon explained.

"We will aim for the double again next summer and we're hoping to be stronger with Phil Te Nahu and Xaviar Herrick returning to the side," Herrick said.

Mets (pictured below) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when centre outfielder Horowai Puketapu, who played with a suspected broken finger, hit second baseman Xavier Clarke-Lloyd home. 

 

Saints equalised in the bottom of the fourth when inspirational short stop Hoani Crawford scampered home on a wild pitch. Crawford, who finished the match with two hits from three turns at bat, had earlier spilt blood with a spectacular dive as he stole second base.

Woon got on base with an automatic double in the bottom of the sixth and scored on an error-assisted hit from third baseman Brodie Boyce. Mets equalised in the top of the seventh when pitcher Jordan Waterhouse sprinted home on an error.

Saints loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and with none down Black Sox training squad pitcher Adam Woon hit his catcher Sam Coldicutt home. Woon collected eight strikeouts while leaking three hits and two walks.

Waterhouse took five strikeouts while conceding two walks and seven hits, three of them error assisted.

"While it's difficult to be on the losing end it was an awesome final to be involved in and with the number of secondary school players involved we proved the future of the code is in good hands in the Bay," Mets manager Craig Waterhouse said.   

Mets had earlier in the day beaten Fast Pitch 6-1 in the sudden death semifinal. Fast Pitch missed the services of experienced utility Te Rangi Chadwick who had work commitments.

In the curtain-raiser to the final Saints pipped Flaxmere 9-7 in an entertaining senior B grade final. Other post-Christmas competition champions were:

Secondary Schools under-15s: Fast Pitch.
Under-13s Rookie Sox: Maraenui Pumas.
Under-9s Little League T Ball: Flaxmere Jets.
Under-7s Peanut League T Ball: Flaxmere Jets.