ALBION PITCHER TAMES DEVILS

By Tony Smith

Albion Anteaters pitcher Kev Papuni  kept up his strong post-Christmas form by shutting out the PCU Devils hitters in a mercy rule victory at Mizuno Ballpark on Saturday.

The Canterbury Red Sox hurler threw a 7-0 win, allowing just two safe hits – an infield single to Craig Nelson and a single to Chris Eden, the former Black Sox outfielder pitching for PCU.

Papuni fanned the first five batters he faced and finished with 11 strikeouts.  He twice sat down the Devils’ most dangerous batter, ex-Black Sox third baseman Josh Harbrow.

Top order hitters Matt Dougherty and Hunter Martin led Albion’s hit parade, both recording 1.000 average.

Dougherty went three from three in the leadoff slot, with his tally including a triple and a double.

Martin sacrificed Dougherty home for Albion’s first run in the bottom of the first inning, and later hammered a double and a single.

Catcher Dylan Potts, down at No 9 in the order, clubbed a two-run home run in the third frame, and Anteaters outfielder Chris Agnew slugged a solo shot homer in the fifth.

The quickfire 1hr 15min contest was the only Canterbury men’s premiership game played, with ELE Papanui away at Auckland’s Vic Guth Tournament, and other teams successfully obtaining deferments due to players away at the South Island under-18 clubs tournament in Dunedin.

KRYSTAL CHIMES IN SK WIN

Former Canterbury Red Hawks infielder Krystal Werahiko produced a vital performance on the pitching mound and was backed her batters in Sydenham Kereru’s 8-3 win over the Kaiapoi Queens in the feature women’s premiership game.

Kaiapoi had entered the game brimming with confidence after a thumping 11-1 win over Sporting Edge Halswell, but were blown away by SK’s strong finish.

SK strung together 12 hits and played a smart short game to put Kaiapoi under pressure.

Krystal Werahiko held the Queens hitters at bay, for the most part, allowing just four safe hits while taking two strikeouts and conceding three walks.

Queens catcher Layla Bailey-McDowell scored on sister Nerissa’s first inning triple, but SK’s Cassie Siataga batted in Robyn Hall for SK’s equaliser in the top of the second.

The score remained locked at 1-1 after five completed innings until Mikayla Werahiko singled in the the top of the sixth, advanced on back-to-back base-hit bunts by sister Krystal and Hall, and scored on DP Monique Nguma’s sacrifice fly to centrefield.

Kaiapoi wrested back the advantage, establishing a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth after Arnora Hesp popped a hit into shallow leftfield and plated on a centrefield triple by Layla Bailey-McDowell, who justified her promotion to the plum No 3 batting role. Nerissa McDowell brought home her sister for the second time with a sacrifice fly to centrefield.

SK batted through their order in the top of the seventh to score six runs, highlighted by Siataga’s leftfield three-bagger, a safe bunt by Carly Werahiko and consecutive hits from their three lower order batters. Nguma doubled and was followed by singles by Jess Thornley and catcher Te Marino Roberts.

Kaiapoi, in their final time at bat, could not hit Krystal Werahiko out of the infield, and her defence did the rest to close out a comeback win.

Nguma led her more experienced teammates with a .667 average after two hits from three attempts. Sigata and sisters Carly and Mikalya Werahiko all had two from four.

Kaiapoi made no race of their five innings win over Halswell, slamming 12 safe hits.

The Hornets were without White Sox internationals Amy Begg and Lucy McIntyre, leaving retired Canterbury Red Hawks hurler Jenni Mumm to deputise on the pitching mound. She took five strikeouts and yielded one walk, but could not keep Kaiapoi’s bats in check.

The Queens showed their intent with four runs in the first inning, with Hesp singling at the top of the order and pitcher Lauren Sutherland following with a triple to left-centrefield. Bohemian Quinn slammed a three-bigger and Raina Joseph supplied a single.

Mike McDowell’s side produced another four-run spree in the third frame, showcased by extra-base blasts by Hesp (triple) and Quinn (double).

Quinn finished as Kaiapoi’s best batter with a perfect 1.000 average after going three from three.

Hesp and Sutherland both batted .667, and Sophie Jones also hammered a three-bagger.

Sutherland limited Halswell to three hits, while snaffling four strikeouts and giving up four walks.

Number nine hitter Samantha Baxter drove in Halswell’s only run, doubling to left-centre to score Jodie Beattie in the second inning.

Papanui and the PCU Angels did not play due to South Island under-18 tournament commitments.

AT A GLANCE

Canterbury Premiership softball results from Saturday January 30

MEN

Albion 7 PCU 0 (5 innings).

WOMEN

Kaiapoi 11 Halswell 1 (5 innings), Sydenham Kereru 8 Kaiapoi 3.

Article added: Monday 01 February 2021