By Tony Smith

White Sox pitcher Amy Begg's 12 strikeouts proved vital as Sporting Edge Halswell beat the Kaiapoi Queens in the feature Canterbury women's softball premiership clash last Saturday.

Halswell won 4-1, with Begg digging deep to thrice strikeout her White Sox teammate Nerissa McDowell, batting in Kaiapoi's clean-up spot.

Begg did scatter seven safe hits - two of them zinging off the bat of her pitching opposite Lauren Sutherland.

Kaiapoi began brightly, scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Caitlin Kennett singled, Vienna German popped down a bunt, and Jordan Giles delivered coach Mike McDowell a safe bunt as Kennett raced home.

But the Halswell Hornets replied instantly to take a 2-1 lead. No 8 hitter Cherie Inwood - recently back from injury - and lead-off Alyssa Lory singled.

Catcher Finlay Martin batted Inwood home and Lory raced across the plate on Lucy McIntyre's infield single.

Martin justified her placement at No 3 in the Hornets order by doubling in the fifth for another RBI, this time scoring Lory.

Player-coach Nicole Baxter-Warren collected the fourth run on an error after the left-hand hitter pulled a single to right field and was advanced by McIntyre, who went three from four (.750) to top the Hornet's averages.

The Kaiapoi Queens' 10-3 win over the PCU Angels was virtually the Lauren Sutherland Show.

The experienced hurler - a draftee for the Southern Pride at the recent NFC tournament - batted .750 at the top of Kaiapoi's order with two singles and a triple.

She also struck out six Angels for four walks and two hits.

Only leadoff Samantha Fawcett-Kay and Tessa Metuatini got safe hits off Sutherland.

Promising PCU infielder Kaiyah Ratu's two-run third inning home run was the highlight of their 14-0 four innings victory over Pak N Save Northlands Papanui.

Manaia Makiri had two hits from four at-bats for the Angels, while Gemma Taylor collected Papanui's sole hit off PCU pitcher Trinity Mackley-Flutey.

Papanui performed better against leaders Sydenham Kereru, going down 4-0 as SK pitcher Cassie Siataga threw a shut-out and third base Krystal Werahiko batted 1.000 (two from two).

Jess Thornley had a good hit for SK and Robyn Hall supplied a RBI in her bottom of the order slot.

Siataga struck out seven Tigresses for three hits - two of them from Papanui substitute Victoria Woods.

Brittany Terrey had a better outing on Papanui's mound, limiting SK to four hits (two of them to Krystal). Terry snared four Ks, but dished up five walks.

RESULTS

PCU Angels 14 Papanui 0 (4 innings),  Sydenham Kereru 4 Papanui 0, Kaiapoi Queens 10 PCU 3, Halswell Hornets 4 Kaiapoi 1.

STANDINGS

Sydenham Kereru (24 games)  78 pts, Halswell (24) 71, PCU (23) 40, Kaiapoi (24) 39, Papanui (23) 23.

Article added: Thursday 04 March 2021