Junior Black Sox international Reilly Makea proved himself a real all-rounder in last weekend’s Canterbury men’s softball championship action.

The ELE Papanui Tigers teenager blasted three home runs and also produced some handy form on the pitching mound.

But the younger brigade didn’t have it all their own way.

Reilly’s famous father, Thomas Makea, and Tyron Bartorillo – Black Sox buddies five years ago when New Zealand won the 2013 world championships – also powered automatic home runs in the Sunday round.

 Champions Papanui won four games over the two days to extend their lead in the men’s championship.

Paul deLatour’s PCU Angels – in their first season back in the premier ranks -continue to lead titleholders Halswell Hornets in the women’s championship race after both won last Saturday.

MEN

SATURDAY

PAPANUI 8 HALSWELL 0

Reilly Makea batted 1.000 with a home run and two doubles and also combined with starter Jackson Watt to pitch a one-hit shutout for Papanui.

Shortstop Mitch Burrows picked up the Hornets’ sole safe hit.

PCU DEVILS 7 ALBION 1

It was all tied up at 1-1 until the sixth inning when PCU went on a six-run spree, sparked by Nopera Stockford’s leadoff single.

Catcher Cam Watts clouted a double to score Louis Peters and DP Andy Verheul (the game’s top batter with two hits from three at-bats).

Albion’s only reply came in the in the fourth inning when Jamie Holmes (2-3) singled and scored on Anthony Stuart’s hit.

PAPANUI 9 HALSWELL 2

Reilly Makea’s home run and two hits from Ash Reihana set up Papanui’s five innings win.

Canterbury Red Sox pitcher Ben Watts struck out nine Halswell hitters and closer Jackson Watt took two strikeout scalps.

Isaac Nation’s third inning home run was Halswell’s highlight.

SUNDAY

PAPANUI 13 PCU 2

At the risk of repetition, Reilly Makea hit the headlines with his third home run of the weekend after Papanui produced six-run rallies in the second and fifth innings.

Callum Muir had two hits from four for the Tigers and Ben Watts was dominant on the mound with eight Ks and two hits.

Bailey Hamilton drove in PCU’s runs with a first inning automatic homer with Josh Harbrow aboard.

HALSWELL 13 ALBION 8

Patience paid off as Halswell scored the comeback win of the season after trailing Albion 6-0 after three completed innings.

The Anteaters looked to have the game by the throat after five runs in the second inning after five back-to-back hits by Kevin Papuni, Hunter Martin, Jamie Holmes, Caleb Stewart (an out-of-the-park home run).

They should never have lost from there, but paid the price for gifting Halswell nine walks over the final four innings (four to eagle-eyed Hornets veteran Shane Nalepa).

Halswell steadily accumulated runs, helped by discipline in the batter’s box and some consistent hitting from player-coach Aaron Collier, who batted 1.000 with four from four and first baseman Alex Van der Voort (3/5).

The Hornets produced just one extra-base hit all game (a fifth inning double to van der Voort).

Young Jontae MacDonald picked up the win on the mound.

PAPANUI 8 ALBION 1

The Makea clan managed their home run-a-game average for the weekend against the Anteaters.

But it was father Thomas not son Reilly doing the damage this time.

Thomas batted 1.000 with a home run and a double and Ty Bartorillo was also perfect at the plate with two hits, including a homer.

Makea sr walloped a three-shot with Reilly the first to cross home plate.

Not to be outdone, Reilly threw a fine game on the mound, taking 10 strikeouts in a performance which must have pleased his father, the Junior Black Sox coach.

He gave up only two hits – a centrefield home run to Josh Hartwig and a single to Liam Hughes.

PCU 11 HALSWELL 3

Wily coach Ted Forrester used his short game to telling effect as the Devils dished up five runs in the first inning.

Curtis Dove and Bailey Hamilton popped down base-hit bunts, back to back, to put pressure on the Hornets infield.

Josh Harbrow hammered two doubles for PCU and Stephen Ratu went two form four.

Rightfielder Zac Graham completed a good win with a two-run home run in the sixth inning after Cam Watts’ two-RBIs double.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Papanui 58, PCU 49, Albion 20, Halswell 10.

WOMEN

PCU ANGELS 10  PAPANUI 6

American catcher Allyne Clark starred with the bat with a solo home run and a three-RBI triple last Saturday.

Outfielder Samantha Henderson and DP Elisha Smith also had two hits for PCU and Eve Mickell was the winning pitcher in Paige Crawford’s absence.

Import Elizabeth Snow (2-2), Elizabeth Rice (2-4) and Iris Taramai (2-4) were Papanui’s top hitters, Snow and Rice both hitting three baggers.

KAIAPOI 10 SYDENHAM KERERU 4

The Kaiapoi sluggers scored seven runs in both the first and third inning to blank SK in four innings.

Christina Paul and Tracey Gutsell hammered third inning home runs for Kaiapoi and Teagan Maxted went three from three for a 1.000 average while Lauren Sutherland and Nerissa McDowell each had two hits.

Australian pitcher Stephanie Trzcinksi struck out four of the six batters she faced after replacing starter Sutherland and also slammed two hits at the plate.

HALSWELL 6 PAPANUI 5

The Halswell Hornets made a strong start with two runs in the first inning when pitcher Lucy McIntyre batted in Alyssa Lory and scored on an outfield error off Bev Lethlean’s single.

McIntyre and Lethlean led the way, as they so often do, in the middle of the Hornets’ batting order, each collecting two hits.

Halswell had a handy 6-3 lead when McIntyre made way on the mound for youngster Cherie Inwood.

Papanui picked up two runs, to Elizabeth Snow in the fifth and Iris Taramai in the seventh, but left two runners on base when Inwood produced a clutch strikeout for the final out.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

PCU 70, Halswell 55, Kaiapoi 46, Papanui 41, Sydenham Kereru 10.