By Tony Smith

Champions Papanui responded to an unexpected loss to Albion by smashing the ball around the ballpark in the Canterbury men’s softball premiership’s latest round.

The ELE Papanui sluggers collected 24 safe hits in two games as they celebrated five innings victories over Kaiapoi (9-2) and Halswell (7-0) at Mizuno Ballpark last
Saturday.

PAPANUI 9 KAIAPOI 2

A two-run home run by Kaiapoi Kings pitcher in the first inning only served to provoke the Papanui Tigers into slugging frenzy.

Catcher Josh Lubiejewski got on board for the Kings with a single and MacDonald stepped up to blast a big hit over the right-centrefield fence.

Papanui hit back immediately with five runs in the bottom of the first, which featured a triple by pitcher Jackson Watt and singles by Tyron Bartorillo and outfielder Josh Glading.

The Tigers steadily added to their lead and ended the game early in the fifth after Kaiapoi relief pitcher Jakzon Quinn conceded consecutive hits to substitute Ben Watts, Caleb Stewart, Callum Bishop and Josh Dickson.

Papanui produced 12 hits with Jackson Watt batting 1.000 with two from two – a triple and a double. Glading went two from three and catcher Nathan Watt cracked a double.

Nine Papanui players got at least one safe hit.

Jackson Watt took three strikeouts and allowed six hits – two to Kaiapoi leftfielder Johnny Niven, who batted 1.000. Lubiejewski, MacDonald, Quinn, Craig Higgs and Johnny Niven also hit safely for the Kings.

Umpires: Michael Lee (plate), Dave Fortin. Scorer: Pat Hannah.

PAPANUI 7 HALSWELL 0

The Papanui offence simply carried on where they left off against Kaiapoi, racking up five runs off six hits in the bottom of the first inning.

Black Sox rep Tyron Bartorillo drilled a three-run home run after Jackson Watt’s double had scored leadoff Callum Bishop.

Callum Muir doubled and plated on Ben Watts’ hit for the Tigers’ fifth run.

Muir produced his second two-bagger in the second inning before crossing on a Jack Watt hit.

Josh Glading got Papanui’s seventh run in the fifth after Nathan Watt’s single was errored.

Papanui again had 12 hits with Jackson Watt going two from two to give him four from four for the day, and a 1.000 average.

Bartorillo and Muir were two from three against Halswell.

Ben Watts had a tidy day on the Papanui pitching mound with seven strikeouts, no walks and just one safe hit – to Hornets catcher Jacob Davidson.

Umpires: Dave Beaumont (plate), Rikki Thompson, Dave Fortin. Scorer: Pat Hannah.

In the Friday night game, the Albion Anteaters beat the Kaiapoi Kings 5-1, but they lost 10-6 to the PCU Devils on club day on Saturday.

Article added: Wednesday 13 November 2019