Mitchell Shields slides in for a run for Giants in their 9-0 win over Dodgers White. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
SOFTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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The young Giants side extended their unbeaten run in the Intercity Premier Three Championship to five games with a convincing 9-0 win over Hutt Valley Dodgers White on Saturday.
Giants were in control from the first inning at South Park with bat and ball.
Pitcher Mike McDermott had the ball on a string and was difficult to get away, but when he was hit, sharp fielding had the Dodgers batters caught or run out on base, including one smart double play.
McDermott was also on fire with the bat, hitting an infield home run, as the home side cruised to victory in five innings.
Giants are the only unbeaten side in the competition, with two rounds to play before the Christmas break.
Giants Presidents also had an easy win, dispatching Hutt Valley Demons 16-6 in their clash at Fraser Park, Lower Hutt.
Two of the non-playing premier three players –Thomas Kawana and Julian Ellmers – joined the side for the match to get some game time, and the move paid off with both impressing.
Ellmers highlighted his batting prowess by hitting a home run, while Kawana was solid in the field, grabbing a couple of sharp catches.
The move to bring in the young players could be a forerunner to the possibility of the Presidents Grade side stepping up to Intercity Premier Three in the new year, giving the club two teams in the competition.
The Giants women turned on a competitive showing against the strong Totara Park Gold side, before going down 6-8 in the Hutt Valley Major B game at South Park.
All three Giants teams held a minute’s silence before the start of play in memory of former Kuripuni Tavern manager Kerry Hogan, a great supporter and sponsor of the club, who passed away last week after a long battle with cancer.
The Under-15s game against Dodgers Mini Ds was cancelled because of rain in the Hutt Valley.
