The Giants softballers face a busy weekend, with both men’s teams taking to the diamond for two games in their Intercity Championships.
The doubleheader has been brought about because of the washed round of games two weeks ago.
Defending Premier Two [P2] champions Giants Blue have a daunting schedule with both games away, firstly against Hutt Valley Marist at Fraser Park this afternoon and tomorrow against Kapiti Coast at Te Atiawa Park, Paraparaumu.
Adding to the demands, experienced pitcher Shane Kirkwood is sidelined after jamming his pitching hand in a door, leaving the pitching duties in both matches to player-coach Justin ‘Chunky’ Karaitiana.
Although a daunting challenge for the experienced Karaitiana, Giants stalwart Chris Feary believes the former Hutt Valley representative is up for it.
“The more Marist push him, the easier it is for Kapiti on Sunday, so the plan will be to try and get that Marist team dispatched early, in maybe four or five innings, and then get out of there, and get back home and recuperate,” Feary said.
“We haven’t seen many of the teams, so it’s hard to know what the opposition will be like. Marist last year put up a good game, and Kapiti are always a strong side, but the P2 boys are definitely ready to go.”
Giants Red start their Premier Three [P3] doubleheader today with a home game against Dodgers White, starting at 1pm at South Park. They will back up tomorrow with a trip to Fraser Park, Lower Hutt, to take on Demons.
Four players from the Reds, including pitcher Tony Nixon, got some much-needed softball under their belts in the Kingswood [Palmerston North] tournament last weekend. Feary feels that match play will be valuable, and the team will be primed to finally get on the diamond for the first time in the championship after a default and the washed-out game.
“Dodgers White have turned out to be a bit of a bogey team for us, but our team will be up for the challenge. If last year is anything to go on, it will be a hard game, but certainly, at home, we rate ourselves.”
Feary said he knows little about Demons, but it is vital that the Reds come home with the two points with the Intercity championships to be decided before Christmas.
“With only one round, every game has to be treated as a final really if you want to make the finals, so we cannot afford to drop too many games.”
The Giants women warmed up for the start of the Hutt Valley P3 Championship at home to Stokes Valley this afternoon with some encouraging results at a Whanganui tournament over Labour Weekend.
Although they failed to win a game, Giants pushed their higher-ranked opposition hard, losing by only a few runs.
“It was a P2 tourney, so it was always going to be tough, and they didn’t come away with a win, but their games were close.”
Games between Giants and Stokes Valley have been typically hard-fought, and there is a fierce rivalry between the two teams, and Feary feels that will motivate the home team players.
“They’ve been training well, and they have got a big challenge, but they’ll be up for it,” he said.
The game starts at 1.15 pm at South Park.
