Greg Paku … batted in two runners in win over Porirua City United. PHOTOS/FILE
SOFTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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Giants got their Intercity Softball Premier Reserve campaign back on track with a hard-fought 5-3 win over Porirua City United at Hataitai Park on Saturday.
Giants started the second round of the championship with losses to Island Bay and Tawa before the Christmas break and needed the win to revive their hopes of making the top four playoffs.
Prospects weren’t looking good at the bottom of the fifth inning, with Porirua holding a 2-0 lead.
Player-coach Corie Karaitiana narrowed the gap to one run with an automatic home run.
A Jason Herangi safe hit then brought two runners home, before Greg Paku sealed the win with two RBIs.
Karaitiana was thrilled with the win against a very strong side.
“It was a really good effort against a really good Porirua team, which was the strongest they’ve fielded all year, with a few of their premier players in it” he said.
“Our batters stepped up when they had to, ‘Chunky’ [pitcher Justin Karaitiana] killed their momentum with a couple of crucial outs when they had two runners on base, and it was a really strong defensive effort in the field.”
Karaitiana said it was a vital win given the closeness of the competition.
“It’s got us back on deck. All the games are must-win from now, and our destiny is in our own hands.”
Meanwhile, the Giants Premier Three side made no race of their clash with Totara Park Gold at South Park wrapping up the match 18-4 in the five innings.
Terry Waitere was on fire with the bat, hitting one over the fence for an automatic home run, while young prospects Jesse Newman and Riley Hansen also continued their good batting form in a strong all-round team effort.
Veteran pitcher Tony Nixon was dominant on the mound, restricting Totara Park to only four runs.
The Giants Major B Women started the new year with a heavy loss, going down 18-2 to a strong Wainuiomata side.
