A win for Giants Blue over the struggling Hutt Valley Marist tomorrow will confirm top seeding for Masterton team the Intercity Softball Premier Two semifinals.
The two teams go into the game at South Park with vastly contrasting records. The Blues have suffered only the one loss and have a runs differential of plus 38, whereas Marist have tasted victory only once and have a differential of minus 37.
Giants stalwart Chris Feary predicts a quick finish for the in-form Blues.
“The team is firing on all cylinders at the moment, and it could be over in three innings, but I can’t see it going more than five,” said Feary, who reckons pitcher and player-coach Justin ‘Chunky’ Karaitiana will again be the key .
“Chunky will be way too strong for them on the mound, and the way the guys have been hitting lately, I would say it will be easy pickings for them with the bat, but once again, it’s a funny old game and Marist could come and push them hard.
“Totara Park were sitting pretty low on the table, and they took the guys to seven innings, but I would think our guys will get over them quite easily.”
The game is scheduled to get underway at 1.00pm tomorrow.
Giants Red will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing 3-0 loss to Dodgers White last weekend, with the hope they can still secure a home semifinal, when they host Poneke-Kilbirnie Kowhai [PK] in the 3.30pm game.
The Reds hardly fired a shot in the loss that relegated them to third place in the Premier Three championship. They could still sneak a top two finish but require leaders Tawa and second placed Dodgers Black to drop their games against lower placed teams.
The Reds edged PK 6-4 in their first round fixture played at Hataitai, but back on their home ground, Feary expects a fired up effort, with most of the team in the Wairarapa side for next weekend’s National Evergreens tournament.
“I would say the boys will be too strong for them, and leading into Evergreens next weekend, they will be looking for a good performance with the bat.”
Both Giants teams, though, will be looking skyward with steady rain forecast for most of tomorrow.
For the second consecutive weekend, the Giants women have won by default, with Hutt City United having pulled out of tomorrow’s game.
