Giants are through to the Intercity Softball Premier Two and Premier Three finals after two tense semifinals at South Park on Saturday.
Giant Blue 3
Poneke-Kilbirnie 2
A Jason Herangi RBI [run batted in] in the sixth inning secured Giants Blue’s nail-biting victory over Poneke-Kilbirnie [PK] in the clash of the top two teams in premier two.
Blues player-coach Justin ‘Chunky’ Karaitiana batted in an RBI, and Nico Broughton smashed an automatic home run over the fence while PK’s had scored with two home runs to the same player and the scores were locked at 2–2 when Herangi stepped to the plate. His superbly placed hit to the outfield brought home a runner for what proved to be the decisive run.
PK moved into a position to equal the scores or even take the lead in their final turn at bat with two runners on base, but Karaitiana struck out the next batter for the third out to seal the victory.
Giants spokesman Chris Feary felt it was just a good, solid game of softball between two good teams.
“PK came with a pretty good game plan, and it was a battle all the way,” he said. Feary was also impressed with the Blues’ fielding effort and singled out Devon Cocks and Sean Robinson for having strong games.
The Blues will play Hutt Valley Marist in Saturday’s final.
Giants Red 6
Dodgers White 3
An injury hit Giants Red did enough to lock in their place in the premier three final with a scrappy 6–3 win over Dodgers White at South Park.
Lead pitcher Tony Nixon was suffering from a calf injury, and power hitter Terry Waitere turned up on crutches with a foot injury, but with no reserves, both had to play a full game.
Feary reckoned it was a hell of an effort by both players, with Nixon pitching unchanged and Waitere, who was clearly in agony, getting a couple of good safe hits.
However, it was one of the young guns, Thomas Kawana, who made sure the Reds would play in the final with a couple of clinch hits to bring in two RBIs, including one at a vital stage with the Reds only leading by one run.
Feary said, “The end score didn’t really reflect the game. I was surprised we were three runs ahead. It was a pretty close game all the way through.”
Giants Red’s final opponents will be Paremata-Plimmerton, who upset Dodgers Black 6–3. Feary was also impressed with the Blues’ fielding effort and singled out Devon Cocks and Sean Robinson for having strong games.
The Blues will play Hutt Valley Marist in Saturday’s final.
Giants Red 6
Dodgers White 3
An injury hit Giants Red did enough to lock in their place in the premier three final with a scrappy 6–3 win over Dodgers White at South Park.
Lead pitcher Tony Nixon was suffering from a calf injury, and power hitter Terry Waitere turned up on crutches with a foot injury, but with no reserves, both had to play a full game.
Feary reckoned it was a hell of an effort by both players, with Nixon pitching unchanged and Waitere, who was clearly in agony, getting a couple of good safe hits.
However, it was one of the young guns, Thomas Kawana, who made sure the Reds would play in the final with a couple of clinch hits to bring in two RBIs, including one at a vital stage with the Reds only leading by one run.
Feary said, “The end score didn’t really reflect the game. I was surprised we were three runs ahead. It was a pretty close game all the way through.”
Giants Red’s final opponents will be Paremata-Plimmerton, who upset Dodgers Black 6–3.
