Keas power past Hawks

Richmond Keas reigned supreme with three big automatic home runs in a 11-1 demolition of Halswell in Canterbury premier men's softball on Saturday.

The Halswell Hawks – still chasing their first Eureka Trust Cup win of the season – got a great start when leadoff batter Jason Croy struck a home run over the centrefield fence in the bottom of the first inning at Mainland Foundation Ballpark.

But it was all one-way traffic thereafter. Richmond underlined their batting depth when bottom-order hitter Antony Stuart crashed a three-run homer over the rightfield boundary in the second inning.

Trailing 1-4, Halswell made a pitching change, with Robbie Hewson replacing starter Brendon Batten. But Hewson instantly conceded an automatic to the first batter he faced, Richmond catcher Clayton Ellis.

Richmond's pitcher, Penese Iosefo, slammed his almost customary king hit later in the same frame to score Steve McFarlane and Matt Holmes.

Iosefo took seven strikeouts and gave up three hits in three innings on the pitching mound. He then handed over to Nathan Taikato, who struck out six of the seven batters he faced, yielding only an infield single to Croy.

Halswell also suffered a 0-5 loss to the Papanui Tigers. Travis Bartorillo belted a three-bagger for Papanui, who profited from six walks and a couple of untimely Halswell errors.

Black Sox international Gareth Cook hammered an open-diamond home run and did another fine containing job on the pitching mound as the PCU Devils dispatched Albion Pirates 11-2 at Middleton Park.

Young Albion shortstop Josh Harbrow homered in the third inning, but PCU embellished their advantage with five runs off Albion relief pitcher Thomas Tulkens in their final inning.

Top teams Papanui and Halswell continued their winning ways in the premier women's competition.

Papanui beat Sydenham-Kereru 8-2, taking eight hits off former Papanui pitcher Lauren Sutherland. Steph Kepa and her sister, Tania, hit triples for Papanui and Rome Collins-Cross had two safe hits. Emma McIlroy hit a three-bagger for Sydenham-Kereru and Mikayla Werahiko had two hits from three at-bats.

White Sox international Char Pouaka starred with the bat as Halswell shut out Parklands-Christchurch United 10-0. Pouaka blasted a triple in her first at-bat and followed up with a two-bagger for a .667 average.

Richmond Keas edged out Albion Cardinals 6-4 in a tiebreaker at Middleton Park.

- © Fairfax NZ News