Keas stop Devils

The Richmond Keas were cockahoop as southpaw pitcher Aiden Cocker shut out the PCU Devils' big hitters in a top-of-the-table premier men's softball clash.

Cocker, a former New Zealand under-19 world championships representative, and catcher Clayton Ellis were Richmond's heroes in the 2-0 win at Mainland Foundation ballpark.

Ellis brought home both of Richmond's runs, scoring Phil Mountford in the second inning and Scott Higgins in the sixth.

He also called the shots superbly as Cocker had the wood on PCU for the third time in two seasons.

Cocker held the Devils to three safe hits and his eight strikeout victims included Black Sox world series players Gareth Cook and Stephen Ratu.

Shortstops Daniel Milne (PCU) and Paul Stead (Richmond) made some excellent, agile outs, and Richmond centrefielder Matt Holmes snared a superb one-handed catch off a rocket shot by Ratu.

Mountford and Japanese first baseman Atsu Mizuguchi both had two hits from three at-bats in Richmond's 10-hit tally.

Scott Sutherland struck out nine batters and gave up just one hit in the Papanui Tigers' 7-0 five innings win over the Albion Pirates.

Tyron Bartorillo and youngster Josh Dixon, who batted 1.000, blasted three-baggers for Papanui.

The Halswell Hornets staged an astonishing six-run seventh inning rally to beat Albion 8-7 after trailing 2-7.

The three premier women's games were all one-sided routs with Parklands-Christchurch United thrashing Richmond Keas 19-4 and Albion Cardinals and Halswell recording big wins over Sydenham-Kereru and Papanui, respectively.

- © Fairfax NZ News