Win guarantees Devils a playoff spot

Iain McGregor

Taking aim: Kane Megan, of the Hutt Valley Dodgers, takes a swing during his team's game against the PCU Devils at Cuthberts Green last night.

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Black Sox star Daniel Milne's home-run blast catapulted Canterbury champions PCU Devils into the playoffs at the national men's open softball tournament.

Milne monstered a hit over the left field fence in the fourth inning to give two-time champions PCU a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Hutt Valley Dodgers at Cuthberts Green last night.

Devils pitcher Regan Manley enjoyed bragging rights over brother Jeremy, the Dodgers' Black Sox hurler. Regan gave up three single-base hits and took six strikeouts against his former Dodgers team-mates. Jeremy yielded five hits for eight strikeouts.

PCU, the pool C pacesetters, should be joined in the playoffs – which start this afternoon – by Canterbury rivals Richmond Keas, who have a three-wins, one-loss record in Pool D.

PCU earlier accounted for the Papanui Tigers, 11-4, despite being outbatted eight safe hits to six by their Canterbury stablemates. Papanui threw two teenage pitchers, who held PCU to just two extra-base hits but delivered nine walks.

Defending champions Ramblers sealed their ranking as the top team in the Group of Death – pool A – after trouncing nearest rivals Waitakere Bears 9-1.

Black Sox shortstop Nathan Nukunuku starred with the bat in his lead-off role, swatting three right-field singles from five at-bats.

Ramblers recorded 10 safe hits, highlighted by a Jamie Matiu triple, as Waitakere chose to rest No1 hurler Heinie Shannon and split the pitching between their backup staff.

Craig Gibson, Ramblers' pitcher, held the Bears to four hits, including a double by Curtis Cosh.

Michael Cameron and Aaron Thompson slugged three-baggers in Ramblers' 8-2 win over Demons (Southland).

Karl Gollan produced a two-run double in pool B leaders Miramar's 4-2 win over Eden Roskill. Steffan van Lieshout led off with a first-inning home run for Eden.

Miramar had their biggest win, 8-1, against Hutt Valley Marist with Wayne Laulu continuing his top hitting form with a three-run double.

Veteran coach Joe Forsyth would be well pleased with Auckland United's progress after his young side completed two more wins in pool D. Valdemar Terkelsen clouted an automatic home run and Nick McGregor and Mike Niu smashed triples in a 7-0 five-innings win over Hutt Valley Cardinals. United triumphed by the same score 7-0 against Howick with Terkelsen tonking a three-run homer.

Pitchers Nathan Taikato and Aidan Cocker combined for a no-hitter as Richmond Keas crushed Stoke Eagles 17-0 in four innings. Richmond earlier edged out Auckland club Roosters, 5-2, with Scott Higgins hammering two doubles.

Hutt Valley Dodgers will also qualify behind PCU Devils, but Porirua City United and Hutt Valley Marist, which both have three wins and a loss, are locked in a duel to join Miramar as the second qualifier in pool B.

In the longest game of the tournament, a plucky Papanui beat Auckland Marist, 4-1 when Carl McIlroy, Travis Bartorillo and Scott Sutherland scored in the ninth inning tiebreaker after hits by Tyron Bartorillo and Sam Hazeldine. Canterbury's Albion Pirates registered their first wins, 6-5, against the New Zealand Defence Force and 9-1 over Eden Roskill.

RESULTS

PCU Devils 11 Papanui Tigers 4, Northcote 4 Auckland Marist 0, Roosters 5 Cardinals 0, Waitakere Bears 7 Demons 0, PCU 20 NZ Defence 1, Howick 1 Eagles 0, Ramblers 9 Waitakere Bears 1, HV Marist 5 PCU 3, Richmond 5 Roosters 2, Albion 6 NZ Defence 5, Northcote 1 Pumas 0, Auckland United 7 Cardinals 0, HV Dodgers 9 Pumas 6, Ramblers 8 Demons 2, Miramar 4 Eden Roskill 2, Poneke-Kilbirnie 5 Giants 1, Papanui Tigers 4 Auck Marist 1 (9 innings), Giants 9 Dun Dodgers 1, Albion 9 Eden Roskill 1, Richmond 17 Stoke 0, Miramar 8 HV Marist 1, Auck United 7 Howick 0, Poneke-Kilbirnie 9 Dun Dodgers 1, PCU Devils 1 HV Dodgers 0.

- © Fairfax NZ News