Melville make winning pitch for top title

Melville captured the Kotahitanga Fastpitch Competition women's title on Saturday despite being out-hit in the final at Hamilton's Resthills Park.

After comfortably making the final with a 12-0 semifinal victory over Marlinz earlier in the day, Melville used a five-run fifth inning to help them to a 9-2 win over Southnet.

The beaten side registered six hits to Melville's five but could only manage two runs, coming in the fourth inning, while Alice Ireton's two-run homer in the fifth was a key play for the victors.

Melville pitcher Pania Monk faced 27 batters over six innings, notching five strikeouts while giving up three walks. Southnet's Courtney Elliott gave up nine walks while recording five strikeouts.

In the men's competition, Redhills Rocketz beat the favoured Fairfield OU, 5-2, in the final after seeing off Marlinz, 2-0, in their semifinal.

Saan Tuoro brought home Lawrence Naera in the second inning to put the Rocketz ahead and then hammered a two-run homer in the fourth inning as Rocketz scored three runs to pull away after Robbie Neha registered a homer for Fairfield in the fourth. Tristan Bethune was brought home in the fifth inning by a sacrifice hit from Jamie Tanielu for Redhills. Jason Duncan's three-base hit for Fairfield in the sixth saw him brought home by another hit from Neha.

Award Winners

Women:- Top Batter: Gina Marcum (Southnet); Most RBIs: Gina Marcum (Southnet); Top Pitcher: Pania Monk (Melville); MVP: Gina Marcum (Southnet).

Men:- Top Batter: Adam Chwesik (Manurewa Mets); Most RBIs: Te Ate Walker (Marlinz); Top Pitcher: Jason Te Wheoro (Te Whanau Rangers); MVP: Te Ate Walker (Marlinz).

- © Fairfax NZ News