The weekend saw the second round of intercity competition between teams from Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu. Games were held at Colquhoun Park in Palmerston North. The first round was played in Wanganui three weeks ago.
Mens
The first game of the mens round saw Taranaki over come their first round lost to Raiders by beating them 4 -1. Taranaki jumped to a 1 Nil lead in the first inning by a run from Anthony Kipa and Raiders were unable to respond until 4th innings. By that time Taranaki had scored a further 3 runs. Casey Butler scored Raiders only run. Outstanding with the bat was Isaac Hekenui for Taranaki batting a solid .1000 with a one base hit to centre field in his first hit and then two 3 base hits in his next two turns with the bat. Hekenui also pitched for Taranaki, facing 18 batters, taking 11 strikeouts, and giving up just 2 hits.
The second mens game saw Blue Sox take on Taranaki with Blue Sox winning 8 1. Blue Sox jumped to a quick 2 nil lead with Glenn Costa and Simon Bunn both scoring at the start of the game. Blue Sox continued to steadily build their runs through a series of hits in the third and fourth innings. Taranakis only run came in the third innings and was scored by Raukuia Limner Martin as a result of a hit by Taani Prestney. Bunn pitched the majority of the game for Blue Sox facing 16 of the 20 Taranaki batters giving up 5 hits. Rah Koia finished the game facing the reminder. Pitching duties were shared for Taranaki between Hekenui and Aidan Prestney. Between them they faced 28 batters, taking 3 strikeouts and giving up 9 hits.
Womens
First game of the womens round saw an excellent high scoring game between Taranaki and Blue Sox with Blue Sox winning 11 8. From the start both teams scored quickly with Blue Sox first 4 batters all scoring and Taranakis first 3 scoring in reply. Taranaki then jumped ahead in the second innings with Blue sox again over taking them in the third, holding the lead until the end of the game. Leading with the bat was Kim Alty for Blue Sox scoring a home run to center field in the forth innings. Close behind was Vanessa Cooper scoring twice from her 3 turns with the bat. Sequita Hemmingway, Tiana Matthews and Kelly Poa led the Taranaki charge all scoring twice from their turns at bat. Matthews also hit a home run, but this was not counted as the game ran out of time and the score was taken back to the last completed innings. Blue Sox played a second game against Wanganui Athletic. Information was not available on this game.
Taranaki then took on Wanganui Braves with Braves coming out on top 13 0. Braves dominated from the start with Alice Ireton, Fiona Campbell and Stephanie Kaio all batting .1000 and scoring 4 runs each from their 4 turns at bat. Kaio scoring with 2 consecutive home runs and Ireton hitting a home run in her last turn at bat. Matthews started this game as she finished the previous with a 3 base hit but was unable to score and being left on base at the end of the innings. Ireton pitched for Braves, facing 18 batters taking 5 strikeouts and giving up 2 hits. Allana Prestney and Matthews shared the pitching for Taranaki, between them facing 32 batters giving up 13 hits.
Braves then took our local Bramac Aces narrowly losing to Aces 8 7. Aces started well with a hit by Kristy Jones and a home run by Mary Ireland. Braves dominated the first innings scoring 6 runs which included another home run by Kaio. Braves could only add 1 more run in the fifth innings. Aces best innings came in the third scoring 6 runs adding to their total. Jacinda Miller and George Martin pitched for Aces facing 29 batters for 9 hits and 1 strikeout. Gina Wroe and Ireton pitched for Braves, facing 29 batters.
The last game of the day Aces take on Wanganui Athletic, Aces winning 8 2. Helping Aces was a home run in the second innings by Ariana Ormsby. Steady batting by Aces saw them score 1 run in the first innings, 4 runs in the second innings, 1 in the forth and their last 2 in the fifth innings. Athletic scored in the first innings, and then a single run in the third. Martin pitched for Aces facing 25 batters and Kay Kotuhi pitched for Athletic facing 29 batters giving up 12 hits.

Graeme Love Chairman Manawatu Softball Association 027 248 3009.
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