History was made on Sorenson’s Field (D1) at Fraser Park, Hutt Valley, as Nathan Nukunuku’s Mt Albert Ramblers won their fifth men’s national club title – becoming the first New Zealand club team to win five consecutive championships, after taking top spot over the PCU Devils.

Tournament MVP Brock Evans set the tone, smashing an automatic home run off the first pitch of the game to give Ramblers an early lead before three outs were taken. PCU Outfielder Liam Lumb dropped a leadoff bunt to have a runner on the board, however a line drive from Curtis Dove ricochetted off Rambler’s pitcher Nik Hayes before being turned for the double.

The score remaining 1-0 until the top of the fourth inning with the battery combination of young lefty Liam Potts and Black Sox catcher Cameron Watts, keeping Ramblers runs to a minimum. Lewis Gerard hit a single to rightfield, with Rhys Evans then hitting through the 5/6 hole and advancing to second while DR, Blake Wardrop, was caught out sliding past three. A groundout advancing Evans to three, with Max Early applying the pressure and bringing him home off an error at second base giving Ramblers a 2-0 lead. PCU fired back with a two-down rally that saw bases loaded for Cameron Watts. Bailey Hamilton was given a free base after being hit by pitch, moved around from Josh Harbrow’s single through shortstop with Dru De Lautour picking a walk – before Watts crushed a ball to the centerfield fence, giving PCU a 3-2 lead.

Mt Albert Ramblers having won their fifth consecutive championship.

Rhys Evans batted in his brother Cole for the tying run in the top of the fifth inning. Their brother Brock delivering the go-ahead RBI to score Maddix Rice in the top of the seventh before Ramblers added another insurance run to close out the final 5-3. The loss was no reflection on young left-handed hurler Liam Potts, who earlier lead Canterbury to the NFC final in February, and was a deserved recipient of the ‘Top Pitcher’ award for 2024 Men’s Club Nationals.
 

PCU Angels pitcher Stephani Fairclough and catcher Manaia Makiri show their delight at striking out the final Bears batter to win the national women’s interclub softball final in Christchurch. PC: PETER MEECHAM / THE PRESS

Moving down to the South Island for the Women’s open Clubs; Dynasty Ballpark hosted a nail-biting final which saw PCU Angels coming in the top spot against Auckland’s Waitakere Bears, avenging their defeat in last year’s gold medal match against Otahuhu. The game remained scoreless for the first three innings; a testament to the quality performances of both battery units; Tyla Morrison chucking to Kiara Taimai for Waitakere, and Stephani Fairclough pairing with catcher Manaia Makiri for PCU. Waitakere Bears were first on the scoreboard at the bottom of the fourth inning, crept out to a lead after some clutch hitting performances. Shortstop Alyx Bloom making the most of a rightfield misread and racing around to third with Rebecca Bromhead intentionally walked to see two runners in scoring position. White Sox squad members Kiara Taimai and Tyarn Bromhead-Lemalu then drove in three runs, both with safe hits to centre before the side retired with the score at 3-0.

The young PCU team – lead by former Black Sox player Stephen Ratu – put on a phenomenal performance at the top of the sixth innings to after young lefty Caitlin Henderson (who is due to compete with the JWSX at the WBSC World Cup Qualifiers later this year) used her speed to outrun both an infield error and a tag at third base. Tyla Morrison trying with all her might to contain the Canterbury side, going into her 13^th consecutive inning pitching – having also defeated Bandits in the 11am semi-final. Mikayla Werahiko dropping a beautiful bunt into no man’s land, Onishia Franka slapping safe down the third baseline to load the bases, before scoring Henderson off rising star Kaiyah Ratu’s sacrifice fly. Tessa picking a walk, bringing on DR Aimee Goodmanson to maximise the potential of an extra run.

With two down, and loaded bases, Krystal Werahiko’s coming in clutch with a single through shortstop before Manaia Makiri smashed a two-RBI hit to put PCU in the lead where they remained for the remainder of the game. Waitakere Bears putting the pressure in the bottom of seventh, and not going down without a fight. Leadoff Tyarn Bromhead-Lemalu drawing a walk, with Shyah Hale intentionally walked with the bases becoming loaded after a fielding error off Mim Cudicio. Unfortunately Bears unable to convert any runs before Fairclough closed the game by attacking the zone, and ending with a swinging strikeout.

 

Men’s Tournament Awards:
Top Batter: Te Wera Bishop (Porirua City United).

Top Pitcher: Liam Potts (PCU Devils).

Most Valuable Player: Brock Evans (Ramblers).

Women’s Tournament Awards:

Top Batter: Tristen Edwards (Riccarton Maidens).

Top Pitcher: Stephani Fairclough (PCU Angels).

Most Valuable Player: Mikayla Werahiko (PCU Angels).

Article added: Thursday 14 March 2024