Softball: Michal Tangaroa jnr shines
Shane Hurndell
Hawke’s Bay’s New Zealand softball pitching legend Chubb Tangaroa is rapt he had the second week of the school holidays to catch up with some sleep after returning from the Black Sox North American tour this month.
It allowed the Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga head of physical education and Black Sox pitching coach to build up some energy so he can watch live web streaming of the White Sox games at their World Series in Canada.
The three-time world champion is proud of the form his daughter Michal is displaying on the mound.
Michal pitched the White Sox to a second win during a 3-0 victory against Great Britain yesterday morning to give the Kiwis a two-win, one-loss record to date. The Auckland NFC player and Waitakere Bears club player took 11 strike-outs and conceded three safe hits.
“Michal rang after the game and I told her she worked the outside corners well. The game plan she and Mel had been working on paid off,” Tangaroa said referring to Hawke’s Bay catcher Mel Gettins who is the White Sox No1 catcher.
Tangaroa’s daughter is enhancing her reputation as New Zealand’s pitching ace after earlier collecting 11 strike-outs and conceding one hit in a 7-3 win against Mexico.
New Zealand have Australia, Canada, Italy and Chinese Taipei to play in their remaining section games. Wins against Italy on Thursday and Chinese Taipei on Friday, their other two targeted encounters, will see the Kiwis achieve their goal of a top eight finish which would be a major improvement on their 12th placing recorded at the 2010 World Series in Venezuela. Against Great Britain, the White Sox opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Ellie Cooper manufactured a lead off single, stole second base and scored on an error by the British shortstop and a subsequent overthrow. The Kiwis’ other two runs were scored in the seventh and final inning.
Lara Andrews picked a walk and scampered home after consecutive hits by Taylor Paige-Stewart and Te Reo Powhiri Matautia. Kingsley Avery later scored on a wild pitch.
The White Sox out-hit Great Britain 6-3. Cooper and Matautia, who were both key members of the Junior White Sox at their World Series in Cape Town back in December, finished the game with two hits each. Paige-Stewart and Bianca McManus collected the White Sox’ other safe hits.