From Stuff.co.nz Editor’s note: Last month, Jerome Raemaki was honored as Softball New Zealand’s player of the year. As the season started anew Saturday, he picked up where he left off, displaying the talent that earned him the prestigious award.
A keep it simple approach has again paid off for the Poneke-Kilbirnie men’s softball team.
The side on Saturday beat Miramar 7-0 at the Polo Ground to notch up their second win in as many games in the Wellington premier intercity competition.
“It is just repetition, doing the basics. We are keeping it simple,” PK infielder Jerome Raemaki said.
“It is a good start to the season and we are just building for the business end of the season.”
It was Raemaki who showed from the second pitch of the game that his side meant business. That pitch ended up over the outfield fence for the opening run.
Then in the second inning Raemaki, who last month received the Softball New Zealand men’s player of the year award, showed just why. This time he put the ball in play in front of Miramar’s teenage pitcher Josh Merritt and was good enough to see Thomas Cameron and Conrad Bain scramble home before the dust had settled.
For the young Miramar side there were some positives from the performance. Merritt bounced back to finish with six strikeouts, including two against former international Daniel Tarapi.
In other men’s games Porirua City United also kept their unblemished record intact, beating Johnsonville 6-4 with Kody Cluerd and Zac Boyd strong performers. Cluerd batted three from four and then the third baseman backed that up with a crucial double play. Boyd had two safe hits from four turns at bat and then the shortstop executed a backhand play to end an inning with Johnsonville having runners on base.
Hutt Valley Marist also made it two from as many starts on Saturday when they beat Hutt City United 7-0.
Sunday’s games involving the Hawke’s Bay side Central Vikings and the Hutt Valley sides at Fraser Park were cancelled due to the weather conditions.