Auckland upset Wellington in men's N/League

[Al Doran]

Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:36:03 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Auckland upset Wellington in men's N/League


Auckland upset Wellington in men's N/League
Sunday November 27th 2005

The defending champions Wellington have had their unbeaten record broken 
today by Auckland in the New Zealand Community Trust Men’s National League.

It was a tight affair between the top two seeds with the game going to a 
tie breaker inning before Auckland came out on top 3-2. The winning run of 
the game was scored in the bottom of the eighth inning when with bases 
loaded the batter Michael Fenton was walked allowing the runner to come 
home from third base to win the game.

 From the outset the game at Norana Avenue Ballpark, Auckland was a nail 
biter with the first run of the game not coming until the top of the fifth 
inning when Wayne Laulu scored for Wellington on a sacrifice hit by Fabian 
Makea.

After going behind on the scoreboard Auckland struck back with interest in 
the bottom of the sixth inning as first Patrick Shannon and then Lyndon 
Andrew smashed the ball over the left field fence. Wellington scored again 
in the top of the seventh inning with Todd Grego crossing home plate to 
level up the score and send the game into extra innings.

In the first extra inning Wellington couldn’t make their tie breaker runner 
count meaning Auckland only needed one run in the bottom of the inning to 
win the game.

With Auckland at bat in the bottom of the eighth inning and a runner on 
second base the home side then loaded up the bases with a fielding error 
and a walk before Wellington pitcher Tane Richardson walked Michael Fenton 
to give Auckland the game.

Given the power hitting line ups both sides went into the game with it was 
a sterling effort from all the pitchers to keep a lid on the runs.

Thomas Cameron started the game for Auckland, he faced 24 batters giving up 
three hits while taking four strikeouts. Heinie Shannon came into the game 
in the seventh inning for Auckland and he faced eight batters giving up two 
hits while taking one strikeout.

For Wellington Marty Grant started the game on the mound facing 16 batters 
taking five strikeouts while conceding three hits and two walks. Tane 
Richardson came into the game as relief pitcher in the fifth inning and he 
faced 17 batters giving up four hits and two walks while taking five 
strikeouts.

Victory over Wellington was Auckland’s second win of the day as they had 
earlier demolished Southern Pride 15-0. It was a rough day for the southern 
side who also lost to Wellington in the morning 11-0 in just five innings.

The big movers in the men’s national league this weekend have been North 
Harbour who have picked up four wins at Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North 
over the past two days to move them into second place on the points table.

North Harbour picked up comprehensive wins over Central Vikings and Hutt 
Valley yesterday and then repeated the dose today although they were made 
to work a bit harder for their victories.

The opening game today for North Harbour went right down to the wire as the 
visiting team came from behind to defeat Central Vikings 8-7. Later in the 
day victory came a bit more comfortably over Hutt Valley 4-1.

NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST MEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS:
Sunday November 27th –
Wellington 11 Southern Pride 0, North Harbour 8 Central Vikings 7, Auckland 
15 Southern Pride 0, North Harbour 4 Hutt Valley 1, Auckland 3 Wellington 2 
(tiebreaker), Hutt Valley 10 Central Vikings 2.
Saturday November 26th –
Hutt Valley 5 Central Vikings 0, Wellington 3 Auckland 1, North Harbour 14 
Central Vikings 1, Wellington 4 Southern Pride 0, North Harbour 7 Hutt 
Valley 0, Auckland 12 Southern Pride 5.

Points Table (after week two)

Team    Games Played    Won     Lost    BP 1    BP 2  Total
Wellington      8       7       1       1       -       37
North Harbour   8       5       3       1       -       27
Auckland        8       5       3       -       1       26
Southern Pride  6       2       4       -       -       10
Hutt Valley     6       2       4       -       2       12
Central Vikings8        1       7       -       2       7

*BP 1 = Bonus point one represents two points awarded when a team loses a 
game in tie breaker.
*BP 2 = Bonus point two represents one point awarded when a team losses by 
two runs or less where the losing team has scored a minimum of one run.
* Note: Five points are awarded for a win.


By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
*  mailto:kelly.mitchell(at)xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
* mailto:snz(at)softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
*   mailto:vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz

  Als Fastball List
*Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com
    fastball at pmihrm.com
http://www.AlsFastball.com/
NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball
    eScribe is down, but may be back soon escribe.com

Our New Condo: http://www.rpt.ca/hunt/ for Sale or Rent