Auckland national league womens champions second time around
Al Doran
aldoran at pmihrm.com
Sun Dec 18 00:31:07 EST 2005
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 18:14:14 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject:
Auckland national league womens champions second time
around
Auckland national league womens champions second time around
Sunday December 18th 2005
The Auckland womens softball team are back on top of the pack on the back
of their victory in the final of the New Zealand Community Trust womens
National League at Hataitai Park, Wellington today.
Auckland won the final over the defending champions Hutt Valley 3-1 to
claim their second national league title matching the one they picked up in
2003 in the inaugural season of the event.
The title victory was a big turn around for Auckland who failed to even
make the top four finals series of the national league last season.
Victorious Auckland coach Nardi Leonard believes the change in fortunes has
been brought about by an attitude change and a desire to win.
Auckland went into the finals weekend unbeaten but they didnt have
everything their own way they lost the major playoff semi final against
Hutt valley on Saturday night and then relied on a tie breaker victory over
Central Vikings this morning to win their way through to the final.
In the final Auckland were always in control they scored the first run of
the game in the top of the first inning when lead off hitter Atsuku Tanaka
singled to centre field and scored on a hit by Fiona Timu.
Auckland went further ahead in the top of the third inning when Tania Misa
picked up an in the park home run to the left field fence with Talilotu
Tonuu on base to give Auckland a three run advantage.
The defending champions Hutt Valley struck back with their only run of the
game in the bottom of the third inning when Hiromi Sugiyama scampered home
on a hit by Nadia Mauriohooho.
Hutt Valley had more chances in the game but they couldnt convert them in
the bottom of the seventh inning Hutt Valley gave it the last throw of the
dice and loaded up the bases but they couldnt turn it into runs.
On the mound Carina Hale closed the game out for Auckland she faced 29
batters giving up five hits and three walks while taking seven strikeouts.
The crucial outs came in the bottom of the seventh inning when Hutt Valley
loaded up the bases with none down but Hale turned the game striking out
the next two batters and extinguishing Hutt Valleys chances.
For Hutt valley Jana Vacikova was on the mound she faced 30 batters giving
up five hits and one walk while taking two strikeouts.
Going into the national league this season Auckland coach Nardi Leonard had
said this would be her swansong but after the game with a second national
league title in her back pocket she agreed the prospect of a three peat
could be too tantalising.
It hasnt been easy all the games against Hutt Valley have been really
tough, I dont think we were the absolute favourites that some people said
we were. But in the final I think we had more self belief than Hutt Valley
and we wanted to win it, said Leonard.
Key performers for Auckland throughout the national league campaign have
been captain Fiona Timu and outfielder Atsuku Tanaka. Leonard describes
them as real role models in the team and quiet leaders leading from the front.
NEW ZEALAND COMMUNITY TRUST WOMENS NATIONAL LEAGUE FINALS SERIES RESULTS:
Sunday December 18th Auckland 5 Central Vikings 4 (tie breaker).
Final Auckland 3 Hutt Valley 1.
Saturday December 17th Auckland 4 Central Vikings 1, Hutt Valley 4
Wellington 2, Central Vikings 1 Wellington 0, Hutt Valley 6 Auckland 3.
NZCT Womens National League top batter Atsuku Tanaka, average .571
(Auckland).
NZCT Womens National League top pitcher Carina Hale, era 1.3 (Auckland).
NZCT Womens National League MVP Fiona Timu (Auckland).
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.torontomls.net/PublicWeb/CL.asp?link_no=9600933.087003
for Sale or Rent
More information about the Alsfastball
mailing list