10 March 2007 Auckland fastpitch

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 3/10/07 4:26:17 PM 
From:  Vance <vanf(at)ihug.co.nz> 

   
Subject:  10 March 2007 Auckland fastpitch  


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 March 2007 Auckland fastpitch softball results.

Play-offs: Men: Championship section: Quarter finals. Waitakere
Bears 
4 Howick 1, Northcote 3 United 1. Northcote to play Ramblers
and 
Bears to play Metro in semi finals on Saturday.
Plate section semifinals: Marist 11 Glenora 0, Te Atatu Roosters
8 Otahuhu 6.

Women: Bears 2 v Otahuhu 1, Marist 12 Howick 0.
Bears will play Marist for the place in the final against minor

premier Northcote.


Northcote's international all-rounder Brad Rona powered his side

into a semi final against champion Ramblers in next Saturday's
final 
day at Norana Park. He pitched a four-hitter against Auckland
United 
and hit a first inning home run, with Dean Wallace on base after
a 
walk, followed by a home run from Michael Boaler. Northcote won
3-1.
Northcote's two first inning hits were the side's meagre total

against United's pitcher Heinie Shannon but United, with only
four 
hits, could manage to group them only once, in the fourth, when
Kurt 
Allan hit on base and Shannon, one of the stars of the season,
hit a 
double for the solitary run. Shannon deserved more from his team.
United, fourth in the rankings after the round robin, was 
marginally ahead of fifth placed Northcote. Third ranked was
Royal 
Canin Waitakere Bears and sixth was Howick. Ramblers and Metro,
as 
first and second in the round robin, had automatic semi final
qualification.
Bears' men took time to master Howick before winning 4-1 at 
Starling Park in the other play-off match. Bears will play Metro,

with Northcote facing minor premier and reigning champion Ramblers,

in the semi finals.
These games are on Saturday at 9.30am, with the final at 3pm,

following the plate final at 12.15.
Te Atatu Roosters beat Otahuhu men 8-6 with three runs in the

seventh inning of the plate semi final. Otahuhu replied with
one in 
the last turn, but could not catch up in a free-scoring thriller

while Marist had a predictable 11-0 win over the struggling Glenora.
The influence and experience of Jake Tahu, the consistent 
catching and hitting ability of catcher Tommy Katene and some
hard 
work from pitcher Taiki Apu have pushed Otahuhu up the ladder
but the 
club really needs to work out its motivation. Aiming for the
top or 
filling in the competition is the classic dilemma for many teams.
Bears' women, one of the dominant sides of the year, had problems

against cellar side Otahuhu in the quarterfinal before winning
2-1 in 
the bottom of the seventh. Bears batting standard must go back
to 
mid-season form against Marist in Saturday's semi final if the
club 
is to take its first-ever Auckland women's title. Marist, after
a 
late season slump, will test Bears in every department.
Marist and Bears will play the semi final at 9.30am and the final

at 12.30. With Jackie Smith and Fiona Timu likely to be in top
form, 
Northcote will have the edge. However, like Ramblers, Northcote
has 
had a slow time lately with few games and this may have taken
the 
edge off both teams.
Ramblers has not shown much sparkle but the Auckland national

league win must have livened up most of the team members.
Saturday's finals will be the last chance for all the teams to

prepare for the nationals the following week, with the women
in 
Hastings and the men in Christchurch  

From:  Vance <vanf(at)ihug.co.nz> 


 Al's Fastball News
*Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com
   fastball at pmihrm.com
NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/
NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball


VIA http://www.webbox.com