Softball: Dellow stars with bat and ball

Kahurangi Beamsley bats for Hawke's Bay at the North Island U15 boys' softball tournament in Whanganui. PHOTO/NZME.

It was another Vaughan Dellow show as Hawke's Bay yesterday remained in semifinal contention at the North Island under-15 boys softball tournament in Whanganui.

After hitting one homer on Thursday's first day of play Dellow smashed two yesterday as the Tama Houkamau-coached team recorded two wins and a loss. His first was an in-park home run in an 11-0 five-inning victory against Waikato.

Hastings Boys' High School's Dellow, a son of former Hawke's Bay rep Bryan Dellow and nephew and namesake of former Junior Black Sox outfielder Vaughan Dellow, also pitched a no hitter in this win.

His second homer for the day came in a 9-3 win against Tairawhiti which was a must-win game in the Bay's quest to qualify for the top six playoffs. Dellow played shortstop in this match.

Te Aute College centre outfielder Reihana Wilkie, a son of former Hawke's Bay rep Waka Wilkie, also hit a homer in this win. First baseman Legend Hanley-Ash, like Dellow a national title winner with the HBHS junior team last month, hit two three baggers.

Wellington handed the Bay their first loss with a 9-3 win.

"We put that loss down to some simple errors and a combination of Wellington's good hits which found gaps and our good hits finding their fielders," Houkamau said.

Should Hawke's Bay beat Counties-Manukau this morning they will qualify for the semifinals.

The Harata Kenny-coached Hawke's Bay Under-15 girls team recorded two wins from three outing during yesterday's second day of play at their nine-team Auckland-hosted North Island tournament. Left outfielder Nastashia Ngawhika hit a home run in their 11-4 win against Tairawhiti.

A late batting spree was the key to this victory as Tairawhiti led 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth when the Bay scored five runs before adding a further six in the bottom of six to end the match. Short stop Charm Sandilands produced three hits, all to the outfield, from as many turns at bat in a 4-0 win against Waikato.

Pitchers Hine Crawford, who had five innings on the mound, and Wreyon McCormack-Wesche, who had two, were too clever for the Waikato batters.

North Harbour handed Hawke's Bay their only defeat with an 8-4 win. Crawford, Matariki Manaena, Gabriella Gray and Leighton Brown all batted well.