Fast Pitch player-coach Te Rangi Chadwick had a meltdown and Maraenui Pumas pounced to capture Hawke's Bay's premier men's softball competition's pre-Christmas title on Saturday.
During the second inning of his team's 4-1 loss to Pumas in the final at Akina Park, Hastings short stop Chadwick was upset a couple of calls from Manawau base umpire Rex Dyason went against his team. He told the plate umpire and of the country's most experienced officials, Dyason's brother Ray, he didn't want Rex on the diamond and during a conversation which included several expletives urged Ray to umpire the game himself.
Chadwick's youthful team trailed 1-0 at that stage. After that incident the Fast Pitch players heads dropped and by the time they recovered they were 3-0 down and it was too late.
At a time when Chadwick's team needed him to be composed he wasn't. Ray Dyason said afterwards he could have ejected Chadwick and would have had it not been a final.
"Yes that incident proved costly for Fast Pitch. But Te Rangi is still the season MVP to date in our eyes. He has done a top job with that young team," experienced Pumas third baseman Karaitiana Aranui said referring to the fact Fast Pitch qualified first for the semifinals and won the double life semifinal earlier in the day 2-1 against second qualifiers Flaxmere to secure their final berth.