The ejection of coach Karaitiana Aranui and player Kahurangi Beamsley-Allan didn't stop Hawke's Bay from making an unbeaten start at the national under-19 boys softball tournament in Christchurch yesterday.
"We were ejected from our second game, which was against Wellington, because of a technical issue. The umpire didn't think the necessary paperwork had been done on a substitution," coach Aranui recalled as he reflected on a 1-0 victory which followed a 3-2 win against Southland earlier in the day.
He had every right to praise his troops' defence, particularly the work of pitchers Ihaka Tangaroa and Kristen Munro in both games.
Tangaroa, a son of retired multiple world champion Chubb Tangaroa, completed seven strikeouts during the first five innings of the Southland game before Munro collected three during his two innings on the mound.
Against Wellington, Munro had the first five innings on the mound and finished with eight strikeouts. Tangaroa pitched the final two innings and added another two strikeouts to his tally for the day.