Any worries that complacency could be an issue for Giants in their Hutt Valley premier league and Inter-City series men's softball matches with Dodgers at South Park, Masterton on Saturday soon dissipated.
Their 11-2 and 10-0 wins provided a clear indication of Giants's superiority in all departments with coach Tony Nixon
delighting in their ability to sustain pressure through the course of both games.
"These are the sort of games where you have to win, and win well, and that's exactly what we did," Nixon said.
It was Michael Grant who provided the early highlight for Giants in the opening encounter, hitting a two-run home run in the first innings. Corie Karaitiana also chimed in with a home run while Jason O'Leary, Blair Thompson and Ritchie Clarke all hit two baggers.
Clarke actually had three safe hits from as many turns at bat and was also in fine form on the pitching mound, restricting Dodgers to just the two runs.
O'Leary took the batting honours for Giants in the second match, hitting two home runs. Craig Sarsons struck an "in the park" home run and Justin Karaitiana, Mark Quinn and Michael Grant hit two two baggers apiece. Sharing the pitching duties in that game were Justin Karaitiana and Mark Quinn and they kept Dodgers scoreless.
For coach Nixon the most satisfying aspect of Giants's performances was their base running which lacked absolutely nothing on the score of aggression.
"You have to assertive around the bases when you meet the top teams and this was a game where we were able to get plenty of practice in that respect,' he said.
The Giants under-15 boys team beat their Dodgers counterparts 4-2 with Danny Brown showing his versatility by hitting a home run as well as starring as pitcher while the Giants premier two grade men's team also beat Dodgers 10-1, Mark Fricker slamming a home run there. In the president's grade it was Dodgers who triumphed 7-4.
