Giants not taking Cardinals lightly

Giants won't be taking anything for granted when they meet Cardinals in a men's premier league softball double-header at South Park, Masterton tomorrow.
The last time the two teams met Giants went on a run-scoring spree in winning by a massive 16-2, but they are anticipating Cardinals being an entirely different proposition on this occasion.
"You can bet they will be all fire and brimstone??they are a proud club and don't take kindly to thumpings like that," Giants assistant coach Russell Thompson said. "That last scoreline will count for nothing ?.nothing at all."
The first of the two clashes tomorrow is a Hutt Valley competition match and will get under way at 1pm while the second is part of the Inter-City series and will start at 3pm.
Victory in the first game will see Giants well placed to finish first or second on the Hutt Valley points table leading into the championship play-offs, a situation which would give them two lives there.
And a win in the second game would see them very close to nailing a berth in the top six play-offs in the Inter-City series, something they have never achieved in the past.
Thompson sees the batting depth in the Giants line-up as being the catalyst to success tomorrow.
Cardinals do have the services of a Japanese pitcher who was not on deck in their earlier clash, but Thompson is confident that even he could struggle to stop the Giants batters from cutting loose.
"Basically every member of our squad is capable of doing a good job with the bat, and that's something we've got to make the most of," he said. "The more pressure we can put on them in that department the better."
Thompson acknowledges that Cardinals too have a handy batting line-up, but is optimistic that with four pitchers in their side-Justin Karaitiana, Blair Thompson, Richard Clarke and Tony Nixon- Giants will have enough variety in their pitching to keep them in check.
And he's also happy with the improvement shown by Giants in the field over recent weeks, saying that some hard work at training was paying dividends there.
Extra incentives for Giants players tomorrow are that their club is hosting a "corporate day" which sees sponsors and supporters being royally entertained and that places in the Hutt Valley NPC side are still up for grabs. Already confirmed in that side are the Karaitiana brothers, Justin and Corie, and catcher Curtis Ames,but strong performances tomorrow could see at least another couple selected as well.
Also parading their skills before the locals tomorrow will be the Giants premier two and Giants vets sides, both of whom will also be involved in Hutt Valley inter-club games at South Park.