Giants struggle for pitchers

Giants were taking steps to enhance their depleted pitching stocks as they prepared for the Lion Red North Island Classic men's softball tournament in Hastings this weekend.
With four matches, all of 90 minutes duration, confronting Giants tomorrow it will be vital to keep close tabs on the workload of their pitchers but, with just two in their normal squad, the experienced Ritchie Clarke and 18-year-old Danny Brown, that won't be easy.
Nobody knows better than Clarke the importance of having at least three pitchers available for tourneys of this type. He has spent much of his spare time this week trying to find a suitable "import" to join the Giants squad as a backup pitcher but his efforts had, until yesterday anyway, brought little reward.
"We thought we had a couple lined up but they couldn't make it in the end. But we'll keep trying. There's still at least one or two good prospects out there," he said.
Not helping the Giants' cause is the fact the three Shannahan brothers, Ryan, Nathan and Ashton, are unable to travel to Hastings because of a prior commitment and they are key members of the squad, both for their batting and their excellence in the field.
To help offset their absence, last year's skipper Terry Waitere has been cajoled into coming out of retirement and Giants will be looking to utilise his speed around the bases to the best effect. Otherwise, as Clarke says, it will be a case of juggling players around, with each of the squad members guaranteed plenty of playing time.
"I don't think anybody will be complaining about sitting on the bench. They'll all get as much action as they want," he said.
Confronting Giants in section play tomorrow are Saints from Hawke's Bay, Dodgers from Hutt Valley, Fastpitch from Hawke's Bay and Johnsonville from Wellington.
Fastpitch are the strongest club side in the Bay, with Saints a little behind them, and Clarke expects them to provide stern opposition although perhaps not as strong as that coming from a Dodgers squad, who have picked up a couple of Americans, and from a Johnsonville side who have gained the services of Thomas Cameron.