Hutt Valley pitcher just too good for Giants

BY GARY CAFFELL
Giants were lauding the efforts of opposition pitcher Jeremy Manley after they were beaten twice by Hutt City United in premier league men's softball matches at South Park, Masterton on Saturday.
They lost 0-4 and 0-1, the first game counting towards the Hutt Valley competition and the second the Inter-City series.
Giants were hoping a run of impressive batting form would see them cope successfully with having to face the speed and finesse of Manley but their assistant coach Russell Thompson was quick to concede in post-match comments that Manley held the upper hand.
"It wasn't so much that we batted poorly, he (Manley) was just too quick and deceptive for us," Thompson said. "His variation was outstanding and we just couldn't put bat to ball.We only managed four safe hits all day"
Thompson was pleased, however, with the competitiveness of Giants in both games, especially the second where the only concession from pitcher Blair Thompson was one automatic home run and there were some outstanding plays made in the field.
"We were in the hunt right to the end of that one?it could have gone either way," Russell Thompson said.
The two losses came after Giants had racked up eight consecutive wins and Russell Thompson is confident they will bounce back quickly over the next couple of weekends.
"Our next four matches are all very winnable and we're determined to get a positive result in each and every one of them," he said.