A cracking start in the Hawke’s Bay men’s softball championship final paved the way for a 4-2 win to Saints over more-favoured rival Mets at Akina Park, Hastings, on Saturday.
While Mets’ Josh Gettings crossed base in the first innings of the game for his unbeaten side to hit an early lead, Saints replied with three runs in the bottom of the first (to Te Rangi Chadwick, Luke Woon, and Jacob Zercher) and another to Ben Foxall to be in front 4-1 at the bottom of the second.
It was not an insurmountable hurdle for Mets, who had beaten Saints in two previous meetings, but the only reply was a hit over the fence and a home run to Jovan Hanley at the top of the fourth.