Softball: Auckland in top four

Canterbury will take the top seeding into the weekend's playoffs at the national provincial women's championships after blasting an unbeaten run through the round-robin in Lower Hutt.

The top four were decided after the round-robin was completed, with Canterbury joined by Wellington, Hutt Valley and Auckland.

In the last game of the day Wellington beat Hutt Valley 2-0, the result only determining their order in the top four.

Canterbury's pitching staff is not the strongest to come out of the province, and at this tournament ranks behind those boasted by Auckland and Wellington.

But their booming bats have seen them get the better of all opposition to date, including Auckland, who they beat yesterday 9-6.

It was Canterbury's most competitive game of the tournament, after they downed Hutt Valley 13-6 on day two and defending champions Wellington 8-2 on day one.

Earlier, Auckland had clinched their place in the top four with a 6-4 win over Central Region.

Auckland's starting pitcher, Michelle Kingi, gave up six hits to the first 24 batters, and was taken out in the sixth after letting consecutive runners make base on a walk, an error and a safe hit, which combined to see Central tie the game up at 4-all.

Auckland scored the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth on hits by Missy Bieman, Kingi, Maria Thomas and Kalala Faalogo.

Wellington beat Horowhenua 17-0 and Hutt Valley 2-0.