Softball: Canterbury showing the way

Canterbury are the only unbeaten side after two days of the national women's provincial championships in Lower Hutt after a high-scoring 13-6 win over hosts Hutt Valley.

There were a 24 hits in the game, and none of the four pitchers used came through unscathed.

There were also some impressive batting statistics, like Sheree Cartwright's and Rachel Armon's three hits from four turns at bat for Canterbury.

For Hutt Valley, Cindy Potae and Melisa Upu also both went three for four.

The loss was Hutt Valley's first in the tournament and came after they had beaten the Hutt Valley Regional Selection 12-0.

Canterbury had earlier scored a 5-1 win over Central Regions and a 17-0 win over Horowhenua, giving them 35 runs for the day.

Hutt Valley started the scoring in the bottom of the first innings with Nadia Mauriohooho and Potae both hitting safely and scoring.

Canterbury hit back with four runs of their own at the top of the second innings through hits by Cartwright and Armon, a walk and two errors.

At the top of the third innings, Char Pouaka extended Canterbury's lead to 5-2 when she hit to left field and was batted in by Rhonda Hira.

Then it was Hutt valley's turn again, in the bottom of the third, with Zavana Aranga making base on a fielder's choice and scoring when Upu drove the ball to right field.

But it was the top of the fifth when Canterbury put the result beyond doubt, going on a six-run scoring spree on the back of hits by Cartwright, Andreana Duncan, Armon and Lisa Kersten to take an 11-3 lead.

Kersten's hit was an impressive triple that scored two other runners, and became an error-assisted, in-the-park home run when the throw back to third base was wild.

Hutt Valley scored three runs in their fifth turn at bat, but never really threatened Canterbury's lead.

Wellington and Auckland look likely to be the other teams to qualify for the playoffs.

They met on day two with Wellington coming from behind in the last innings to win 4-3.

Nicole Stevenson hit a home run, her second of the day, and also batted in the winning runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Earlier, Wellington had beaten the Hutt Valley Regional team 15-0 in three innings, with Stevenson hitting a home run and Api Stone-O'Kane and Heather Stellar both picking up two hits. For the locals, Liana Conder had a safe hit at the top of the third innings.

Auckland started the day with a 13-0 victory over Horowhenua, Kalala Faalogo and Carina Hale both picking up three hits, while veteran Fiona Timu produced a nice triple. Michelle Kingi was on the mound and pitched five innings without conceding a hit.

In the Canterbury-Horowhenua game, Canterbury scored 11 runs in their first turn at bat and produced 16 hits in all. Cartwright was again in the action with a three-run homer.