Softball: Harbour win keeps them in contention

Duanne Jerrard and Steven Tau picked up six hits between them as they steered North Harbour to a dramatic 4-2 win over Canterbury in their crunch game at the New Zealand men's interprovincial softball championships in Auckland yesterday.

Harbour needed to win to stay in contention for the top four, who will play off tomorrow for the Smokefree Cup.

They started well enough, scoring two runs in their fourth turn at bat through hits by Jerrard and Tau, as well as a walk given up by Canterbury pitcher Niko Maat.

But Canterbury struck back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh innings to tie the game up and force a tie-breaker.

Gareth Cook started Canterbury's last-gasp rally with a hit up the middle. Blair Murphy then came up with a double to left-field. Both runners scored on wild pitches as Harbour pitcher Derrek Coleman hit a rough patch.

But Coleman made amends in the top of the tie-breaker innings, forcing an error from the third baseman to see automatic runner Scott Common make it 3-2.

Coleman then scored as Tau hit to right-field to give Harbour a healthy 4-2 lead. Canterbury were unable to score in their extra turn at bat.

Auckland will almost certainly make the top four after two wins yesterday.