Softball: Hutt Valley bring home the softball bacon again

INVERCARGILL - The Hutt Valley men's softball team came back from the dead again to win the interprovincial men's championship for the second year in a
row.

Just as they did in Albany last year, Hutt Valley had to win three games on the last day to take the title, and they did just that, beating Southland 1-0, Canterbury 7-2 and Wellington 8-4 in the final.

Hutt coach Barry Casley said that heading into yesterday's games he was always confident his team could produce the goods.

"We knew when we had to peak and it wasn't the first day," he said.

"We just had to make sure we got it right at the right time and that's what we've done."

Todd Wilson was one of the batting heroes for Hutt Valley on the last day, with an automatic home run against Canterbury in the semi-final and then a home run and a three-base hit in the final.

Wellington started with Vince Swannick on the mound but after giving up six hits and five runs he was pulled from the game in the fourth innings and replaced by Jarrad Martin.

Wellington managed to pull back some ground and trailed by just one run heading into the sixth innings, but Hutt responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth after a left-field error and then took the three outs to wrap up the win.

For Hutt Valley Michael Gaiger pitched the full seven innings, giving up 10 hits and taking seven strikeouts.

Wellington pitcher Martin continued his great form with the bat, thumping two automatic home runs in the third and fifth innings, but Wellington were unable to capitalise on scoring chances in almost every other innings.

Earlier Wellington beat Canterbury 7-4 in the two-life semifinal. - NZPA