Softball: Upsets in softball nationals

The form-book was turned upside-down on day one of the interprovincial men's softball championships in Invercargill yesterday, with the top two seeds both suffering losses.

Defending champions Hutt Valley were upset 1-0 by underdogs Otago in their first game, while second seeds Wellington were beaten 9-7 in an afternoon run-fest by Canterbury.

Hutt Valley were also given a scare by Southland in their second match, trailing 0-1 after two innings before coming back to win 4-1.
Canterbury were the only unbeaten team, having scored wins over Southland, 12-1, and Wellington, 9-7.

In Otago's upset win over Hutt Valley, Christchurch-based pick-up pitcher Derek Coleman proved too hot to handle, giving up just three hits in seven innings and taking 12 strike-outs.

Shane Doherty also pitched well for the defending champions, but conceded the winning run in the bottom of the eighth innings tiebreaker, the runner scoring on a wild pitch.

Auckland based pick-up player Tane Richardson managed to contain the Hutt Valley batters early on in their clash with Southland, and the southerners took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second innings through Scot Cartwright.

Gene Lutton tied the game up with an automatic home run and Hutt Valley went on to score two runs in the sixth and seventh. - NZPA