FASTBALL 45® Roars Into Life
| Softball’s shortened game roared into life at Auckland’s ELE Stadium with a big win for the West Waves and a count back victory for the East Auckland Heat. The Heat were tied 3-3 with the West Auckland Rapids but with time up in the Fastball 45® format they lost as the Heat had been ahead 3-2 at the end of the third inning. It was simpler in the women’s draw where the Waves washed over the Falcons 9-3 in the women’s draw of the Northern Regional Qualifier with Logan Moreland scoring a home run and in two hits brt three others home. Pitcher Gretchen Aucoin drove in a run and pitched a blinder. From the nine outs she had seven strikeouts. Shyah Hale drove in two runs for East Falcons and scored on good base running. The revamped format sees a runner start on first base in the first innings, two for the second and loaded bases in the third. It brings the potential for heavy scoring toward the end of each game with the matches played in four innings or inside 45 minutes - whichever comes first. Saturday’s games see the Central Rays against the North/South Tribe in the women’s draw and the North/South Auckland Generals take on the Central Auckland Bolts in the men’s division. |
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