Softballers make Jefferies Cup SI final

Marlborough’s softballers reached the Jefferies Cup men’s interprovincial final on Sunday but were unable to topple a slick Canterbury side in Christchurch.

Playing at Dynasty Ballpark, Marlborough went down 9-0 to the Red Sox, unable to apply enough pressure with either bat or ball against the defending champions.

The two sides first met on Saturday, with Canterbury winning 9-2. Marlborough bounced back to beat South Canterbury 6-1, then saw off Southland 7-1, a result that ultimately propelled them into the final.

On Sunday morning, Marlborough faced Otago and led 4-0 before letting their rivals back into the match. It went down to the wire, with Otago prevailing 6-5 in a tie-breaker inning.

Despite the defeat, Marlborough booked a place in the final by picking up a bonus point for reaching the tie-breaker against Otago, going into the decider with high hopes.

They started with Josh Kelly, who pitched Canterbury to the title last year, on the mound, but were soon behind as the home side’s batters strung safe hits together and regularly put runners in scoring positions. Former Black Sox pitcher Kurt Schollum, on the comeback trail this season, was injured against Otago and did not pitch in the decider.

Meanwhile, Canterbury’s left-handed hurler Liam Potts, a Black Sox standout at this year’s World Cup, troubled all the Marlborough batters, who managed only one safe hit in five innings.

With Canterbury leading 9-0 at the bottom of the fourth, they needed only three outs for the title, a feat relief pitcher Chris Agnew and the slick Canterbury infield accomplished in the same professional manner they had operated throughout.

Marlborough coach Steve Gill was happy with the tenacity his side showed to reach the final, admitting they weren’t at their best but did just enough.

“We battled our way through,” Steve says. “All the players chimed in. We didn’t really play to our potential but I doubt it would have made any difference against a very good Canterbury outfit. They were in a class of their own.”

Marlborough took just 12 players south, resulting in a big workload for several, including both pitchers. Steve also mentioned catcher Tyler Bird, who excelled in the field in the final, recent arrival Jacques Breet, who managed the only hit of the final, and Drew Roberts, who pulled off some big plays.

However, he had praise for the whole dozen players, who put in “a valiant effort throughout”.

Marlborough team: Braden Healy, Drew Roberts, Blake Wisdom, Kurt Schollum, Josh Kelly, Tyler Bird, Felix Hall, Dane Gill, Sam Kenny, Jacques Breet, Koki Hoshi, Callum Hayton. Coach: Steve Gill.

Next up for the Marlborough side is a stint at the Heartland champs for the smaller provinces in Palmerston North in late January.