Softballers light up Lansdowne

Lansdowne Park was a hive of softballing activity on Saturday, with junior, women’s and men’s players all stepping up to bat.

In the morning a large turn-out of junior players relished the ideal overhead conditions to test their burgeoning skills. Players across under-7, under-9 tee ball, under-11, under-13 and under-15 grades were in action.

Then, in the afternoon, the senior sides came out to play, with the local women’s competition resuming and the Saints Rams senior men’s side kitting up for their first outing of the season.

They took on USC Titans from Nelson in a double-header, winning both games. In the first they flexed their muscle and prevailed 16-0, each of the Saints’ batters crossing home plate as the match finished after just three innings.

Players such as Tyler Bird, Drew Roberts, Campbell and Dane Gill, Braden Healy, Jason Bird, plus Callum and Willem Hayton brought an edge of experience and class to the clash, their early-season form boding well for the forthcoming season, which includes a potential Jefferies Cup bid.

The second clash was closer, with players being swapped out to give all of the Saints squad a hit-out. This time Saints won 7-1, a solid start to their Intercity campaign.

In the women’s game, Central scored a 28-3 win over the Saints side.

The previous weekend Wairau women had beaten Saints 14-2 and Waitohi 11-5, with Central downing Waitohi 10-5.