Softballers make great start to the rep season | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua's senior representative softball teams were given a huge confidence boost in the build-up to next month's National Provincial Softball Championships.

Both the Sulphur City's men's and women's sides recorded double wins each against Waikato and Western Bay of Plenty sides during the annual inter-city triangular tournament held at the Rotorua International Stadium on Sunday.

Following the naming of the men's initial squad last week - which was finalised yesterday - Rotorua enjoyed a convincing 7-0 victory over Waikato in the early game, before narrowly disposing of Western Bay of Plenty 6-5 on the number one skin diamond following a tie-breaker.

The women proved too strong for their opponents beating Waikato 10-6, then edged out WBOP 11-8 in a nail-biting tie-breaker that saw powerful performances from Dawn Tipu, pitcher Johna Flavall, catcher Silini Gardiner and speedy runner Teiria Te Riini.

In other games against invitational side Counties-Manukau the men recorded a hat-trick winning 3-2 following a tie-breaker, while the women were in awe of White Sox pitcher Michelle Kingi and narrowly lost 6-4.

Rotorua men's coach Jimmy Natana said he was pleased with his team's two outings, the latter which tested their strength and character under pressure.

"To come back how they did was great," Natana said. "We were 3-1 down and to come away with the win was awesome."

Natana was pleased with the performances of batters Shane Hunuhunu and Jason Gerbes and said new American import Ryan Ernst was beginning to settle well into the side.

Playing in windy and sunny conditions in the later game against WBOP, Rotorua took time to settle in the face of top-rated pitcher Matt Collins - who threw six strikeouts during the game - until Vaughan Grey smashed the ball into the outfield to bring home Jason Gerbes.

WBOP continued to put on the pressure and even the score at the bottom of the first however, experienced Rotorua pitcher Phil Ngawaka proceeded to record the first of his three strikeouts to keep the opposition in check.

WBOP edged ahead 3-1, until Gerbes, Tuakana August and BJ Hohepa all came home following some powerful batting by their teammates and by the top of the fifth, the game went into a tiebreaker after the score was level pegged at 4-all.

Brett Wellings sacrificed himself to get Victor Reihana home, before stealing bases to come home himself. Despite being willed on by a large, supportive crowd, WBOP could only get one runner home and the game ended 6-5 to Rotorua.

Rotorua Softball Association's general manager Roseann Natana said the successful one-day tournament showcased some top softball from all teams.

"There was some brilliant softball with three tie breakers played on the skin diamond," she said. "It was also a good outing for our teams ahead of the NPC."

Natana hinted the annual fixture may be widened to a quadrangular next year with the permanent inclusion of Counties-Manukau.

In other games, the Rotorua under-15 boys team didn't fare as well going down 9-7 to WBOP, 14-4 to invitational side Western Suburbs of Hastings and 13-3 to Counties-Manukau.