Thunder and Raiders Secure Places at Fastball 45® National League Finals
The Wellington Thunder and the Hutt Valley Kotuku Raiders have secured the remaining spots of the FASTBALL 45® National League finals through convincing wins at the Central Regional Qualifier today.
The Raiders were in rampant form beating the Wellington Shakers 10-4, after narrowly beating the Wellington Storm in their semifinal on Friday night.
Although the Raiders only outhit the Shakers 5-4 it was the constant pressure and aggressive base running that took themout to an unassailable 10-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Pallas Potter, Lara Andrews and Caitlyn Lewin did the damage accumulating 7 of the teams RBI’s between them.
The Shakers had no answer to Raiders pitcher Shivaun Landeros who was backed by solid defence throughout the 3 innings of play. The men’s final was a closer affair with The Wellington Thunder and Hutt Valley Pakura Crushers in a tight battle which saw the teams locked at 1-1 after two innings.
The Thunder cracked down in the third with 7 runs largely through the batting efforts of Dylan Jackson, Damon Creasy and Reilly Makea.
Thunder and Black Sox pitcher Josh Pettett was in a dominant mood as he completely shut down the Crushers throwing a no hitter and taking 6 strikeouts.
The Thunder and Raiders will represent the Central Region when they take on the Southern and Northern regions at ELE Stadium in Albany next weekend.
The FASTBALL 45® National League Finals schedule can be viewed here
The Raiders were in rampant form beating the Wellington Shakers 10-4, after narrowly beating the Wellington Storm in their semifinal on Friday night.
Although the Raiders only outhit the Shakers 5-4 it was the constant pressure and aggressive base running that took themout to an unassailable 10-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Pallas Potter, Lara Andrews and Caitlyn Lewin did the damage accumulating 7 of the teams RBI’s between them.
The Shakers had no answer to Raiders pitcher Shivaun Landeros who was backed by solid defence throughout the 3 innings of play. The men’s final was a closer affair with The Wellington Thunder and Hutt Valley Pakura Crushers in a tight battle which saw the teams locked at 1-1 after two innings.
The Thunder cracked down in the third with 7 runs largely through the batting efforts of Dylan Jackson, Damon Creasy and Reilly Makea.
Thunder and Black Sox pitcher Josh Pettett was in a dominant mood as he completely shut down the Crushers throwing a no hitter and taking 6 strikeouts.
The Thunder and Raiders will represent the Central Region when they take on the Southern and Northern regions at ELE Stadium in Albany next weekend.
The FASTBALL 45® National League Finals schedule can be viewed here