Softball Hawke’s Bay managing director Roger Aranui has promised tough judicial measures after an all-in brawl led to the abandonment of a second premier men’s clash within a week last night.
Umpire Eric Horsham called off the match between Fast Pitch and Saints at Akina Park, Hastings before the second inning had been completed. The brawl erupted at first base after a confrontation between Saints first baseman Paul Roberts and Fast Pitch infielder Te Rangi Chadwick, who had been called out for leaving base early.
Supporters from both teams ran on to the diamond to get involved. With the assistance of team officials, Horsham did a top job to reduce the risk of additional confrontation and after ending the game, sent both teams to opposite ends of the main diamond to cool down.
“Our board is 100 per cent behind the umpires and won’t tolerate this sort of behaviour,” Mr Aranui told Hawke’s Bay Today this morning after reading the umpire’s report.
“We launched a Stepping Up To The Plate campaign at the start of the season and it’s clear some players are struggling to do that,” he said.
He agreed the closeness of the province’s premier men’s competition and the fact 23 players are battling for 15 berths in Hawke’s Bay’s National Fastpitch Championship side which will play in the country’s elite competition has created an extra edge to this season’s play.
Last weekend the Fast Pitch-Dodgers match was called off in the bottom off the first inning after Dodgers infielder Joe O’Leary refused to leave the park after being ejected.
He received a one-match suspension.
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