Junior grade softball gets its opportunity to shine this weekend with the Easter Classic Norther Region tournament.

The event features 32 teams in age groups U14 boys and girls, U17 boys and girls and U20's sides plus plenty of activity of the diamond as well. 

The tournament is being held Good Friday 29 March - Monday 1 April at Colin Lawrie Park, Pukekohe and Rugby Park Waiuku and gives softball fans and players in the area a chance to highlight their skills. 

The tournament serves as a focus on development stage for aspiring players to be alongside and against unfamiliar faces while developing key skills and game knowledge.

The inclusion of out of Auckland, as well as National and International teams strengthens the competition and enables players to experience this unique opportunity. 

The tournament has grown significantly since its inaugural year in 2019 with our last tournament hosting approximately 10,000 people over the four days. 
With Covid restrictions, Softball Auckland managed to host the event every second year since 2019 and in 2023 with an additional focus on engaging the local community and provide free and local entertainment throughout Easter Weekend. This includes crafts, gala stalls, easter egg activities, a visit from the Easter Bunny and softball.

The four-day event will be once again jam-packed with softball, upskilling opportunities, and a space to bring all the whānau/family and community together for an annual trip to the ballpark.
Softball Auckland CEO, Gareth Teahan explains that the tournament enhances the competitors in many different ways. 

"Being a top sportsperson isn't just about hitting a ball a long way or striking someone out. It's also about growing as a person and understanding how to work with others. This tournament is unique in that way and provides a great final season hit out for players and their futures," said Teahan. 

Teams have entered from all around New Zealand as well as a side from Australia.  
 

After victories in the National Fastpitch Championship, Auckland Softball is calling on Softball New Zealand to make vital improvements to the tournament for the future of the event.

Last season, delays as a result of scheduling at the NFC meant some players had to depart the tournament during the grand final in Christchurch.

This 2023-24 tournament was only marginally better as Auckland Softball again pushed for solutions from the governing body.

At the recent NFC at Rosedale Park, Auckland won both men's and women's titles to sit back on top of softball's provincial level in New Zealand.

The result which saw the men beat Canterbury in their final and the women's team account for North Harbour, still left plenty of conjecture around the management of the tournament.

Long-running discussions regarding the format and the timing of the tournament for the benefit of all have not brought about any real change. This is despite the last three NFC finals seeing the losing team leaving prior to prizegiving due to time constraints.

Players and management have had to catch flights, including Canterbury in this year's final. One of the umpires for the final also left before the completion of the game.

The timing issue came to a head last season when Hoani Lambert, Chairperson of the SNZ Board said Softball Auckland’s actions were unacceptable. 

In the lead up to the 2022/23 tournament in Christchurch Softball NZ was informed by the Auckland Softball four weeks prior to the event about our only flight options due to the increased costs around travelling during Labour Weekend.  

That followed with a meeting involving SNZ on the night before the finals confirming the departure time on the last day. The day of the final another meeting was held looking for other solutions including playing the game on a different diamond but SNZ would not make changes due to livestreaming.  

The start of both finals was delayed due to SNZ, with teams sitting in the dugouts waiting for games to commence.  

Policies and procedures have been talked about so that the situation wouldn't occur again. But nothing has been initiated and the 2024 men's final saw Softball NZ, with no discussion reduce the warm-ups to one pitch per innings due to time constraints.  

Auckland Softball are concerned that the pinnacle event has been impacted by event management in the previous three years. 

The Canterbury Softball proposal, backed by Auckland Softball at the SNZ conference in May 2023 was for a multi week National League. The concept was unanimously approved by Associations. 

However, nine months later Softball NZ has not completed any work on the issue much to the disappointment of Softball Auckland’s CEO, Gareth Teahan.

“Auckland suffered last season with travel difficulties and mammoth charges to try and change flights from Christchurch for amateur sportspeople. We could see the problems occurring, but nothing was done about it,” said Teahan. 

“This year the tournament was held in Auckland and Canterbury were watching the clock and weren’t able to stay for prizegiving. It devalues what is otherwise a great national team’s event. Auckland Softball will continue to advocate and assist with a new concept that allows our top-level players to excel at the highest level

Softball is respected as a sport where families are involved, but the Auckland women’s team for the National Fastpitch Championships at Rosedale Park, North Harbour this week is taking things to another level.

Keen on winning the tournament after being beaten finalists to Hutt Valley in 2021, but having tournaments called off with Covid and weather the Auckland women’s teams has a mother, daughter, plus aunt all selected in the team with grandmother as manager.

It’s the Bromhead family which features daughter, mother, aunt and grandmother.

Tyarn Bromhead-Lealu is 19 and a key player, mother Kyla Bromhead, 39 and Rebecca, 41 is aunt all primed to win the title.

They are also all part of the Waitakere Bears team in the Auckland as well. Grandmother, Fran is the manager of the Auckland team. Tegan Bromhead is the assistant coach and daughter of Fran. 

For Kyla competing in sport with relatives has been a regular occurrence.

“Playing alongside family isn’t new for us, but absolutely proud to be in a position where I can continue to play alongside my family, represent our Auckland softball community, and promote women’s softball.  We have been together with Waitakere Bears for nearly years, and both my sisters and I have also shared the diamond at a national representative level.,” said Kyla Bromhead.

“To have my mum come into the fold with the Auckland women this year as well is awesome, and she has familiarity with the girls selected already so will be an easy transition for all,” said Kyla, who is proud to see her daughter especially excel in the sport.

“Tyarn has truly earnt her selection with strong and consistent performances over the last two seasons in both her own age grade, and the Reserve and Premier competitions.  A personal dream of mine, for a few years now, was to have her join me on the diamond for Auckland Women, and compete alongside me for a starting position.  

My time with the side will inevitably come to an end, and I have been wanting to bring through the next generation to take over behind the mask for the last few years.  It’s even better to have my daughter be one of those people!  I can’t wait to suit up with her, and I know she is amped to wear the Blue jersey for the first time too!”

When it comes to the Auckland women’s side Kyla has a big aim.

“Winning the national title is always the goal, and while we have conceded the last two years, a lot of fight from Auckland will take the diamond this year in chase. Youthful tenacity blended with some experience will make us a worthy competitor, and I would love to be boarding that plane home with some new accessories around the neck,” she said

The Auckland women’s team also has over 10 current or former White Sox players in its ranks as they put in a big effort for the title.

In the men’s teams, the three Enoka brothers, Ben, Campbell and Thomas, as well as plenty of other family connections too and Black Sox too.

They won the title in 2021 and five of the last seen years the tournament has been held.                 

The National Fast Pitch Championships are being held 15-18 February at Rosedale Park, North Harbour.

TEAMS:

Auckland Women:

Loran Parker - Ōtāhuhu
Tyla Morrison - Waitākere Bears
Tori Talamahina - Waitākere Bears
Pania Monk - Marist United
Rebecca Bromhead - Waitākere Bears
Shyah Hale - Waitākere Bears
Tyarn Lemalu-Bromhead - Waitākere Bears
Sarahnaruth Pauga - Ōtāhuhu
Logan Moreland - Ōtāhuhu
Katrina Nukunuku - Mt Albert Ramblers
Kyla Bromhead - Waitākere Bears
Beth Reid - Mt Albert Ramblers
Meeki Cooper-Nicola - Waitākere Bears
Ruby Nola - Mt Albert Ramblers
Clover Alapaki - Metro
Coach: Sammi Parks
Assistant Coach: Tegan Bromhead
Manager: Fran Bromhead
Scorer: Priscilla Abraham

Auckland Men (A Team):

Dallas Amai-Tatu - Waitākere Bears
Oscar Clark - Mt Albert Ramblers
Nik Hayes - Mt Albert Ramblers
Max Earley - Mt Albert Ramblers
Harrison Wildbore - Howick
Cole Evans (Captain) - Mt Albert Ramblers
Brock Evans - Mt Albert Ramblers
Rhys Evans - Mt Albert Ramblers
Ben Enoka (Vice Captain) - Auckland United
Campbell Enoka - Auckland United
Thomas Enoka - Auckland United
Floyd Nola - Mt Albert Ramblers
Connor Peden - Mt Albert Ramblers
Ethan Shannon - Auckland United
Liam Twigden - Auckland United
Coach: Nathan Nukunuku
Assistant Coach: Garth Pollard
Manager: Duncan Enoka
Assistant Manager: Dirk McGregor
Scorer: Christine Nukunuku

Auckland Men (B Team):

Kazuki Ishizaki - Auckland United
Cameron Johnson - Auckland United
Jayden Priestley - Howick
Taine Slaughter - Mt Albert Ramblers
Isaac Fletcher (Captain) - Auckland United
Matt Oxley - Waitākere Bears
Brock Attewell - Auckland United
Lewis Jerard - Mt Albert Ramblers
Reuben Topia - Auckland United
Jacob Oxley - Waitākere Bears
Alfons Oveinikovas - Auckland United
Maddix Rice (Vice-Captain) - Mt Albert Ramblers
Oscar Clark - Mt Albert Ramblers
Ryan Earley - Mt Albert Ramblers
Simon McMillan - Mt Albert Ramblers
Leighton Hiko-Smith - Waitākere Bears
Coach: Ricky Earley
Assistant Coach: Kelvin Roberts
Assistant Coach: Hayden Wildbore
Manager: Mark Townley
Scorer: Gwen Fletcher

Loran Parker hurled an extra-innings complete-game as Ōtāhuhu claimed the Northern Fastpitch Series (NFS) premier women’s softball title.

Tyneesha Houkamau brought home the championship-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Ōtāhuhu edged the rival Waitākere Bears 2-1 in a pitching duel at Sturges Park on Saturday.

Parker gave up a lead-off home run to centre-field to Shyah Hale on the second pitch of the game, but settled into her rhythm to go the distance, not allowing a runner past second base after the third inning.

The White Sox pitcher finished with a stat-line of 32 batters faced in eight innings, giving up three hits, one earned run and a walk, while striking out eight. She also went 1-for-1, with a walk and sacrifice, at the plate.

Almost as impressive on the mound, Waitākere’s Sachi Clark, Tyla Morrison and Mim Cudicio combined to pitch 7 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits, one earned run and six walks, picking up three Ks. Clark had a no-hitter going when she was lifted in the fourth inning, with Waitakere still leading 1-0.

Parker escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning but for the next three innings, only two Waitākere batters got on base, courtesy of an error and a walk.

Ōtāhuhu tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Parker drew a walk, then advanced on Alyx Bloom’s single and a wild pitch, before trotting home on Taylor Chongnee’s walk.

However, despite the bases packed and just one out, Ōtāhuhu could not add more runs.

Ōtāhuhu had a chance to end the game in the seventh inning when Bloom walked, moved to second on a bunt and stole third with one out, but Chongnee struck out and Sarahnaruth Pauga popped out.

With pinch-runner Waimarie Tawera starting the eighth at second base, Mereana Makea moved her to third with a bunt, before Houkamau’s sac-fly to centre-field plated the walk-off run.

The result spoiled Waitākere outfielder Rebecca Bromhead’s record-setting 300th premier grade appearance. Bromhead went 1-for-4, with a strikeout.

Along with the Leveloff Cup, Ōtāhuhu also claimed the Auckland Scorers Trophy for round-robin title and retained the Colleen Callaghan Shield during the Covid-19-disrupted season.

Parker finished the season with a 0.42 earned run average (ERA) to be named pitcher of the year, while Ōtāhuhu’s Krysta Hoani, with a .526 average, won batter of the year. Waitākere’s Hale was named MVP and Rebecca Bromhead Award winner, while also having the most home-runs and RBIs.

There was some consolation for Waitākere on Saturday, with their Cubs side winning the reserve women’s final 15-0 over Bandits at Sturges Park to claim the Auckland Softball Trophy.

No 9 hitter Margaret Alotafa blasted two grand-slam home-runs, finishing with eight RBIs, as the Cubs blew the game open early with seven runs in the first inning, then ended it by mercy-rule with eight more in the third inning.

Like Alotafa, Hope Maka also went 2-for-2, with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Tyarn Bromhead-Lemalu had two RBIs.

Pitchers Clark and Tori Talamahina combined for the shut-out, with Clark allowing Bandits’ only hit and striking out three batters in two innings of work.

Bromhead-Lemalu was named the reserve women’s MVP, along with best batter with a .636 average, while Talamahina was the best pitcher, with an ERA of 1.61.

In other NFS awards, Lynnette Leathart was named scorer of the series and Lucy Pearce umpire of the series.

NORTHERN FASTPITCH SERIES RESULTS

PREMIER WOMEN

The Waitakere Bears women have continued their dominant start to the Pure Athletic Northern Fastpitch Series (NFS) pre-Christmas action with a second straight victory.

The Bears put away the Northern Bandits 8-1 at Starling Park, with teen Shyah Hale hitting a lead-off home run for the second week running. Waitakere have outscored their two opponents by a combined 20-2.

In the other women’s premier game of the round, the Accent Insurance Howick team had their first outing of the competition, starting slow before recording a 10-5 win over the Mt Albert Ramblers at Warren Freer Park.

Heading into the third inning, Howick were up 1-0, adding hits to Stefanie Smith, Jordyn Murray and Tamzin Smith, who has returned to the club after a couple of seasons away at Otahuhu.

Up 4-0, Howick were feeling confident but gave up hits to Zoe Tolhopf and Georgia Faunt, allowing Ramblers to make it a one-run game.

However, the east Auckland club then upped the tempo. Corinna Rahm managed to get on base with a walk, followed by a safe bunt by Samantha Greenwood. Up stepped Jackie Smith, who got Rahm home with a hit of her own, Smith was then intentionally walked to load the bases with Murray up next. Murray forced the Ramblers shortstop into an error, bringing home Smith.

Power-hitter Caitlin Sill, who also started as pitcher, smashed a ball to bring in another two runs, followed by Kelsea King hitting a stand-up triple to the fence, bringing home Kailee White, who was running for Sill.

This took Howick to a comfortable 10-4 scoreline, with Ramblers bringing Karstein Fuimaono home later for more respectability on the scoreboard.

Notable in the game was pitcher Skylah Breeze Joyce, who made her premier debut for Howick at age 14 and in the process got her first premier strike out victim.

In the women’s reserve grade at Warren Freer Park, Northcote came away with a 4-3 win over Ramblers.

The team from the northern side of the bridge – under the guidance of former Black Sox Brad Rona and Karlheim Naera – started the scoring action in the first innings, with lead-off Hannah McArdle King making base on an error, moving to second on an errored sacrifice bunt by Tirakahurangi Takuira-Leaf, both runners pulling off a double steal before scoring on Jamie Matthews’ outfield hit.

Ramblers pulled a run back in the third inning, with Brodie Monds picking up a walk, Kairo Tulisi-Hunuki putting down a sacrifice bunt to move Monds up, before Ari’ane Keresoma was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved a base on a passed ball before Monds scored on an infield error off the bat of Faunt.

Northcote got three runners on base in their third inning but failed to score.

After a quiet fourth inning, the game moved up a notch in the fifth as pinch-hitter Zetian Neenee Ikitomai picked a walk, followed by two hits off the bats of Leilani Andrew and Faunt, scoring the returning runner Caprice Thomas. Karstein Fuimaono was intentionally walked, loading the bases, before a strikeout passed ball allowed Andrew to cross home plate.

Northcote quickly tied the score up 3-3 with their first batter McArdle-King getting a hit away to the outfield, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt that was errored, scoring on a Jayah Lee safe hit.

NORTHERN FASTPITCH SERIES RESULTS

Premier Women: Waitakere Bears 8 Northern Bandits 1, Accent Insurance Howick 10 Mt Albert Ramblers 5

Reserve Women: Waitakere Bears 6 Northern Bandits 2, Northcote 4 Mt Albert Ramblers 3

Round two of the Auckland Softball pre-Christmas Northern Fastpitch Series (NFS) competition saw some big scores and a couple of tight encounters.

The Roosters premier men from Te Atatu came through for a narrow 3-2 win over Accent Insurance Howick at Meadowlands Reserve on Saturday.

After a slow start, plenty of action in the third inning saw Howick take a 2-1 lead. Roosters scored two more runs in the fifth inning, to take the lead and hold to win the game.

In the reserve game between the two clubs, Roosters came out a 6-2 winner.

However, the star of the weekend was White Sox Shyah Hale, who did the damage for the Waitakere Bears premier women at Warren Freer ballpark in a 12-1 win against Pure Athletic Mt Albert.

Leading off the inning after a year away from the game following major knee surgery, Hale latched onto a Pearl Marli Waetford pitch and dispatched it over the outfield fence.

Spurred on by the big hit, the Bears loaded bases allowing their starting pitcher and catcher, Mim Cudicio and Aroha Noanoa, to knock two-RBI doubles to take a 5-0 lead.

Mikayla Cross earned a walk, which then bought Hale back to the plate again and to face relief pitcher Nerida Elson. The last time Hale played Ramblers at Warren Freer, she blasted two home runs in the game as a 15-year-old.

A year older, she did it again but this time in the same inning, sending the score to 8-0.

Ramblers clawed one run back in the third inning as Richlyn Tuhoro was hit by a pitch, stole second and eventually crossed for the run on Zoe Tolhopf’s drive to centrefield.

However, Bears veteran Kayla Clark helped her team finish off the game in her 20th season of premier softball for Waitakere as they rattled off four more runs for an eventual 11-run win.

In the reserve game between the two clubs, the score was also one-sided, with Waitakere winning 13-3.

Ramblers women now take a break until the New Year when they start 2022 at the Wayne Roper tournament hosted at Otahuhu.

The other reserve women’s games saw the North Harbour Bandits overcome rivals Northcote 9-5.

In men’s reserve grade, Auckland United were too strong for the Waitakere Bears, winning 5-1. The other men’s reserve grade contest at Fowlds Park saw Otahuhu overcome Northcote 4-3 but only after five additional tie-breaker innings as scores were level after the regulation six innings.

NORTHERN FASTPITCH SERIES RESULTS

Premier Men

Roosters 3 Howick 2

Premier Women

Waitakere Bears 12 Pure Athletic Mt Albert Premier Women 1

Reserve Women

North Harbour Bandits 9 Northcote 5
Waitakere Bears 13 Mt Albert 3

Reserve Men

Auckland United 5 Waitakere Bears 1
Otahuhu 4 Northcote 3
Accent Insurance Howick 6 Roosters Reserves 2

The pre-Christmas start to the Auckland Softball Pure Athletic NFS competition got underway with the first games since coming out of a covid-enforced lockdown.

Players and strategically spaced spectators took their part in a great start to the initial games with plenty of team and individual efforts.

Defending Forsyth Trophy winners Auckland United started with a strong victory 8-1 over Accent Insurance Howick, however it was a late surge for the home side at Fowlds Park with scores locked at 1-1 at the bottom of the fifth innings.

Howick were kept in the game by Cam Johnson’s pitching and monster home run by Nick Hanigan. However United then hit back in a big way to pile on runs and take the game in a big warning to all other sides in the competition.

They also had a 5-3 win in the reserve grade over Howick in a very successful opening weekend for the club.

Other men’s reserve games had the Mt Albert Pure Athletic Ramblers closed out a tight contest 4-2 over Northcote and then in the second part of the double-header they kept a clean scoresheet against the Waitakere Bears winning 6-0.

Despite his side not getting on the scoreboard Waitakere pitcher Carlos Amai-Tatu was one of the stars for his team facing 27 batters, taking eight strike-outs, and seven hits.

The women’s premier contest had Pure Athletic Ramblers win 6-0 over the North Harbour Bandits at Warren Freer Park with one of the highlights Brooke Whiteman hitting a big home run.

Bandits were first into the batter’s box with lead off Erena Sawada getting a drive ball down left field line, stealing second, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Silia Manukia, however she was left stranded on third base.

Ramblers had more success batting, with lead off Brooke Whiteman picking a walk, before scoring on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Richlyn Tuhoro. the first run of the 2021/22 season.

Zoe Tolhopf also was awarded the safety of first base with four pitched balls, moving to third base on Katrina Nukunuku’s two base outfield hit. The bases became loaded when Leilani Andrew also was walked, Pearl-Marli Waetford was hit by a pitch which scored Tolhopf and Nukunuku scored on a wild pitch.

There were two more runs in the second innings for the home team with Gabby Murare being hit by a pitch, moved to second on a fielder’s choice error before scoring from second base on a hit by Tolhopf which forced an error scoring Whiteman as well.

The last scoring action was in the fourth innings where lead off Whiteman recorded an automatic over the centre field fence for a solo home run. Although Bandits were able to get 6 runners on base, these were all stranded.

Pitching for Northern Bandits was Cheyleigh Natana Wihongi who faced 8 batters before being replaced by Masana Ando who faced 27 batters taking 5 hits giving up 4 walks and 4 runs.

For Ramblers Nerida Elson, recently returned from USA, started the game on the mound facing 19 batters taking 9 strikeouts giving up 2 walks and 2 hits.

Justine Taku-Bedwell took over the pitching in the 6th innings facing 7 batters taking 2 strike outs giving up 1 walk and 1 hit.

it was notable that the game was officiated by an all-female crew with Heidi Leathart behind the plate, Lucy Pearce and Tash Raina-Nash running the bases and Lil Natana was the official scorer.

Saturday 4 December scores:

Premier Men; Auckland United 8 Accent Insurance Howick 1,

Reserve Men; Auckland United 5 Accent Insurance Howick 3, Mt Albert Pure Athletic Ramblers 4 Northcote 2, Mt Albert Ramblers 6 Waitakere Bears 0.

Premier Women; Mt Albert Pure Athletic Ramblers 6 Bandits 0.

Auckland Softball is back on the pitching mound with a gradual restart to the top echelons of the sport in the region.

The bulk of the season will restart in early January however some of the Pure Athletic NFS Premier and Reserve Grand games will now be played prior to Christmas.

The first games will be Saturday 4 December with defending men’s champions Auckland United hosting Accent Insurance Howick at Fowlds Park from 3pm. A reserve grade game between the two teams will be played as a curtain-raiser.

Auckland United have the Enoka brothers, Ben, Thomas and Campbell among over half a dozen Black Sox who can turn out at any time, while Howick have talented lefty Seth Gibson on their books.

In the men’s reserve grade the Mt Albert team have a double-header against Northcote followed by the Waitakere Bears at 1pm and 3pm respectively.

In the women's Premier comp the North Harbour Bandits are away to the Pure Athletic Mt Albert Ramblers at 1pm at Warren Freer Park.

Ramblers have a huge amount of experience they can call on with numerous former and current White Sox such as Katrina Nukunuku.

Women's reserve grade games will be played on Monday 6 December as Mt Albert are at home against Waitakere and the North Harbour Bandits and Northcote clash at Starling Park, both games from 7pm

The start for the bulk of the Auckland Softball season is still set for Saturday 8 January 2022 with finals day Saturday 9 April for all grades from U12 through to Division 1 Senior Competition.

Auckland Softball have taken the initiative to set a restart date for the season in early 2022, Covid-19 and Ministry of Health requirements permitting.

The organisation which looks after 5000 members and 16 clubs felt that over the challenging past few weeks there had been much uncertainty over the 2021/22 Auckland Softball season.

The board of Auckland Softball said they were keen to move on and give the Auckland Softball whanau more definitive dates to work with.

The start of the Auckland Softball season is now set for Saturday 8 January 2022 with finals day Saturday 9 April for all grades from U12 through to Divison 1 Senior competition.

“It’s been tough for everyone, but hopefully all Softball Auckland friends and whanau have stayed safe and are looking forward to softball. The decision to re-start the season early in January is to give all softball enthusiast something definite to plan around.

"We believe it works in the best interests of everyone involved in the game and were keen to take a positive step forward, “ said Softball Auckland CEO, Gareth Teahan.

“We are expecting another good turnout of teams despite the delay to the season. We feel that there are a many people who just want to get out and play softball.”

If any softball is able to be played prior to Christmas, then Auckland Softball will put together some club based friendlies with details to be announced.  

Even with Covid-19 causing issues over the past 18 months Softball Auckland has seen a 10 percent increase in team numbers from 2020 which was in turn 5 percent up on the previous year.

Mt Albert Ramblers are the national men’s softball club champions thanks to some top player from veteran players such as Black Sox, Donny Hale.

Ramblers won the major playoff against Wellington’s Poneke Kilbirnie (PK) at Fraser Park, Hutt Valley on Sunday morning and then beat Auckland United in the final in the afternoon.

The 2-1 win over PK was tight all the way, but Australian pitcher Andrew Kirpatrick (who will line up for Australia when they play the Black Sox later this month) pitching for Ramblers gained five strikeouts to help his side. The runs were batted in by John Hireme and Hale.

In the final Mt Albert Ramblers defeated Auckland United 9-3. Again Hale starred with the bat, hitting two home runs resulting in four runs batted in. Pitcher, Kirpatrick also hit a home run and pitched the final for the win. Black Sox player Thomas Enoka hit a two run, home run for United in the final.

Top batters named at the tournament were Black Sox players Thomas Makea(Poneke Kilbirnie), Nathan Nukunuku(Ramblers), and Ben Enoka(Auckland United) who all batted 0.500 for the week. Top pitcher was Kirpatrick, and MVP was Nathan Nukunuku.

Hawkes Bay Dodgers won the women’s tournament at Rosedale Park in North Harbour beating Magpies from Kelston in West Auckland 7-3, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament.

The Dodgers win was a family affair with Courtney and Melanie Gettins being named in the White Sox team for the World Champs in the Netherlands in August and their Dodgers team being coached by father Kevin (also the Junior White Sox coach) and mother, Charmaine the Dodgers manager. The last time Hawkes Bay won the title was when Charmaine was playing in the 1980’s.

The third placed team was Waitakere Bears with Te Aroha Hutt Valley and Otahuhu fourth equal.

The White Sox team features five American based players and one based in Australia. The Gettins sisters from Hawkes Bay are notable, while there is just one player, Danica Ferriso from the Wellington region, representing Hutt Valley. The remaining players from the Auckland regions (six) and two from Canterbury.

Former captain of the World Championship winning 1982 White Sox, Naomi Shaw is the head coach of the team.

NZ White Sox Team for the ISF Women’s World Championships 2014
15 – 24 August 2014 in Haarlem, Netherlands
ISF World Championship Team 2014

Andrews, Lara USA
Bromhead, Kyla, Auckland
Bromhead, Rebecca, Auckland
Cooper, Ellie, USA
Farrell, Megan, Auckland
Feret, Jennifer,* Auckland
Ferriso, Danica, Hutt Valley
Gettins, Courtney, Hawkes Bay
Gettins, Melanie, Hawkes Bay
Houkamau, Tyneesha, USA
Matautia, Te Reo Powhiri, USA
Nukunuku, Katrina, Auckland
Siataga, Cassie, Canterbury
Stewart, Taylor-Paige, USA
Tangaroa, Michal, Auckland
Webber, Stacey, Australia
Werahiko, Mikayla, Canterbury

Non Travelling Reserves

Avery, Kingsley USA
Bromhead, Tegan Auckland
Hearne, Shannon Australia
Hoani, Krysta USA
Stavert, Beth Auckland
Van Molendorff, Ancelle Auckland
Wills, Gillian Auckland

* Subject to citizenship

Head coach – Naomi Shaw,
Assistant coaches – Debbie Mygind , Israel Nukunuku
Manager Anaru Pewhairangi.

Softball in New Zealand will be receiving a huge boost in March this year
with confirmation of a three-test series between the world champion New
Zealand Black Sox and the Australian Steelers will be shown live on Sky
Sport in New Zealand.

Rosedale Park, the scene of the Black Sox world championships win last year
will be the venue for the series with a Friday night game and then a
Saturday double-header.

"This is a significant milestone for our game and of course the Black Sox
brand. Other than hosting the world championships in 2013, these tests
represent the first time the Black Sox have been involved in an
international game on home soil since 2008,." said Tony Giles, Chief
Executive Softball New Zealand "Having live coverage on Sky gives the sport
an ideal opportunity to profile our sport and just how talented the Black
Sox really are."

The series is likely to feature a powerful Black Sox team with Australia
also intending to send a team with all of their stars in a bid to avenge
their quarterfinal loss to the Black Sox in the 2013 world championships.

Meanwhile Mark Sorenson the Black Sox coach believes it is a huge bonus in
so many ways to have this series on the calendar and on TV.

"It's exciting for the Black Sox and for softball. The games which were
televised last year at the world champs were well received," says Sorensen.
"There's no better team to play than the Aussies. In the last probably six
to seven years there has been real competition between the two countries
which is to their credit - they've raised their game. We will select the
best team available from the players in New Zealand. We want to reward the
domestic based players."

The New Zealand Black Sox will host the Australian Steelers over the weekend
of March 28-30 at Rosedale Park, North Harbour.

North Harbour softball is heading into a new era following Upper Harbour Local Board approval for a ground lease that is a step toward a new two-storey stadium at Rosedale Park, Albany.

The Board has also contributed $2500 toward signs at the Rosedale and Paul
Matthews Road entrances to the park as part of plans to ready the venue for
The International Softball Federation Men’s World Softball Championships to be held there in March 2013.

The proposed stadium will enable the event to be held on the North Shore and also meet the long term needs of the growing sport at Rosedale Park.

The new stadium, estimated to cost around $1.8 million, will provide toilets, storage space, multi purpose meeting rooms and seating for about 500 spectators, mostly undercover. There are plans for new scoreboards and lighting improvements as well as four new dug-outs.

Chair Brian Neeson says the local board is right behind the initiative and welcomes the international tournament on its home turf. “It’s an opportunity that must be seized with both hands and we expect to be further involved in the build-up to the event,” he says.

“The championships will bring people and funds into our community and at the same time will be a catalyst for the further development of Rosedale Park, which will be of lasting benefit to our community.”


Softball is a growing sport at Rosedale Park where the North Harbour Softball Association has been based since 1976, sharing the existing clubrooms with the Albany United Football Club.

The association comprises 11 clubs and about 1400 members plus an equal number of supporters, volunteers and officials who help run the organisation. Among them are father and son combination Brad and Pita Rona who were both selected for the Black Sox North American tour. Brad is vice-captain of the Black Sox and 16-year-old Pita has played right through all the junior grades at North Harbour.

Association Operations Manager Heather Tapsell says: “We’re very proud of Brad and Pita and we’re thrilled to be hosting the international championships, which we’re determined to make a success.”

Having secured the lease and resource consent for the proposed new stadium and associated works, the association will next seek building consents for the project.