There was a sombre touch to the Hawke's Bay under-17 girls' softball team's national title-winning celebrations in Christchurch last night.
"This title is for Sapphire and her family," Bay coach Kevin Gettins said after his team beat Auckland 2-1 in their final at Mainland Foundation Park.
He was referring to his manager, Woodford House sports administrator Sapphire Paul. She had to return home on Thursday prior to the team's first match to be with her mother, two-time Ngati Kahungunu Sports Administrator of the Year award-winner Carlien Paul, who died on Saturday.
Manager Paul would have been impressed with how the Bay team, which included eight members of last year's national title-winning Hawke's Bay under-15 girls' side, performed during the four-day, six-team event.
"We were the best team here all week. We had one loss in nine outings ... Auckland and Wellington were the next best with three," said Gettins, the Junior White Sox assistant coach.
His troops had to come from behind to win yesterday's final. Hawke's Bay trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning when pinch hitter Tayalee Halbert got on base with a single.
As was the case when Hawke's Bay won the national under-15 title last year, infielder Evana Schinkel produced an in-park home run to give Bay the victory. Gettins said Schinkel was unlucky not to make the tournament team which included six of his side.
They were his daughter Courtney Gettins, designated player Mereana Monk, catcher Emma Houkamau, first base player Samantha Cooper, short stop Kuraroa Ratu-James and outfielder Ashlyn Obers.
Gettins jnr repeated her feat from last year's under-15s tournament of being named top pitcher and most valuable player, and Monk was named top batter.
For Houkamau, 14, it was her third taste of national tournament team selection this month after being selected at the national under-19 and under-15 tournaments. Monk was a pick-up player from Waikato and Junior White Sox World Series player Ratu-James.
Gettins said he couldn't have asked for more from his 14-player squad. "The pitching was strong and there was solid batting with everyone contributing."
Nine of his team will be eligible for next year's under-17 nationals. Ten of his players were members of the Dodgers premier women's team, which won the Hawke's Bay pre-Christmas title and also played in the Hawke's Bay under-19 boys' development competition.
"These girls have the potential to form a Hawke's Bay NFC team within the next season or two," Gettins said, referring to the fact Hawke's Bay is only represented in the men's section of the National Fastpitch Championship, the country's elite competition.
His players celebrated by watching Sione's Wedding 2: Unfinished Business at the cinema.
It was almost a case of double national-title success for Hawke's Bay softball last night. The Cory Tamati-coached Hawke's Bay under-17 boys were pipped 3-2 by Waikato in the final of their Paraparaumu-hosted nationals.
This was their only loss in nine matches. Earlier in the four-day eight-team tournament, Hawke's Bay beat Waikato 5-3 and 7-6.
However Tamati's troops were well represented among the award winners. His Auckland pick-up players Blake Radford and Callum Elfon were named top pitcher and top catcher respectively.
They were joined in the tournament team by Bay third baseman Joshua Smith and Bay outfielder Taniera Miritana. Tamati was named coach of the rest team, which included Bay short stop Stirling Bartlett and outfielder Tiwana Aranui.