Te Awhina Smith makes contact as Rose Ezekieka waits for a pitch that never arrives. Photo/John Borren
Te Awhina Smith makes contact as Rose Ezekieka waits for a pitch that never arrives. Photo/John Borren
Improved communication with key school staff, promotional days and working closer with radio and newspapers are being hailed as the key tools in the improvement in Western Bay of Plenty junior softball.
WBOP softball junior coordinator and team manager Helen Buchanan, who refreshingly favours a co-ordinating approach alongside baseball tocreate a strong diamond sports programme, said the formation of the under-15 girls team was more proof that work put into developing the game was paying dividends.
"At the beginning of 2013, we had three T-Ball teams, four primary school teams, three intermediate teams and about three college teams," she said.
"Now we have 18 T-Ball teams, nine primary school teams, six intermediate teams and nine college teams. It's great because it shows that the game is growing and the steps we have all taken are working."
The teams' trip to Papakura this weekend, as well as those of the under-13 and under-15 boys, kicks off a busy few months for the sport locally.
The annual Evergreens tournament - contested by players older than 35 - will be held from March 14-16 at Greerton Marist, before a national secondary school tournament is contested from March 25-28. Tauranga Boys' College, Tauranga Girls' College, Papamoa College and Otumoetai College will play the North Island's finest.
