Softball: Matua Strikers win title

Deeshaye Vaetoe from Greenpark School. Photo/Andrew Warner

The Western Bay's junior softball season came to an end on Saturday with softball and T-ball finals at Carlton Reserve.

In the softball final, last year's runners-up Matua Strikers beat Tauranga Primary Rebels 13-2 and the T-ball final went the way of Tauranga Primary Giants who beat Te Matai Teina 17-10.

Greenpark School teams took third in each competition, with their opponents defaulting. Not to be left without a game, the two teams had a fun T-ball play-off to finish their season.

Western Bay of Plenty Softball Association junior co-ordinator Petra Wohlers said it was a fabulous end to the season, with the fun game a highlight of the final day. "That's what it's all about - that's the spirit we need," she said.

Through the season there were nine T-ball and five softball teams taking part - about 130 children. T-ball is aimed at year 0-3 pupils and junior softball at those in years 4-6.

The competition began in October.

Wohlers said there will be a have-a-go day later this year.

Members of the senior women's Cardinals team helped out with the finals day and there was a special award for Te Puke's Te Matai School team who had clocked up 900km travelling to and from Tauranga.

-Photos: Page 28