Beaten but ‘not disgraced’

BAT ON BALL: Tairawhiti’s Corey Boocook was outstanding in the field during the North Island men’s tournament in Hastings at the weekend. File Picture

SOFTBALL

TAIRAWHITI under-18 boys’ softball team failed to win a game in the two-day North Island men’s tournament in Hastings.

But tournament organiser Craig Waterhouse said Tairawhiti were not disgraced.

At the tournament were two current Black Sox pitchers and seven other current Black Sox players spread among the teams, Waterhouse said.

“At one stage they were beating Island Bay 3-1 and doing it tidily,” he said.

“I don’t mind admitting I was worried for the sake of the tournament.

“It would have meant a three-way tie in that group, never mind the fact that an under-18 team looked like beating one of Wellington’s top teams.

“The boys were on the end of some heavy scores but so were some of the men’s teams. They certainly did not disgrace themselves . . . it was the opposite. They did Tairawhiti and their coaches proud.

“We were very happy to have the boys compete.”

Tairawhiti coach Ray Noble said it was a fantastic learning experience for the boys.

“They were playing against some of the best players in the country,” he said.

“There was always the danger that when you put young players into that environment — where they could get thrashed — that the learning could be compromised because of the emotional state.

“That never happened.

“They came away from the tournament not only motivated to improve but knowing what they needed to improve on individually and collectively to prepare for the u18 nationals in Christchurch in January.”

Noble said it took a while for his team to settle, “especially playing two semifinal-bound teams in the first two games — Porirua and Miramar.

“We lost 12-0 and 10-0 respectively but the boys started to show signs that they were getting their game together against a powerful Fast Pitch Hawke’s Bay side.

“Although the score was 7-0, our offence came to life, constantly getting people on bases. We just couldn’t bring them home.”

Going into the last game on the first of two days, against Wellington premier side Island Bay, Noble’s boys were on the verge of causing the upset of the tournament. They led 3-1 going into the final inning.

“Island Bay’s experience and powerful batting line-up came through and they won 7-3,” Noble said.

Day 2 started with another tough game against Hawke’s Bay club Pumas.

“We struggled against their pitcher Kahu Beamsley but kept battling before going down 7-0, which was a fair reflection of the game.”

Tairawhiti then took on iconic softball club Cardinals, from Hutt Valley.

“We were competitive for large parts of the 7-3 loss,” Noble said.

“It took some spectacular infield defence from Cardinals to keep the boys from scoring.”

Outstanding for Tairawhiti were the pitcher/catcher combinations of Jesse Hohepa-O’Keefe and Jake Noble and Treyson Hikitapua-Wilson and Chleo Reihana-Davies.

Noble said there was some awesome fielding from Corey Boocock and Brooklyn Owen and power batting displays from TK Reihana, Corban Richter and Adam Nepe.

“Playing against the calibre of players we faced away was the ultimate examination off our game and some areas were exposed.

“The main priority areas we need to address for the nationals are groundball defence, outfield fundamentals and decision-making, and building the right mental approach in the batter’s box.”

Poneke Kilbirnie beat Johnsonville 9-0 in the final.