Central tourney part of Tairawhiti rebuild focus

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REBUILDING will be the focus of local teams in the central region under-13 tournament starting tomorrow at Waikirikiri Park, says Tairawhiti Softball Association president Walton Walker.

Two boys’ teams and one girls’ team from Tairawhiti will compete in the tournament.

“None of the boys have played in the tournament before so they are all new to this level of competition,” Walker said.

“Stormy Gardner coaches our No.1 boys’ team, Tairawhiti Black. Eru Osborne coaches Tairawhiti Red.

“Both coaches have many years of playing experience behind them and Eru has coached several of the Tairawhiti rep teams, including the u19 boys who competed at the national champs last month.

“The emphasis is certainly one of rebuilding. All but two of the boys will still be in the grade next year.

“The girls’ team are coached by Nazreen Hihi. They include three girls who played for the Tairawhiti u15 girls’ team who competed at the nationals.

“Miriama Heke, Terina Te Rure and Taea Whitehead still qualify for this grade and will form the backbone of the team.

“Nazreen is new to coaching but has played for many years and is a qualified umpire.”

Tairawhiti Black are in Division 1 and will take on Hutt Valley, Manawatu, Whanganui and Wellington Gold.

The Red team are in Division 2, along with Wellington Black, Hawke’s Bay and Horowhenua.

“After a round-robin, the top two boys’ teams in each section will move into the major playoffs,” Walker said.

“The remaining teams from each section will form a separate group, with a round-robin series deciding final placings.”

There are seven girls’ teams — Tairawhiti, Wellington Black, Hutt Valley, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wellington Gold. They will play a single round-robin, with the winners being the team at the top of the points table.

“That’s a total of 44 games — 37 in round-robin play and seven in playoffs — to fit into a day and a half,” Walker said.

“Everyone wants to leave just after lunch on Sunday, which means using five diamonds at times and playing several back-to-back games and a couple of back-to-back-to-back games, especially in the girls’ section,”

Games, each lasting 75 minutes, start at 8.30am, with 15 minutes between games.