Softball success for Gis Int

WINNING TEAM: Gisborne Intermediate girls’ softball team won the Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay Intermediate Schools Softball Tournament in Whakatane. They are, back (from left): Roy Timoti (co-coach), Maryanne Keiaho, Daeleigh-Michelle Waihi, Azzy Snowden, Payton Wainohu, Taina Keelan-Wyllie and Puri Hauiti (teacher and coach). Front: Alex Tuhou (co-coach), Keeley Smiler, Keontay Lewis (captain) and Kassie Owen. Absent: Caira Bruce and Pearl Karikari. Picture by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE Intermediate won the girls’ division of the Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay Intermediate Schools Softball Tournament last month.

They beat Whakatane Intermediate 17-3 in the final of a competition that also included a team from Rotorua’s Kaitao Intermediate.

One of the team’s coaches, teacher Puri Hauiti, said the Gis Int girls’ team captain and infielder Keontay Lewis led from the front, and pitcher Keeley Smiler caused plenty of problems for opposing batters.

Payton Wainohu and Caira Bruce worked well in tandem in the outfield, and Kassie Owen, on third base, showed the benefit of her softball experience.

Hauiti said that Roy Timoti and Alex Tuhou coached the girls at lunchtimes in the four weeks leading up to the tournament. This help was invaluable.

They also helped with the boys’ team, who lost 12-8 to Tauranga Intermediate in the boys’ division final.

Teams from Rotorua, Taupo, Kaitao, Whakatane and Te Puke took part in the boys’ division.

Gisborne Intermediate boys were regular winners of the Whakatane-based tourney, but last year Tauranga won the final, and repeated the result this year. In 2015, both the girls’ and boys’ Gis Int teams won the competition for the third year in a row.