Tairawhiti softball season starts tomorrow

File picture

THE home of Tairawhiti softball will ring to the sound of “batter up”, “steeeerike” and “you’re out” tomorrow.

The local season gets under way in what should be glorious spring weather at Waikirikiri Park.

It starts with the junior/school grades, featuring 40 teams from T-ball to primary and intermediate in what should be a bumper day for everyone involved.

The interest in softball is similar to last year, with a good number of teams in each of the grades.

There are 10 in the Weenie Sox T-Ball, 13 in the Young Sox T-Ball, 11 in the Rookie Sox softball and six in the Emerging Sox softball grades.

The senior softball grade features six men’s teams and five women’s teams. Six of these are high school sides, reflecting the growing strength of the game at secondary school level, with all players involved having come through the junior/school grades.

The young players have the chance to push for representative honours, with the Tairawhiti association’s decision to send age group teams to the under-15, u17s and u19s boys’ and girls’ nationals in January.

The development of the game here has been further enhanced by the appointment of a regional development officer (Roy Timoti), who will be tasked, among other things, to develop coaching and oversee the development of the junior grades.

The opportunity for our juniors to take part at national tournaments and the employment of an RDO, has been made possible through generous support from New Zealand Community Trust.

The season will run to mid-March, with a break over the Christmas- New Year period while age group tournaments take place.