The team went out with an improved mindset the next day and “really gave it a good nudge”. Tairawhiti had two tight losses, going down 5-3 to Hawke’s Bay and 3-2 to Otago.
“The attitude was right,” Noble said.
They had a win on Day 3, beating Western Bay of Plenty 6-5. They defeated the same side in the 11th/12th playoff the next day, but more convincingly this time, 9-2.
Tane Ruru was the Cinderella story, Noble said. Seemingly destined for a fair bit of time on the bench, Ruru, 16, was Tairawhiti’s player of the tournament.
Struck out at bat only twice, he was named in “the rest”, effectively the tournament’s second-top side from all the players who were there.
Ruru said he followed Noble’s advice, which was to be the best they could and “go hard”.
“I didn’t have any pressure on me to perform. I didn’t have the fear of failing.”
Noble said Ruru was also good in the field.
“He’s a resilient character, selfless, and he has no fear,” Noble said.
The Gisborne Boys’ High School student came back to the sport this year after focusing on waka ama. He was part of a team from the Horouta club that went to the world sprint championships in Tahiti in July last year.
Ruru said some of the waka ama training — such as strength training — helped his softball. Working on his reactions for softball also helped to produce quick starts in waka ama.
He credited the coaches with putting a lot of effort into the team and encouraging the boys.
Noble said other standout performers were pitchers Jesse Hohepa-O’Keefe and Treyson Hikitapua-Wilson, who kept the side in games and were handy with the bat. Corey Boocock was a consistent performer and Chleo Reihana-Davis was a quiet achiever.
Noble said errors in the field cost the team games.
He said playing against bigger, stronger players was good for his players. Hitting the ground running on Day 1 would be the big thing for next time.
The u18 girls’ team went to Hamilton.
A young side, they lost all their games, but coach Leigh Pere-Campbell said they improved on last year.
They played an Australian team, the Southside Stingers, and took them all the way to the seventh inning, losing 12-8.
For many of the girls, it was their first time playing at that level.
“For me, our improvement was amazing. I’ve come away happy,” Pere-Campbell said.
Standout performers included her daughter, Teratahi Pere-Campbell, and Jonleigh Campbell-Ratapu, both of them pitchers.
Rosita Rapihana was named team manager of “the rest”.
The u15 girls competed a week earlier in Palmerston North. Determined not to come last, they had an emphatic win in their last game, beating Manawatu 20-2.
Coach Leesa Kingi said going away to a tournament was a new experience for many of the girls.
Captain and pitcher Miriama Heke had a good tournament, as did catcher Terina Maraki and third base Maryanne Keiaho.
Tairawhiti u13 boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in tournaments next month.
