Softball: Angels turn out in force for Larry

Kellie Jessup (centre) and her Larry's Angels teammates had plenty of fun at the weekend's annual Fun in the Sun softball tournament. Photo/Duncan Brown

Kellie Jessup admitted to being blown away by the response when she posted a request on Facebook for players to join her team for the weekend's Fun in the Sun softball tournament in Hastings.

"It was three weeks ago and I ended up with 30 players ... some from as far north as Auckland and as far south as Wellington," Flaxmere's Jessup recalled.

That's an indication of the affection for the bloke Jessup's Larry Angels team was formed in memory of, her late husband Larry Jessup, who died in August last year. A long-time softball coach, Larry encouraged many players into the code, particularly friends of his own children and grandchildren, during more than 30 years of games and training sessions at Akina Park, Hastings, the venue for the weekend's 37th annual www.JustSoftball.co.nz sponsored event which attracted 24 teams.

Three generations of his family turned out for the Angels include Kellie, daughters Crystal and Charlene and granddaughter Kiana. On Sunday Larry's Angels team beat the Hape Whanau team 8-2.

"That team plays in memory of my brother Stuart Hape. He died 38 years ago and this tournament used to be called the Stuart Hape Memorial tournament before it was changed to Fun in the Sun," Jessup explained.

While 62-year-old Jessup has briefs stints on the diamond she was impressed with the workload from 52-year-old pitcher Char Tipu.

"Char was one of four pitchers in our squad. Then we also had three wannabe pitchers," 62-year-old Jessup said with a laugh.

"But that's what the kaupapa of this tournament is all about ... having fun. We will be back next year and if we can secure the funds we will go to Brisbane's Tamatea tournament in future," she added.

Former Hawke's Bay reps Harata Kenny and Nancy Bartlett were prominent for Larry's Angels who reached the semifinals where they were eliminated by the Hawke's Bay Monstars who won the women's title for a record eighth consecutive time with a 6-4 victory against Spawners of Manawatu in the final. Former Junior White Sox player Louise Miratana turned out for the Monstars and won the prize for the women's pitcher of the tournament.

Hawke's Bay's Hakopa Social Sports team beat Manawatu's Blue Sox in the mixed grade final. Auckland's Marist Marvels beat Fast Pitch Sliders of Hawke's Bay 5-3 in the men's grade final.

Auckland's Tradies Get the Ladies, Maraenui Pumas and Sliders finished equal on points in their section but Sliders made the final courtesy of better runs differential following a 15-0 win against Pumas.

Tournament organiser Craig Waterhouse was thrilled the weekend's wet weather didn't damage the tournament.

"Had we been in Auckland or Wellington we would have been rained off," Waterhouse said.