Softball: 'Baby' Herrick out to maintain tradition

Luke Herrick will be the youngest of the Hawke's Bay Evergreens players this week. Photo/Duncan Brown

It wasn't a surprise when the Hawke's Bay Evergreens men's softball team secured the services of Luke Herrick when he reached the required age three summers ago.

Herrick, 38, is one of the Bay's most gifted sportsmen in a variety of codes. In 2016 he was the top batter at the national men's interclub tournament in Nelson with an average of 727, eight safe hits from 13 at bats. Before giving golf away to focus on family commitments in 2011 the father of three got down to a two handicap as a member of the Hawke's Bay club.

He was a more than handy football goalie or striker at premier level for the Hibernian and Western Rangers clubs in his younger days and in 2011 was a useful utility back for the MAC division three rugby team. During all of these pursuits he impressed with his relaxed approach and ability to perform at the highest level despite holding his own on the social side of the various codes ... a major requirement if you are to make the cut for the Hawke's Bay Evergreens.

There's one particular tournament the Evergreens are usually more serious for. That's when they host their national tournament at Akina Park, Hastings and they have won their last two at home including their most recent one in 2006.

"Winning at home is a tradition ... there's a lot riding on it," Herrick said as he pondered the 16-team Clubs Hastings-sponsored tournament which will be played at Hawke's Bay Softball's headquarters on Friday and Saturday.

"As the baby of the team I know I will be getting plenty of game time and I'm happy to help out the team in any position they want me to play," Herrick said.

The TIL Freight container logistics worker said the Hawke's Bay team had the necessary ammunition to maintain their tradition.

"We've just got to bat. We're not the fastest of teams but we have just got to bat smart."

He agreed there were enough "rabbits" in the side including experienced short stop Stephen Farrell, former Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby winger Ray Karauria and himself who can gas it around the bases if necessary. Herrick, who is ranked fourth among the Bay's pitchers after Jamie Ngawhika, Hector Stubbs and Damian Allan, pointed out there are a few extra incentives for the hosts to deliver another title.

"It's Hoover's [Farrell's nickname] 55th birthday this week and it will also be the last tournament as players for Grant and Kevin," Herrick said, referring to experienced outfielders Grant Julian and Kevin England who both played in the winning 2006 team.

Herrick hopes circumstances allow one of Hawke's Bay's and New Zealand's greatest pitchers, 67-year-old Owen Walford, to take the diamond for a bat in at least one of their matches. The two-time world champion (one each with New Zealand and the United States) produced a safe hit with his only turn at bat as Hawke's Bay finished fifth at last year's tournament in Wellington.

"You know what Owen is like ... he talked about that hit for months and told his golfing mates how he batted 1000 at tournament," Herrick recalled with a laugh.

With three games scheduled for Friday and possibly another three on Saturday players still require a reasonable level of fitness. Herrick plays at least two games most Saturdays and handled three without any issues on finals day in the pre-Christmas competitions.

He predicted last year's joint winners Southland and Wairarapa and New Zealand Combined Services to be among the fancied teams this week. Southland boast the services of pitcher Greg Newton who was a member of the world title-winning Black Sox team in 2000 and another former Black Sox hurler, Jimmy Wana, will be on the roster for the New Zealand Combined Services team.

A "meet and greet" for teams in the tournament will be held at Clubs Hastings tomorrow.

Several teams bring non-playing members who have been involved with the tournament since the early 1970s and they get to reminisce with rivals from yesteryear.

Hawke's Bay will open their campaign with a 9am clash against Whanganui on diamond one on Friday. They will meet Otago at 10.30am on diamond four and Waikato at 3pm on diamond three. Crossovers, semifinals and the 4.30pm final will be played on Saturday.

The Hawke's Bay team is:
Damian Allan, Richard Craig, Kevin England, Stephen Farrell, Ross Findlay, Luke Herrick, Quenten Higgan, Bevan Hunt, Grant Julian, Ray Karauria, Jamie Ngawhika, Brendon Smith, Hector Stubbs, Owen Walford.