Softball: Bay lads eye winning finale

FINAL CHANCE: Experienced Hawke's Bay under-19 softballers Xavier Herrick, left, Dallas Brown, Adam Woon and Tawhirimatea Fielding-Richardson with coach Paul Woon. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

CALL it the final opportunity for national provincial age group glory and Hawke's Bay under-19 softballer Xavier Herrick gives you the thumbs up.

"It's the last chance for six of us and it's also the last tournament for our coach Paul Woon before he retires from all coaching here in the Bay at the end of the summer. We want to give him a winning farewell and it's really good it's here in the Bay ... we've got to capitalise on what is a big advantage and go out with a bang," Herrick said as he pondered the 12-team national under-19 boys softball tournament which begins at Akina Park, Hastings, tomorrow and continues until Sunday.

Second baseman and No 3 batter Herrick, 18, like pitcher and No 4 batter Adam Woon and centre outfielder Dallas Brown have played for coach Woon since under-13 level. This will be Herrick's third under-19 tournament.

"Wellington will be the big one for us in pool play ... they pipped us 6-5 in the semifinals last year. Beating them, gaining tournament team selection and finishing among the top 10 batters are my other goals," Herrick added.

One of the Junior Black Sox pitchers at last year's Junior World Series in the United States, Adam Woon, will be playing at his fourth under-19 tournament. He had offers to play in the United States and Australia but said the chance to finish national age group play on home soil was too good to turn down.

"I can go back to the States in a couple of years when I've finished my apprenticeship at Toop Aluminium Ltd. We've got an experienced team capable of doing the business and I would class all six of us who are finishing at this level as captains," he said.

While Brown is keen to gain tournament team selection he said helping the Bay finish No 1 is his priority.

Third baseman Tawhirimatea Fielding-Richardson is Manawatu-based but will be representing Hawke's Bay for the fourth time.

"I love the brotherhood these Hawke's Bay teams have and after that semifinal loss last year there is some unfinished business," Fielding-Richardson said.

Along with Fielding-Richardson, Herrick, Brown and Adam Woon, Woon's twin brother Bradley and outfielder Tridan McClutchie will be playing at their last national age group tournament.

Coach Woon has won national secondary schools junior and division two titles with Hastings Boys' High School but a second placing at under-15 level is the closest he has got to a national provincial title. Defending champions Auckland and Wellington, who are coached by Hawke's Bay's most successful age group coach Tom Makea snr, are the favourites for this week's title.

New Zealand's White Sox women will play in the tournament as part of their quest to get tougher matchplay to assist with their qualification process for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. While the White Sox won't be eligible for the top six playoffs their Hawke's Bay-based head coach Kevin Gettins is looking forward to observing how his players cope with faster pitching.

"We've named a squad from our wider training group so they get exposed to a higher level of play before we name our team for the 2018 world championships which is a key tournament in the Olympic Games countdown,' Gettins said.

Hawke's Bay's draw for tomorrow and Friday:
Tomorrow: 11am v Hutt Valley; 3pm v Wellington.
Friday: 9am v Auckland B; 1pm v Upper South Island; 5pm v Tairawhiti.
The White Sox draw for tomorrow and Friday:
Tomorrow: 9am v Canterbury; 1pm v Counties-Manukau; 5pm v Auckland.
Friday: 11am v North Harbour; 3pm v Southland.
Teams:
Hawke's Bay: Manaaki Aranui, Dallas Brown, Sam Coldicutt, Tawhirimatea Fielding-Richardson, Aiden Fleming, Brayden Hampton, Kupa Isherwood, Caleb Leddie, Donovan Mataira, Tridan McClutchie, Xavier Herrick, Ihaka Tangaroa, Liam Udy, Adam Woon, Bradley Woon.
White Sox: Aieesha Hooper, Amy Begg, Emma Francis, Katrina Nukunuku, Keri Simeon, Tyla Morrison, Tynesha Houkamau, Krysta Hoani, Lara Andrews, Melanie Gettins, Nita Hickey, Pania Monk, Rita Hokianga.