Softball: Bay pair Melanie Gettins and Rita Hokianga taste national title glory

Melanie Gettins (left) and Rita Hokianga after their Te Aroha side won the national interclub title in Christchurch. Photo / Supplied

Hawke's Bay softballer Rita Hokianga appreciated the irony when she received the trophy for the top male pitcher after the national women's interclub tournament ended in Christchurch on Sunday.

"Tony Giles [Softball New Zealand's CEO] warned me not to be surprised when I opened the box. The men's trophy had obviously come to our tournament and the women's had gone to the men's ... they promised to sort out the mistake. They obviously know Mel and I play in the men's competition back home here in the Bay," Hokianga joked referring to her White Sox and Flaxmere teammate and catcher Melanie Gettins.

Hokianga, 24, and Gettins, 27, played for Hutt Valley's Te Aroha team who beat Auckland's Waitakere Bears 3-2 in the final of the 17-team, four-day nationals. While it was the third national interclub title for Gettins after winning with Auckland Ramblers in 2012 and Hawke's Bay Dodgers in 2014 it was Hokianga's first.

"It was only my fifth interclubs because of the four years I spent playing in the United States. It was pretty special to be named top pitcher as I had never received that award before ... I've had more seconds than anything else apart from in the States," Hokianga said.

In 2014 Hokianga captured MVP (most valuable player) honours after her West Texas A & M team won the NCCA Division Two championship in the States. Hokianga had two seasons with the West Texas team after a two-year scholarship at Eastern Arizona College.

Had Te Aroha lost Sunday's final it would have been a third consecutive second placing at interclubs for Hokianga and Gettins as they played for Hutt Valley Dodgers who finished second last year and in 2016.

"Now I've got an interclub title the focus switches back to the big goal ... helping the White Sox qualify to play at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo," Tradezone Hawke's Bay admin/sales worker Hokianga said.

The July world championships in Japan is likely to be a qualification tournament for the Olympics. A 21-strong White Sox squad to prepare for Japan will be named next week and it will be a surprise if Hokianga and Gettins aren't selected.

Gettins, 27, who has been in the White Sox since 2010 said the Te Aroha players were thrilled to win the title as their club had not won it since 2009.

"It was good to end the Auckland teams' domination as they had won it since 2014."

Te Aroha were seeded second behind Auckland Ramblers who they beat 4-1 on Saturday night. Bears beat Ramblers 3-1 to earn their berth in the final.

Tumu Timbers management team worker Gettins and Hokianga were two of four White Sox players on the Te Aroha roster. Short-stop Lara Andrews, who was the top batter and MVP award winner, and outfielder Pallas Potter were the others.

Hokianga and Gettins will be back playing for Flaxmere in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition this weekend.

Hawke's Bay representatives Saints finished 17th in the 19-team, five-day national men's interclub tournament which ended in Lower Hutt on Sunday. Saints won their last three games beating Hutt City United 10-1 and 7-3 and Eden Roskill 8-1.

Saints batter Xavier Herrick shared the top batter award with Black Sox captain and Auckland Ramblers infielder Nathan Nukunuku. The both had an average of 0.500.

Ramblers beat Canterbury's Papanui 2-1 in the final. Hawke's Bay's four-time world champion Thomas Makea and his son, Black Sox outfielder Reilly Makea, both played for Papanui.

Hawke's Bay's Rakai Henare played for the North Island under-15 boys team who beat their South Island counterparts 7-1 and 5-4 in Lower Hutt during the weekend.