Softball: Coach and old pupil rivals for one day

Liam Udy-Jones (left) and Quentin Chadwick. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

Quentin Chadwick can recall the days when he changed Liam Udy-Johns' nappies.

As a toddler Udy-Johns attended Te Whare Aroha o Nga Mokopuna Early Childhood Centre in Flaxmere. Since then Chadwick, 34, has coached Udy-Johns, 14, at under-13, 15 and 19 levels at the Fast Pitch Softball Club as well as at Hawke's Bay under-15 level.

Today they will be opposing players in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition when Chadwick's defending champions in the pre-Christmas comp, the Fast Pitch Giants, take on the Chubb Tangaroa-coached Fast Pitch Rockets at Akina Park, Hastings.

It's the first time since the early 1980s two teams from one club have played in the province's premier men's comp. Back then the teams were from the old Wolves club.

Having assisted Tangaroa with the coaching of many of the Rockets in the past, Chadwick, will have plenty of knowledge on the youngsters. While short stop Udy-Johns ranked his defensive play stronger than his batting, Chadwick said the Hastings Boys' High School year 10 student was handy with the bat also.

"But when it comes to defence Liam makes it all look so natural."

Infielder Chadwick, the oldest of the Giants players, is predicting a comfortable win for the Giants "if the boys bring their sticks".

"The goal is to get both teams into the final but it will take a while for the youngsters to get a feel for this level of play," Chadwick said.

Udy-Johns, who is in his third year of softball, admitted the Giants will be a tough ask.

"As long as we improve as the competition progresses we'll be happy."

Earlier this year Udy-Johns played for an International Softball Academy team which finished second in an under-14 tournament in Sydney. Last summer he was in the Hawke's Bay under-15 boys team which finished fourth at their nationals and Udy-Johns will be aiming to make the team again this summer.

A former Flaxmere Primary School student, Udy-Johns is also a talented rugby player. This year the loosie played for the Hawke's Bay under-14s and last year the under-13s after two years in the Hastings West Ross Shield team.

Tangaroa, a four-time world champion during his days with the Black Sox, said he decided to enter the Rockets in the prem grade when he heard Dodgers were unable to field a team and the competition was in danger of becoming a three-team league.

"The competition is weaker than in the past. I didn't want to see it become weaker and by having this team of young fellahs playing premier ball it's going to benefit the Hawke's Bay under-15 and under-17 boys teams," Tangaroa said.

"I played premier ball when I was 13. Some of these youngsters are 14 and they're ready to get a taste of premier ball."

Tangaroa isn't expecting the Giants team, which boasts the likes of regular Hawke's Bay National Fastpitch Championship players former Junior Black Sox outfielder Rongo Rapaea, Te Rangi Chadwick, Cameron Willis and Kane Herbert, to take it easy on his youngsters.

"I want them to play as hard as they can. We all know some of our better male players have opted to play in Wellington in recent seasons. With these youngsters playing premier ball now our competition should be strong enough in a couple of seasons to stop players leaving the Bay in search of tougher play," Tangaroa added.

Today's other game will see Saints takes on Maraenui Pumas. In last weekend's first round Saints beat the Rockets 9-1 and Giants beat the Pumas 10-4.

Hawke's Bay's only premier women's team, Dodgers, will begin their defence of the Wellington intercity championship title in the capital today.