Expect the battle of the catchers to have a significant impact on the pre-Christmas final in Hawke's Bay's premier men's softball competition tomorrow.
It's a classic case of an old head in Fast Pitch Giants player-coach Te Rangi Chadwick, 25, up against a promising youngster in Saints 16-year-old Jacob Zurcher. Like Chadwick, Zurcher, started premier ball as a 13-year-old and has already emulated Chadwick's age group feats pulling on a black and white top at under-13, 15, 17 and 19 levels.
The pair have earnt the respect of each other as teammates in Hawke's Bay's senior rep team, the Central Vikings, this summer.
"Us older blokes are always learning off the younger players. You would be naive if you didn't ... if they're not teaching us they're remind us of things," Chadwick said before their respective teams trained last night at the venue for the final, Akina Park, Hastings.
Chadwick's Giants have won the last three pre-Christmas finals but he isn't taking a fourth consecutive title for granted. With three of his key players, former Junior Black Sox outfielder Rongo Rapaea and his infielder brother Puhi Rapaea (both family commitments) and utility Cameron Willis (overseas) unavailable, it's going to be a tough assignment.