TAKE a bow Hawke's Bay-based New Zealand women's softball team coach Kevin Gettins!
The White Sox mentor, who was this week reappointed for a further two years, has come up with another innovative idea to boost his team's chances of playing at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The White Sox will play at the national under-19 boys tournament in Hastings from January 5-8 so they are in Gettins words "exposed to better quality pitching without having to go offshore".
After the White Sox finished eighth at their July World Series in Canada Gettins said it was crucial his players faced tougher pitchers more regularly if they were going to break into the top six and qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. He has encouraged White Sox players to compete in men's competitions around the country - like his daughter and White Sox catcher Melanie Gettins, White Sox pitcher Rita Hokianga and United States import Alyssa James, who may soon be eligible for New Zealand citizenship, are doing for Flaxmere in the Hawke's Bay comp.
"I don't think the White Sox will be eligible for the tournament title. The move is aimed at giving them tougher competition as part of Softball New Zealand and their associations' drive to get them to the Olympics. They will get stiffer competition than they would normally ... it will definitely add flavour to the nationals and be nothing but a positive for the tournament," Softball Hawke's Bay's managing director Mark Carter said.
Coach Gettins is also planning to take the White Sox to Japan in July for a fortnight of training and games as part of their buildup for the 2018 World Series in Chiba.