Softball: Relaxed and dangerous

Regan Manley in action for Maraenui Pumas during his previous stint in the Bay. He is wearing Fast Pitch colours this summer. Photo / File

Discount Hawke's Bay softball pitcher Regan Manley's chances of making the Black Sox 2017 World Series team at your peril.

"I've overcome the couple of disappointments of missing out on World Series teams. I missed this year's with injury but the desire to make the next one will always be in the back of my mind," Manley said.

"At the same time, I've stood back and decided to live life and focus a bit on our 4-year-old son, Jackson, who is about to start playing sport. I'm enjoying living in the Bay - it's so relaxing," Manley said, referring to the fact he has commuted from Feilding to play for Hawke's Bay and Bay club teams Tamatea, Maraenui Pumas and Fast Pitch off and on and between stints with Christchurch club PCU Devils since 2004.

When Manley, 31, is relaxed that's when he's dangerous, on the mound and with the bat. He was the Central Vikings team's top batter during their last round of matches in the Wellington intercity competition.

"I'm happy to play first base for both the Vikings and Fast Pitch and be a back-up pitcher to Kyle. This gives me more time to help the young fellas," Manley said - Fast Pitch's Canadian import Kyle Crawford was recently named in the wider training squad for the world champions.

This is the first season Manley has been placed on Fast Pitch's Saturday club-day roster and this is a key factor in Fast Pitch's unbeaten run in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition to date.

"In the past, Craig [Waterhouse, Fast Pitch stalwart and sponsor] has loaned me out to other clubs but he said he wouldn't this summer because it has come back to bite him too often in the past. It's a shame because it would have been good to help Pumas out again as the Canadian import they were going to get isn't coming now," Manley said.

From May until September, Manley had a playing stint in the United States. He lost 10kg while there and was 118kg when last weighed.

"It was so hot over there and because I had a knee injury I thought I better shed a few kilograms so there was less pressure on the knee," Manley explained.

High fitness levels have never been a priority for Manley and along with injuries at the wrong time this has contributed to his non-selection come World Series time. He laughed when it was put to him Waterhouse reckoned he was the fittest he had been for a long time.

"You know me - I still think running is overrated," Manley quipped.

Since moving to the Bay at the start of the season, Manley has been working as a painter for Prestige Ltd. He said working in temperatures of up to 27C helped keep the weight down.

"It's not quite as gentle as when I was doing orderly work in the air-conditioned Palmerston North Hospital," he recalled.

Manley will do one of the Vikings team's next two trips to Wellington and is keen to help Fast Pitch retain their North Island Men's Classic title at Akina Park, Hastings on the weekend of December 5 and 6. Fast Pitch won the Classic for the first time in its 18-year history last year.

"I hear 12 quality teams have entered. I owe it to Craig and the Fast Pitch boys to try to help them win it again ... Craig has done so much for me over the years."