SOFTBALL: Makea's making a go of it

SHANE HURNDELL According to one of Hawke's Bay softball's favourite sons, Fabian Makea, the 2009 World Series is "just around the corner."
It's not that Makea's maths isn't up to scratch. He just knows it's time to start putting consistent performances together so he doesn't miss out on selection for the Black Sox team which will chase a fourth consecutive World Series title in Canada.
Although Makea, 28, has been in and out of Black Sox squads since leaving the Bay in 1999 in search of higher honours, the hard-hitting utility has never played in a World Series. It's no secret he and older brother, three-time world champion Thomas Makea, an automatic Black Sox selection for the past 10 years want to play in a World Series together before their international careers end.
On Wednesday Makea travels to Australia with the New Zealand A team on an eight-day tour. Should Makea continue the form he displayed during the weekend's Lion Red North Island Classic at Akina Park, Hastings with his Porirua United club side he'll be well on the way to securing a berth for the trip to Canada.
The St John's College product smashed four home runs as Porirua United won the Classic's first prize of $1100 with seven wins from eight games including a 5-0 win against defending champions Auckland Metro in the final.
Makea had the final say in the final with an automatic home run over the left outfield fence in the fifth inning which also also scored fellow Black Sox player, outfielder Cory Matakatea.
Makea opened the scoring in the second inning when he came home on a double from Matakatea. Another of Porirua's Black Sox stars, pitcher Tane Richardson, scored their other runs with a huge automatic over the centre outfield fence which also scored the team's designated runner.
"It's great to return home and play like that. We don't get home as often as we would like so it's good to make the most of it.
"It's also good to complete a tournament as there have been a few rained out already this season down in Wellington," Makea said.
He was impressed with the competitiveness of the five Hawke's Bay teams in the Classic and particularly proud of the progress younger brothers Campbell and William are making with the Dodgers side which lost 11-5 to Fast Pitch in the plate final. With William becoming a regular premier club player all four of the brothers have made their premier club debuts as 14-year-olds.
Makea hinted he has hopes of ending his playing days in the Bay.
"You can't beat Akina Park ... it's just like old times with these snotty nosed little Makeas running around," he said as daughters, Mereana, eight, and Marama, six, ran up to congratulate him on his final homer.
Naturally, he hopes he won't be returning home until well after the 2009 World Series. As he said:
"It's just around the corner."