Baseball teams excited for nationals

Northland under-13 and under-15 baseball teams can't contain their enthusiasm heading into this weekend's Baseball New Zealand National Youth Championships.

Under-13 team coach Paul Allen said the two 12-strong squads had increased their training during the past few weeks with their excitement creeping up as the nationals, held at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland, got closer.

"Their effort and attitude is really promising. We've had kids turning up early to training and they've really taken on board what Phil [Rognier] said during his visit to Whangarei last month," Allen said.

Phil Rognier, an American baseball coach of more than 45 years, recently visited Northland during a nationwide tour and took a coaching clinic on aspects of the game with budding baseballers.

"Hearing it from another voice, and an American voice at that where baseball is professionally played, really reinforced what was being said to the kids," Allen said.

This is the first year Northland have fielded an under-15s grade, which is coached by Baseball Northland president Aaron Moore.

At last year's championships, the under-13 team, many of who have now moved up to the under-15 grade, had their best finish at nationals, making it into the semifinals and placing fourth. Allen is confident both teams will make it into the finals this year and hopefully get a medal.

The team travel to Auckland tomorrow morning for pool play and the semifinals will be played on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.

Northland under-13s play three round robin games - against Howick Pakuranga, North Shore and Orewa - and the under-15s go up against Bayside Westhaven and Central City.

Usually teams from as far south as Canterbury contest the nationals, but this year the majority of teams competing are from Auckland.

Northland Under-13 squad: Aotea Parata, Dylan Moore, Eden Smith, Ethan Moore, Ngahere Pou, Cole Allen, Nikora Barbarich, Xander King, Parirau Tonga, Rio Tuson, Tahu Tawhiwhirangi, Te Wakaroa Tonga. Coach Paul Allen, Assistant Coach Shane King.

Northland Under-15: Ethan Moore, Josh Anderson, Ethan Harkness, Isaac Redfern, Claudia King, Jurnee Houston, Manaaki Tawhiwhirangi, Julian Campbell, Tiana Pou, Tiaki Matiu, Isaac Green, Katarina Walker.

Coach Aaron Moore, Assistant Coach Chris Jackson.