Wairarapa Evergreens set to defy history

Tony Nixon, part of proven Giants pitching staff. PHOTO/FILE

A FULL field of 16 will take part in the national Evergreens men's softball tournament to be hosted by Wairarapa Evergreens at the Park Sportsground in Masterton tomorrow and Saturday.

Teams have been drawn from all over the country, from North Harbour to Southland, with many of them containing players over the age of 35 years who have shone on the provincial scene when at the peak of their careers.

"The standard will be very high, it's pretty serious stuff when they get out on the diamond," organising committee chairman Allan Clarke said. "It's a lot more than just a social occasion, results are important."

Wairarapa have hosted this tourney twice previously. The first in 1979 was totally rained off and the second in 1999 also had its programme seriously disrupted by the weather. Not surprisingly then Clarke has been keeping a close eye on the long range forecast for this weekend and is hopeful the rain will stay away. "Fingers crossed it doesn't look too bad right now."

The locals will also be hoping for better luck on the field of play. They have yet to win the Evergreens title but have been runners-up three times, in 2003, 2006 and 2014.

They were done no favours when the pool draw was released, however. They are in pool B and will have to face Wellington, Waikato and Wanganui with Wellington being the defending champions. They beat Auckland in last year's final.

The vast majority of the Wairarapa team are members of the Giants squad which made the semifinals of this season's Hutt Valley Presidents grade competition. They have a proven pitching staff in Tony Nixon, Justin Karaitiana and Ray Stratford and joining them will be Mark Fricker, Russell Kawana, Chris Feary, Gordon Wilmshurst, Matt Kawana, Terry Waitere, Corie Karaitiana, Josh Karaitiana, Robbie Bull, Willie Waitere, Rhys Wassom, Trevor Cross and Bryan Hourigan.

Auckland are in pool A alongside Canterbury, Hutt Valley and Nelson while pool C consists of Otago, Hawke's Bay, Rotorua and Horowhenua-Kapiti and Pool D Combined Services, Southland, North Harbour and Tauranga.

Each team will play three matches tomorrow and the cross-over games are being held on Saturday with the final scheduled for 3.30pm.