Softball: First base target for revival

Marist player Eric Short (left) dives into base against Tauranga. Photo / Ben Fraser

Softball looks to be making a return in Rotorua.

Seven years ago it was a thriving sport in the area, with plenty of teams at junior and senior level.

However, the sport has since declined and there is no competitions now.

Steps are being taken to bring the sport back to life in 2014.

Former Rotorua Softball president Pango Putaranui said a meeting would be held this Sunday at noon, at the Rotorua Citizens Club on Arawa St, and invited anyone who was interested in softball to attend.

He said there was still a lot of interest in the sport in Rotorua and he would like to see the sport return to full strength.

Putaranui said local softball enthusiast Leigh-Anne Mullins, who use to be involved with a big softball club in Auckland, was doing a lot of work to get the sport up and running again here. He said supporters had already met with the Rotorua District Council and been granted use of Puketawhero Park for matches.

A competition could be in place by November.

It was planned to get a junior competition up and running first with a senior competition further down the track.

However, if the interest was there, organisers would look at getting a senior or social competition under way this year.

He said if there was enough people at the meeting on Sunday they would also be able to set up a board, which would make organisation easier.