Bases loaded at Barry ‘Ball Park’

SOFTBALL is booming in Gisborne, particularly at junior level, says Tairawhiti Softball Association president Walton Walker.
“We have had a tremendous revival in the school grades — primary to intermediate,” Walker said of the Barry Park-based competition. “I liken it to a movement waiting to happen and this year it has happened. Last year we had 12 teams. This year we have 27.
“No disrespect to cricket but the feedback we’re getting from parents is that cricket takes up too much time. Another reason for the increase is the number of adult players with school age children helping out the schools with their teams.
“The challenge for us is to build on this growth and hope that it transfers into more adult teams in the future.”
Walker, president for the past six years, said the association had a great junior committee headed by Jane and Rio Edwards.
“They are working hard and it’s showing in the number of children playing and wanting to play softball. The junior committee worked in conjunction with Sport Gisborne-Tairawhiti to get the message out to the schools. They also helped with resourcing.
“We are mindful that we can’t afford to rest on our laurels and need to put into place plans to build on this momentum. These young players are the future of the game here.”
That in mind, Walker said the association was looking at running a competition in the New Year.
“The junior competition ends on December 10 when kids are starting to head off for holidays. Because of the short turn-around between when they go back to school and the end of our senior competitions we need to implement something for the juniors.”
“We also need to look at running coaching clinics aimed at fielding age-group rep teams at under-13, 15, 17 and 19 levels. For the last three there are national tournaments and for the u13s an inter-provincial tournament is being proposed.
Walker said Tairawhiti was lucky to have nationally-ranked coaches with family ties to the area.
“John Love, coach of the Junior Black Sox, was here recently and held a coaching clinic with the Boys’ High team, as well as taking some Whangara School teams.
“Naomi Shaw, coach of the White Sox — the women’s senior team — did some coaching here last year. As president of the Tairawhiti association I also have access to what is going on at a national level which is all good for the game.”
Walker started playing in 1970 for Midway United while he was still at Gisborne Boys’ High.
“There was a collection of people, including Ron Robertson, Bruce Mannering, Gary Grant and Bruce McGuire, who started up a softball competition.
“I remember going to Barry Park. Some teams had been established and some were formed on the day.
“Back then we had about 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams. This year we have six men’s teams and eight women’s teams.
“The sport went through a recession in the 1980s but we had a revival in 2000 when Kahu Repia and Joe Koia were heavily involved.
“Since then we have had some ups and downs with regard to numbers, but this year we’ve got some new teams, including one from Wairoa College, who play in our senior women’s competition.”
Walker is definitely a walk the talk person.
As well as being association president he coaches three teams — Scorpions women, Scorpions men and Uawa Scorpions women.
“We’ve got a small but loyal group of players and former players who are coaching teams and among the players we have six qualified umpires.”
Strikers women had been the benchmark side for the past six years.
“They’re coached by Eru Osborne, who is a very good coach. My two women’s teams tend to be up and down, but along with an improving Gisborne Girls’ High School, we hope to put pressure on Strikers and last year’s beaten finalists Rovers.
“Rovers are coached by Hutana and Leigh Campbell — two well-known softball names. It’s also great to see Strikers women Challise and Channelle Rutene putting something back into the sport by coaching Girls’ High.”