HOROWHENUA SOFTBALL

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1949, Page 7

HOROWHENUA SOFTBALL

"StriKe One")

Holidays Adverseiy Affect The Game

(By

As each season passes, it becomes more and more apparent that the prolongation of the Christmas and New Year holidays is having a detrimental effect on the sport of softball. I believe the long oreak has a great deal to 'do with the lassitude evidenced by a section of the Horowhenua association's players. A spell from a period before ChrLtmas to January 16 is too long away from the game. I consMer that the association could give a little latitude in regard to the number of players participating in games, taking into aceount those who are out of the distriet. Just two Saturdays, Christmas and New Year, should be ample. On Boxing Day and New Year's Day available baseball enthusiasts should get together at Cambridge Park and select sides for games. The Horowhenua's women's' representatives who travelled to Wellington recently couM have done with practice at that vital period. Now, on February 5, Horowhenua men are to piay at PaIme±ston North, where they will meet King Country in a trial match- for a team to play the South Is'and. That team should have been chosen by now and be practlsing twice a week to attain the essential combination necfessary for any representative team. I trust the association and its 265 financial members will get together and push the sport forward, and not leave it to the few lo carry out the organisation. Association delegates should forrn ideas of what they can do to improve softball and get the other delegates behind them with their enthusiasm. * Barracking I have long simmered over the various forms of barracking that occasionally crop up at games. Tne majority of it is the worst type. i am not suggesting that we have dull sombre games, but some of the barracking heard recently—,

when visiting representatives v ere in 'Levin, and when a large crowd of spectators attend — is doing more 'harm to the game than anything else. For other than very season ed players, a taunt suc-h as it! Miss it!" called in a loud and clear voice when a fieidsmaii is attempting to take a difiicult catch, "He's swinging like a rusty gate!" to a batter who is tryire: to do his best, or "That pitcher can't pitch; he's got a wooden elbow!" is bringing ridicule to the game. The big majority of people are playing softball for the game itself, for the physical fitness derived from it and for tne team spirit. The few are trying to exaggerate their keenness, and are keeping many from following softball while others are doing their best . to build the game up. In Horowhenua we are pitifury short of umpires, but who is going to volunteer when he hears comments as at present. In softball there are 32 rules, with an average of eight sections to each rule. so an umpire has enough to attend to without suffering taunts from the players and derogatory eomment from the crowd. AI1 umpires can necessarily take criticism, but I consider they are receiving more than their share. What about all softball offieia's, players and supporters playing tne game the good New ZeaLnicl way for the sake of the sport, for sport itself.