Softball alive and well in the Waimarino

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 27, 3 December 1984, Page 20

Softball alive and well in the Waimarino

Softbail is alive and well in the Waimarino District. For the past six weeks teams from Taihape, Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi and Pipiriki have been vying for first round honours in the Waimarino Softbail Association competition. Mens teams are split into two grades as are the women, and a junior league for primary school children is also underway. There are 18 teams in the senior competition and with the first round concluding on 8 December teams are now fighting hard to either win promotion or avoid relegation. Likely first round winners in the top grade are Ruapehu College Old Boys (men) and Desert Rats (women) and winners from the reserve grade should be Raetihi (men) and RCOB Juniors.

Improved With the introduction of new teams and the intensity of the competition the standard of softbail has improved considerably and will do so even more when association rep teams get to play teams from other regions. At the moment an interassociation tournament is planned for 1 5-1 6 December at Waiouru. Waimarino representative teams will play teams from King Country, Wanganui, Waikato and Manawatu. Mens selector and coach, Stu Neshausen, has chosen the following squad from which he will make up his team. Mens Representative Team L. Kurukana (RCOB), E. Brown (Rookies), T. Hurunui (Hi Lites), C. Shem (Raetihi), P. Haami (Roo-

kies), M. Wiggins (RCOB), K. Brown (RCOB), M. Edmonds (WSB United), G. Wairepo (Hi Lites), T. O'Riley (Majors), J. Renata (RCOB), H. Morgan (RCOB), M. Dellow (Hi Lites), R. Rauieti (Rookies), F. Bristol (WSB United), B. Brider (Raetihi), T. Waara (Raetihi). The team will train every Wednesday at 6.00pm. Players will be notified of the venue. The womens squad will be announced by selector Willy Walker on 8 December. Promotion In an effort to promote the game in the region all

games are played at the same venue each Saturday. The venues are either Waiouru, Raetihi or Ohakune. If Saturday games happen to be rained out they are either played on Sundays or a midweek afternoon. Some results of recent games are: Wednesday 21 November (Played at Waiouru) Rookies (Waiouru) 5 v RCOB 4. Game decided on a tiebreaker. Desert Rats (Waiouru) 7 v Majors (Taihape) 4. Scorpions (Waiouru) 5 v RCOB (Ohakune) 1 . Saturday 24 November (Played at Ohakune) Men Raetihi beat Ohakune Transport (score not known). Irirangi beat WSB United (Raetihi) 11-iO. Women WSB united beat Raetihi 9-6. Ohakune Juniors beat Irirangi (score not known).