Mace Price junior is a confident young man who loves nothing more than ruffling the feathers of the old fellas to play harder.

Mace gives oldies a spray

13.10.2008

ANGELA MENTZER
It takes a brave person to play the position of catcher in softball.

The ideal player needs to be able to reach for that air ball, psych out the opposing batsman or to know what finger to pull out for that crucial team play-out in the bases.

But, more importantly, is that the catcher cannot be terrified of getting their nose broken by a speeding ball flying straight for them.

Mace Price is not scared. As catcher for Hastings softball club, the Saints B grade men’s team, Price is no ordinary catcher either because at just 13 years old, he gets to boss around every player on his team – including his captain Ken, otherwise known as Dad.

Price, a Year 9 pupil at Hastings Boys’ High School, has played the family game for as long he can remember. Despite being the shortest, smallest, youngest and most inexperienced in the Saints lineup, Price junior is a confident young man who loves nothing more than ruffling the feathers of the old fellas to play harder during a game.

Being stuck at the base of the diamond has no drawbacks for Price, who says that if anything he enjoys getting involved directly in the pressure spot of the game.

“It’s easy,’ Price said with a cheeky grin. “I control everything _ the plays, the first base and home base. There’s a lot you need to know like tactics and stuff like that but I really love it. It’s cool.’

Price also plays for his junior school softball team during the week. For the past two years he has represented Hawke’s Bay in the under-13 and under-15 grades, including time as captain during the North Island softball under-13 championships, which Hawke’s Bay won in 2007.

Maraenui Pumas premier pitcher Honemark Sinnott has recently taken Price under his wing and has been taking training sessions with him.

Playing against Flaxmere in the second round of the new season at the weekend, the team camaraderie is plain to see. It is a little strange to hear a young kid give the older guys lip where sport hierarchy is an important component.

What is also plain to see is the strong bond Price has with his Dad. After taking his kids along to softball for so many years, Price senior says he is proud to play alongside his son.

“It’s good for everyone if you play with your boy,’ Ken Price said.

After fielding first and taking Flaxmere’s three batsmen out without scoring, Dad got one up on his son and sent him out to bat up first.

“Tuck that shirt in mate you look sloppy and I’m not letting you out there looking sloppy,’ Dad quipped to son.

Price junior managed to get on base after securing a walk. On the sidelines, Captain Price cheered his son home when the next two plays took place.

“Go slick, go slick, go home,’ he said.

But it was not to be the Saints day. Price managed to score as well as get on base in three out of his four attempts – the best of the entire team. Unfortunately they lost 10-2.

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[HAWKES BAY, NEW ZEALAND] –

Story by Shane Hurnell

Sport Today would understand if Rayner Te Wake would take things a little easier on the Hawke’s Bay premier men’s softball scene.

But it’s not the Fast Pitch premier men’s player-coach’s style. After 24 years of play at this level the “Big Chap’ (Te Wake’s nickname) is still the man.

Te Wake, 41, batted .1000 with an automatic home run as his troops beat the other previously unbeaten side, Saints, 7-2 at Akina Park, Hastings on Saturday. During his time on the mound he struck out seven of the 18 batters he faced while conceding five hits and one walk.

But don’t be fooled into believing Fast Pitch is a one-man band. It’s obvious Te Wake’s enthusiasm is fueled by the progress being made by the youngsters under his command. Youngsters such as national under-19 champion Cameron Willis. The short stop picked three walks with the bat and on defence took one out.

Former Junior Black Sox utility Te Rangi Chadwick took an out in the centre outfield and collected two hits and a walk with the bat. Te Wake would have been impressed with the rundowns his young infielders produced.

They had to as Saints out hit Fast Pitch 5-3. Saints used two pitchers in the game.

Kevin Papuni struck out two of the 16 batters he faced while conceding five earned runs.

Junior Black Sox utility Jovaan Hanley struck out two of the nine batters he faced while conceding three walks.

Dodgers beat Maraenui Pumas 4-0 in the other premier men’s battle played at Taradale. Short stop Josh Gettins collected two hits from three turns for Dodgers including a three bagger.

Junior Black Sox catcher Campbell Makea and first baseman Joachim Paul also collected two hits from three turns. Napier Boys’ High School’s Dillon Kiwara, in his first premier match since switching from cricket, collected Dodgers other hit.

Former Junior Black Sox pitcher Tamihana Hokianga struck out 11 of the 24 Pumas batters he faced while conceding two walks and two hits.

Pumas pitcher Hau Hunga Hunga did well to restrict Dodgers to eight hits in his second full game of the day on the mound. He has earlier played for the Pumas B side in a 5-2 loss to Taradale.

Considering he is a “master’ this is a mighty feat so early in the season.

The promoted Dodgers Red side beat Taradale 13-3 in the only premier women’s match played.

The Dominion Post | Saturday, 11 October 2008
Martin back with PCU

Porirua City United have landed a big fish for the season with Black Sox skipper Jarrad Martin returning to the club after a three-year hiatus.

Martin, 35, is in the twilight of his illustrious career and wanted to spend what will probably be his last club season playing alongside his brother, Haizley.

The infielder spent the past three years commuting from New Plymouth to Auckland to play for North Shore club Northcote, and will do the same this season for Porirua.

Martin, who made his New Zealand debut in 1991, has won three world championships and is targeting a fourth, in next year’s world series in Canada, as the perfect way to sign off from the sport.

“Obviously, it’s an important year for myself and I just felt that it’s possibly my last year playing domestically,” Martin said.

“I thought that if it was going to be my last year I wanted to play with my brother Haizley but also just to get a bit more drive back into my game by coming down and playing with a good competitive team as well.”

Martin trains by himself in New Plymouth, where he works as an electrician and as such didn’t feel it appropriate to captain Porirua, who he thinks have national champions potential this season.

“But obviously I’ll offer my experience, talk a lot and help out where I can.”

The Wellington intercity men’s softball season starts today, but Porirua will have to make do without Martin till Labour weekend.

Last year’s runners-up, PCU have also gained gun pitcher Tane Richardson, who is eyeing a Black Sox recall, to complement the power-hitting Makea brothers, Fabian and Thomas.

Defending champions Hutt City United open their season against Johnsonville at the Polo Ground at 1pm today with a settled lineup from last season, Shane Doherty the only addition of note. Johnsonville, who have gained Junior Black Sox pitcher Sam Bishop from PCU, then play Porirua at 3pm.

Giants open their campaign at home in Masterton as part of a double-header against Hutt Valley Marist.

Miramar have gained former Black Sox pitcher Karl Gollan, while Poneke-Kilbirnie will have under-19 stars Nick Hayes and Corey Timu. Newlands have Frank Pointon, back from pitching his way to a European club championship.

Kapiti welcome back catcher Conrad Bain from the United States, while Hutt Valley Marist, Dodgers and Cardinals have similar squads to last season.

By KELSIE JOHNSON, NG Sports Reporter

Although the Bahamas Softball Federation (BSF) is not able to confirm how many teams will compete in the 9th Annual Austin ‘King Snake’ Knowles National High School Softball tournament, 1st Vice President Burkette Dorsette is confident that the tournament’s hit will be a ‘home-run.’

The national championships are set to be held from October 23-25 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. It is designed to unite all the teams from the various Family Islands, and it will also give national coaches and executive members a good look at the young talent in the country.

According to Dorsette, the BSF is really thrilled to host this year’s tournament, even though there isn’t a definite number. He feels as though tournaments of this nature are great for The Bahamas as they not only highlight the talents of our younger players but also points to the bright future in the sport.

“We are not able to confirm the number of teams as yet, but we have had calls from Abaco, Andros, Exuma, Long Island and Eleuthera. These are among the Family Islands that have expressed interest, so far. Of course we have teams from New Providence, most of the government and private schools,” said Dorsette.

“The response has been pretty good in the past. We’ve been having this tournament now for nine years and it is paying dividends for fast pitch softball. There are quite a bit of players who came into the (night) league from the Austin Knowles tournament. The men’s division in particularly has picked up some promising pitchers, who have played on those teams from Long Island. Quite a bit of the players from Long Island are now playing, I think, with the Proper Care team in the ladies’ division. In the men’s division we have new faces on the New Breed and the Sigma Brackettes for women, so it has paid dividends for fast pitch softball. It is like a feeder system for the sport.”

Although softball is the ‘lead-off’ sport for only private schools, Dorsette revealed that the government schools are ready each year. The government-based schools in New Providence may be placed at a disadvantage this time around as their after school activities have yet to start. However, he stated that the competition rises each year and this tournament should be no different.

Returning in search for their third consecutive title will be the team from Long Island, NGM Major Wildcats. They are hoping to retain the title despite having lost their coach, who was transferred to Eleuthera. As a result, four teams are expected to represent the island of Eleuthera, two coming with Tony Crean.

“There is going to be some keen competition. I have been around the islands, and particularly down in Bimini they have some very young players there, in Long Island as well. I haven’t seen any of the players in Exuma but in New Providence the teams are ready. It is going to be a very exciting competition. Stiff competition is expected, so it is going to be good.”

The tournament is expected to have a round-robin format, but this would be based on the number of participants. If there aren’t sufficient teams for the round-robin, a sudden death system will be used.

Editor’s note: Emphasis (bold) in story is mine. Nice to see a “feeder” system working to invigorate the game.