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SHANE HURNDELL | 10th January 2011
Take note Softball Hawke’s Bay officials … Tom Makea snr is still the man.
Makea wasn’t wanted for the Hawke’s Bay under-19 boys coaching role this summer despite winning two national titles at this age group in the past. Bay officials felt he was passed it and it was time for change.
When hearing of Makea’s dumping Wellington officials were quick to secure his services and yesterday Makea, 58, coached Wellington to a 5-1 win against North Harbour in the final of the Lower Hutt-hosted nationals.
“I think this a gentle reminder to those in charge back in the Bay I’ve still got what it takes,” said Makea minutes after collecting his 10th national title winner’s medal.
“I don’t know where I will be coaching next summer. Wellington are rapt with this title as it has been five or six years since they have won it and they’re keen to have me back,” said Makea who was Softball New Zealand’s coach-of-the-year in 2009.
Three of Makea’s players were named in the tournament team which he was named coach of. His Wellington side had one loss from nine games in the four-day tournament – a round robin loss to North Harbour.
“While I was thrilled to beat Hawke’s Bay and prove a point I was gutted when Hawke’s Bay missed out on the semifinals.
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I had a son (second baseman William Makea) playing for them and several of the Bay team I coached at club level this summer and at rep level in the past,” said Makea.
Hawke’s Bay beat Auckland 5-1 in the playoff for fifth. First baseman Kane Herbert, one of four players in the team who are also in the Bay’s NFC men’s side, got on base with all three of his turns at bat.
With two down in the fourth Hawke’s Bay scored four runs on hits by Herbert, short stop Josh Gettins and third baseman Karaitiana Aranui to secure the win.
A 5-4 loss to Hutt Valley in their final game ended the Bay’s semi hopes. Conceding two errors and three safe hits in the sixth inning proved costly for the Bay who earlier lost 4-2 to Wellington.
Herbert and Gettins were the only Bay players named in the tournament team. However Bay manager Craig Waterhouse said Aranui and incumbent Junior Black Sox squad member Horowai Puketapu both did enough to stay in contention for Junior World Series selection. Bay coach and former Black Sox catcher Bevan Martin was named assistant coach to Makea in the tournament side.
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