Newcomers METS add spice to Bay softball comp
Mention Craig Waterhouse's name around the Hawke's Bay softball scene and his exploits with the Fast Pitch club immediately spring to mind.
Waterhouse, who is a former winner of the Softball New Zealand administrator of the year award as well as the administrator award at the annual Hawke's Bay Sports Awards function, has been involved with the Fast Pitch club for more than 30 years.
He was influential in securing the services of Black Sox pitching legend Chubb Tangaroa in the late 1980s and in the early 1990s Fast Pitch was regularly ranked among the top five clubs in the country. While Waterhouse is still involved with the Fast Pitch club as its accountant he is also a key committee member for the new club in Hawke's Bay's premier men's competition Meeanee and Taradale Sports.
"it's the first time in many years we have four clubs represented in our premier men's competition and that what's so exciting about it. It's going to be pretty even this year too," Waterhouse explained.
While retired White Sox pitcher Rita Hokianga is the chairperson of the club the biggest coup on the playing side has been the return of pitcher Jordan Waterhouse, infielders Josh Gettins and Curtis Huata, former Black Sox utility Jovaan Hanley and former Junior Black Sox utility Horowai Puketapu from the Wellington club competition.
"We've got a good mix of youth and experience with two players from Napier Boys' High School, two from Taradale High School and another who travels from Gisborne Boys' High School," Waterhouse said.
"We're very family-orientated. Three of the boys became fathers for the first time in April and it was awesome to see their families among the supporters last weekend," Waterhouse said.
METS were beaten 5-3 by Saints during last weekend's first round of the competition at Akina Park, Hastings. Saints pitcher Adam Woon, who is likely to make the New Zealand under-23 team for next year's world championship, took 13 strikeouts while conceding three hits.
Hanley and Jordan Waterhouse took six and seven strikeouts respectively for METS. Maraenui Pumas pipped Fast Pitch 10-9 in the other game.
In Saturday's 4pm games at Akina Park Pumas will take on Saints on diamond one and METS will meet Fast Pitch on diamond two.
Expect to hear Waterhouse yelling for both the Fast Pitch and METS team but more so for METS.
"While Horowai is still on the injured list METS will be disappointed if they lose two weeks in a row," Waterhouse added.
