Rutherford qualified for NZ Secondary School Championships!
It is a while between drinks for this statement to be fulfilled. On Friday 11 March at Rosedale Park, our Senior Boys Softball team did exactly that.
It was unfortunate that the seasonal competition was ravaged by the isolation’s, etc. but we were able to put together a One-day tournament team that consisted of softball, baseball and a female softball player.
It helps that our lone girl, Hayley Abbott, is a NZ age grade rep because with her, Hunter Brown-Albert and Austin Lorenzen on the pitching mound they were able to steady the team through pool play and the play-offs to ultimately make the Auckland Championship final. With the top two teams automatically qualifying to the National Championship, it was no mean feat by this team who throughout the day got stronger as individuals and a team.
Pool play saw the team start with a loss to the current national Champions, and eventual winners of this tournament, Mt Albert Grammar, but then bounce back with a win against Rangitoto College. Of note, the first three batters against Mt Albert Grammar hit a triple, home run and home run respectively to jump out to a 3 – nil lead. However, not able to keep that momentum going in the field and succumbed 3 – 11 the final score.
The win against Rangitoto buoyed the team and led to play-off wins against Rosehill College (3-2), and an extra time semi-final 6 – 4 win versus Howick College.
To lose to Mt Albert Grammar in the final had no lingering disappointment, as to make the final was a tribute to the nine students that were able to attend and play every game. It was a pleasure to see the baseball players on the team enjoy themselves hitting a number of deep hits, and our sole female player show a number of boys how to play.
Thanks to the girls from Bandits Softball Club that volunteered to Umpire for our team. The group had an enjoyable tournament. As has been the case for most things, the National Championship was cancelled. However to qualify was a wonderful achievement.