New Zealand crowns Men’s, Women’s Softball National Champions

The Auckland’s Western Magpies have won their first Women’s National Championship after defeating the Hutt Valley Dodgers, 2-0. The Western Magpies’ win was the fourth by an Auckland club in the last years after earlier victories by Auckland Marist, Waitakere Bears and Ramblers.

Jennifer Feret – White Sox national team player – threw two no-hitters against the Dodgers on her way to dual individual honours as the top pitcher and most valuable player of the tournament. She also hit a bases loaded grand slam home run and drove in the winning run in a 2-1 tiebreaker victory earlier in the weekend.

Further national team talent contributed to the victory by Gillian Wills and Beth Stavert, both former White Sox representatives, and Keeley Wells, who has played for the Junior White Sox.

Photo: Softball New Zealand

On the Men’s side, the Hutt Valley Dodgers clinched their third men’s national softball title with a 3-1 victory over six-time champions Ramblers. Dodgers took eight hits off Ramblers’ Japanese national team pitcher Kento Okazaki, 21, who had seven strikeouts.

The winning squad contained a clutch of Hutt Valley softball stalwarts, led by Black Sox stars Nik Hayes – who won the tournament top pitcher and most valuable player awards – and Joel Evans.

Photo: Virginia Woolf/FAIRFAX NZ