Softball New Zealand’s National Fastpitch Championships finished this past Sunday, with the finals of both the men’s and women’s tournaments. National team ace Daniel Chapman led Auckland to a 4-1 win over North Harbour in the men’s final. Hutt Valley’s pitcher Shivaun Landeros pitched her team to the title, defeating Auckland in the women’s final. The events were played at Rosedale Park in Auckland, the venue for the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2022.
Chapman - who was on the mound for New Zealand at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup in 2019 when the Black Sox lost to Japan in the semifinals to miss the final for the first time in 11 tournaments - went the distance in the men’s final, allowing 2 hits and 1 run with 9 strikeouts, to complete an undefeated campaign for Auckland. A 3-run homer off the bat of Bradley Bennett was the key in the host team’s 4-1 win over North Harbour, allowing the squad to claim their sixth title in 10 years.
Chapman was named Best Pitcher of the Year, while Black Sox shortstop Cole Evans was awarded the best hitter and the MVP of the tournament. Wellington finished in third place.
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In the women’s event, Landeros pitched seven games over the weekend for Hutt Valley to retake the national title, beating defending champions Aukland by a score of 4-1. It’s the team’s third title in four seasons.
Lace Tangianau, the Junior White Sox first baseman who will participate in the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup in Peru later this year, had two RBI singles in the final game.
Landeros was named the top pitcher of the tournament, Logan Moreland was the best hitter, while White Sox Captain Lara Andrews was named MVP.
