Otahuhu has last laugh

ALAN APTED

It was once the laughing stock of Auckland's premier women's softball.

The Otahuhu team was so bad it once went three seasons without winning a game.

No one is laughing now that five of its players have been named in the White Sox squad trying out for the team for the International Softball Federation's Women's World Series in Canada in July next year.

Krysta Hoani, 18, Courtney Warren, 20, Alorna Ngatokorua, 24, Amanda Preston, 25, and Krystal Tourangi, 28, will get their first chance to impress national coach Naomi Shaw when the squad gets together with the Junior White Sox for a two-day camp in Hastings this weekend.

The selections are especially sweet for Hoani, Warren and Ngatokorua, homegrown talents who have been at the club since they were juniors. They were also part of the team that took four years to win its first match.

Now their shared dream of playing in the White Sox together is just a selector's nod away. They're excited by the challenge.

Hoani already has a foot in the door. She is a Junior White Sox pitcher and her identification as a prospect for higher honours is a further nod to her talent.

But for Warren and Ngatokorua it's the first indication that they just might have the goods to compete at international level.

Both played under-13s and under-19s for Auckland.

Warren captained the Auckland under-19s from shortstop and made it into Auckland franchise team last year while Ngatokarua played for Auckland at the national provincial championships last season. But that looked like as good as it was going to get until they got their White Sox call-ups.

"I was thrilled," Warren says.

"I've always been disappointed at not being a Junior White Sox so getting the call-up to trial for the White Sox tells me I'm a chance. That gives me a lot more confidence."

And she's credited Otahuhu's three-year losing streak as an important part of her development as a player.

"It was difficult to deal with at first but it really toughened us up.

"We kept picking ourselves up because we knew that with practise we were only going to get better."

Club coach Wayne Roper also had a lot to do with developing their attitude and skills.

"His perseverance rubbed off on us."

Hoani is sheepishly relieved by her call-up. She wouldn't have been selected had it not been for her mother Sally.

"I would have been playing professionally in Europe – I got this offer and really wanted to go. Mum didn't want me to so there was plenty of discussion. In the end we agreed that I should stay and finish school.

"I'm glad that I did."

Hoani says the thrill of knowing she's on track to become a White Sox is as exciting as the day she was named Junior White Sox pitcher.

Preston and Tourangi played big parts in Otahuhu's rise to softballing prominence.

Their experience help Otahuhu become the second best club team in the country.

They were beaten 3-2 by Te Aroha from Hutt Valley in the bottom of the seventh innings at last year's national championship.

Otahuhu was also runner-up in the Auckland championship.

Preston and Tourangi have since moved on and joined Papatoetoe, the newest club in Auckland premier women's softball.

- © Fairfax NZ News