Baseball a big hit

REPRESENTING NORTHLAND: Josh Moore was part of the first Northland Baseball rep team which travelled to Auckland to play the New Zealand little league champions.

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Whangarei Leader

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Baseball is becoming popular in Whangarei.

In 2006 Miguel Abascal introduced the game here. He had previously played baseball at a professional level in the US and saw a chance to develop the sport. He worked with parents, children and supporters to grow the Northland Baseball league.

League committee member Sasha Webb says there were only 40 kids playing in the first season. Last summer numbers grew to just over 200.

Currently children aged five to 15 play and next year Northland Baseball is looking at introducing a secondary league. Regular competition is held on Monday afternoons and an interschool competition introduces children to the sport.

There are three clubs – Northern which practises at Kamo, Central which practises at Hora Hora and Eastern at Onerahi plus children can enter school teams.

The league also offers free coaching courses by Baseball New Zealand for parents who want to be part of the action.

Some Northland players are already representing the country overseas.

Last season Manaaki Tawhiwhirangi was one of four children selected to represent New Zealand at the World Baseball Fair in Japan during winter. Another, Shae Currie, represented NZ at age grade and went to Australia as well.

On Sunday at Kensington Park the league is holding an open day to find out more about the sport, and register to play, says Ms Webb.

There will be a sausage sizzle, display games plus a home run derby where children will have the chance to win baseball gear. There will also be a friendly Clash of the Codes baseball tournament, featuring rugby, rugby league and baseball players.

For more information about Northland Baseball go to www.northlandbaseball.org.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News