Softballers Made Big Hit In World Series

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 15

Softballers Made Big Hit In World Series

ATEN’S softball gave New Zealand its most unexpected rise in any sport when, in the space of 10 days, it changed its international rating from that of a nonentity to the third strongest power. The World Series at Mexico City was New Zealand’s first sally into international competition. Its standard in comparison with overseas countries was unknown before the team departed. Little publicity was accorded the team on the basis of playing strength

before the World Series, most of the emphasis being placed on the refusal of some government departments to pay team members. A preliminary tour of the United States moulded the team into an efficient combination but this was partly upset by the team contracting dysentery on its arrival in Mexico. Illness had a great bearing on the early matches and the New Zealanders went down to Mexico, 0-3, and the United States,

0-7. But then a convincing defeat of Canada and the scoring of nine runs against Japan built up the team’s confidence and it was not beaten again in the round robin series. New Zealand finished second equal with Mexico but behind the host country on run average. Because of this it drew the hot favourite, the United States, in the semi-finals. Had it finished fourth it would have played Mexico. Although New Zealand lost to the United States the ?

margin was only 2-0, both home runs. This result was New Zealand’s finest achievement and the Americans considered New Zealand their strongest rival. When it is considered that the United States has 25,000,000 softball players and another 250,000 children registered in “little leagues,” and that the sport is subsidised by the ratepayers in each town the margin of two runs borders on the remarkable. In the play-off for third place New Zealand beat

Puerto Rico by five n and there was little doi in the minds of the N Zealand players and offici: that Mexico would h: been beaten had the tea met again. To undergo such a to at a cost of £9OOO when little was known about Ne Zealand’s ability compart with other countries was tremendous risk. But proved successful a: should be the forerunner future international co petition leading up to t second World Series < Oklahoma City in 1968.