N.Z. Hopes For Softball Series

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 19

N.Z. Hopes For Softball Series

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

New Zealand hoped to be host to the world series within the next 10 years, the chairman of the New Zealand Softball Association (Mr D. T. Howe) said yesterday.

Mr Howe was speaking at the farewell at Parliament Buildings to the New Zealand team for the 1968 world series in Oklahoma City, beginning on September 21. The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Adams-Schneider) represented the Government and with him the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk). Earlier, the manager of the team (Mr G. F. Vincent) said that until New Zealand had a ball park capable of holding at least 3000 people, it would not be possible to stage the world series.

“In four years, however, we might be differently situated," he said. The American Ambassador (Mr J. f. Henning) said New Zealanders compared favourably with United States softballers in pitching, fielding and batting, and, he said, “The best teams in New Zealand would be the equal of the best teams in the States The team will leave Auck-

land tomorrow, stopping off at Tahiti, Honolulu, San Francisco, San Antonio. Houston, Dallas, and Prescott before arriving in Oklahoma City, and will play 24 games in a lead-up to the world series. Busy Programme

Many of the games will be at night under lights, with often two games in the one night “Without being over-confi-dent we have every chance of winning,” Mr Vincent said. “We ran the Aurora Sealmasters (the winners in 1966) very close 2-0, and with a bit of luck we could improve our third placing.”