Young softball players in Canterbury squad

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33077, 18 November 1972, Page 4

Young softball players in Canterbury squad

The inclusion of two 17-year-old players in the Canterbury men’s softball squad is bound to provide encouragement to the considerable number of promising youngsters in the sport.

The selection of W. S. Richardson (Deep Freeze) and P. McFarlane (Richmond) in the 14-man squad, is an indication that the panel is prepared to blend youth with experience. Messrs I. R. Pollock, K. Bingley and R. Hall realise the potential of the young players and know that this can only be fully utilised with experience at provincial or national level. The selectors’ attitude will certainly result in a better standard of softball in the province. At the national tournament a year ago, Canterbury fielded 10 newcomers in its squad, yet it produced its best performance in the Beatty Cup series for more than a decade. This season several veterans retired, particularly from the Papanui side, and this led to the introduction into the senior competition of many young, talented softballers. The schoolchildren’s competition in Christchurch is one of the largest yet recorded. If this trend continues, it seems certain that young players will figure prominently at senior and inter-provincial standard for some seasons to come.

The two schoolboy representatives in the Canterbury squad have played the sport for many years, but in very different surroundings.

Richardson is a young American, whose father is a Chief Petty Officer with the United States Navy at Harewood. Consequently, his family has had a number of postings, but this has not affected his enthusiasm for softball.

The whole family has become involved in the game, with Mr Richardson coaching the senior Deep Freeze side, his wife keep-

ing the score and Scott making a valuable contribution in the team. He began playing when he was seven, but cannot quite remember in which American state. However, when he was about 11 the family moved to Corpus Christi in Texas, where he played in the Saturday competition, either as pitcher, catcher or at third base. Richardson came to Christchurch in 1970 from Texas, and he began to play for the senior Deep Freeze side and his new school, Papanui High School. His first season here proved to be very successful and he was included in both the Canterbury schoolboy and colts sides.

Richardson pitches for the Papanui High School

team and in its last few games he has also been pitching for Deep Freeze, replacing A. G. Mansfield. However, in the Canterbury team he will probably be used as an outfielder. He is at present sitting his School Certificate and finds that softball does not clash with his studies.

His success on the local softball scene may be shortlived, as his family may be returning to the United States in February, probably to Las Vegas.

To be selected in the New Zealand team for an overseas tour would probably be the highest aim of a local softballer. but Richardson’s ambition goes one step further. He hopes that when he returns to

the United States he can break into the lucrative professional circuit. McFarlane, the other schoolboy in the Canterbury squad, may not get such an opportunity, but he appears to have a bright future ahead of him in the sport. Like Richardson, he started to play the game when he was very young — about eight. He is still playing for the same club — Richmond — and is now in his second season with the senior team. He is a pupil at Mairehau High School. During his nine years of softball, McFarlane has amassed a proud record. He represented Canterbury in

the under-14 grade on four occasions and has also been a member of the Canterbury colts and senior schoolboy representative teams.

A left-handed batter, he is top of the order in the Richmond team. He usually fields at third base or short stop, but it has not yet been decided where he will be positioned for Canterbury.

The McFarlane family, like the Richardsons, devotes its interests during the summer to softball. Mr McFarlane has managed the Canterbury team and 18-year-old Mark was recently selected as an outfielder for the Waikato representative side.