Mini series for Chch

Press, 8 September 1982, Page 33

Mini series for Chch

Christchurch has been confirmed as a venue for the men’s mini world softball series to be held in New Zealand early next year. Originally, Auckland and Hutt Valley had been considered as the only likely venues, but it has been decided to launch the series in

Christchurch — a considerable coup for local softball administrators. The series, scheduled for late February, is intended to serve as a build-up for the 1984 men’s world series in Michigan, United States. Possible entrants for the series in New Zealand include the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines. The last big men’s softball match in Christchurch was the test match against Peterbilt in February, 1981, which attracted 1150 spectators. Many more can surely be expected for the international series coming up. Mr Dale Eagar, the president of the Canterbury Softball Association, said that planning bad already started on the series and the question was where, in Christchurch, to hold it. Approaches were being

made to the Christchurch City Council for a ground with provision for some allweather surface area. “We would like to hold it at Porritt Park and have one game at a time.” Mr Eagar envisaged something like the baseball diamonds in the United States with the base paths laid out in clay. “That would look good.” That apart, the main big softball of the season in Christchurch will be the New Zealand under-18 boys’ tournament in mid-January. This year the South Island men’s tournament for the Jefferies Cup will be held in Timaru on December 4 and 5. That city will also be the venue for the annual representative match between Canterbury and Otago in November. It was decided to cut down on travel for both teams and have a triangular series with South Canterbury.