Scout eyes talent

Press, 1 February 1983, Page 40

Scout eyes talent

The All-O-Matics softball team from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which is touring New Zealand, is not just composed of the usual coaches, trainers, and players. Also there are two bat boys, a cheerleader, and a scout. . The scout, Mr Rodger May, kept a close eye for talented players in the two New Zealand teams during the Christchurch sector of the world invitation men’s series which ended at Porritt Park on Sunday. Residency rules which require a player to live in Canada for a year before being eligible for provincial or national tournaments meant that Mr May was not looking directly for recruits. But he said: “I know what’s here now. If anyone asks me I can recommend certain people." Quite a few New Zealand players had brought themselves to Mr May’s attention during the tournament, but most of them had already been to the United States. An exception was the brilliant 18-year-o)d second baseman, Eddie Kohlhase: “He is very impressive.” The young Aucklander is the son of the former New Zealand outfielder, Eric Kohlhase, who played in the 1968 world series with Dennis Cheyne. Cheyne, at 36, is still playing and is the captain of the New Zealand A team of which Kohlhase is also a member. Later this week the action in the mini-world series moves to Lower Hutt after warm-up matches for the five teams.