Softball player of year named

Press, 21 March 1983, Page 3

Softball player of year named

Graeme Anderson, who made his international debut for New Zealand B in the mini world series in January, has been named Canterbury softball’s male “player of the year.” Anderson, aged 27, was also the winner of the award for the most valuable tournament player as the result of his fine performance at the Rothmans national championships in Dunedin when Canterbury finished second, its best place since the inaugural championships in 1939. The Burnside man, a specialist first baseman all his life, was converted into a catcher at the eleventh hour because of an injury to John Daly and did such a good job for Canterbury that he was named in his new position for the New Zealand squad.

Albion’s pitcher-coach, Cheryl Kemp, is the Canterbury Softball Association’s female “player of the year.” In the last 12 months she

shared in New Zealand’s gold medal triumph at the women’s world series in Taiwan and also took on the onerous task of playercoach for the Canterbury representative team. Batting trophies for the season were awarded to Dale Eagar (Papanui), men, and Natalie Hazelwood (Albion), women. Woolston’s Anita Perreau was judged the most improved female player.