American challenge for young softballer

Press, 22 March 1986, Page 80

American challenge for young softballer

Marty Grant’s recent experience as a pitcher is likely to be extended drastically when he plays softball in the United States during the northern summer.

This season Grant, aged 20, has been playing most of his club softball for A.B.L. Suburbs as an infielder. The Canadian, Mike Ash, has done the pitching.

But when Grant leaves Christchurch for Prescott, Arizona, on April 9, it will be “just to pitch.”

Grant said that he would be playing both in a city league and the state league. This could amount to 100 games in the course of the season. He said that he was keen to develop his pitching skills. “I want to go as far as I can.” Judging by his performances in tournament play for Canterbury B and Canterbury Colts this season, Grant should thrive on the feast of softball. He was named in the New Zealand Colts tournament team this year and figured prominently in both the pitching and batting averages in the B section at the Rothmans national championships. American softball teams are usually reluctant to let their pitchers bat because of the possibility of injury while base running. Grant will be doing his best to end that tradition. Grant’s contract in the United States was arranged by the Suburbs coach, Bryan Mountford, through an American, Jim McCasland, who played club softball in Canterbury six seasons ago. McCasland is now in charge of sports and. recreation in