O’Leary ponders Vikings success
FIRED UP: Fast Pitch pitcher Mario Herbert fires one in as back stop Matt Williams keeps his eye on the toe of the bat in the game against Hutt Valley yesterday during the North Island Men’s Classic at Akina Park, Hastings.
SportToday had to question Joe O’Leary’s wisdom in the wake of his decision to play in the weekend’s North Island Classic men’s softball tournament in Hastings.
After all, O’Leary’s Dodgers team didn’t enter the six-team event and his list of injuries isn’t exactly short.
“Take your pick … hamstring, ankle and shoulder,” replied O’Leary when quizzed on his injury tally.
“I was on crutches on Friday but threw them away so I could play,” said O’Leary who is back in the Bay after two seasons with the Wairarapa Giants side in the Hutt Valley competition.
“I couldn’t resist the temptation to play against some quality teams and particularly for Saints who my family have a strong association with,” said O’Leary, referring to the fact his late father Rob played for Saints in the late 1980s and early 90s.
The former Black Sox training squad member’s commitment paid off as he was last night named in the Central Vikings team to play in the National Fastpitch Championship in Christchurch from December 27-30.
It remains to be seen whether O’Leary, 31, who has represented Hawke’s Bay through the age groups to senior level will take a break and rid himself of his injuries before the showpiece of the domestic scene.
“I haven’t been able to take a spell because we don’t have that much depth at Dodgers. I’ll leave that call to Tom,” said O’Leary, pointing in the direction of his Dodgers and Central Vikings coach Tom Makea.
“It’s good to be back in the Bay playing for Tom as he put a lot of work in to me when I was young and there’s a good mix of experience and youth in the Vikings side,” said O’Leary.
He agreed it would be good for him and the Vikings if he could shake off his injuries and return to the form which had him close to selection for the 2004 World Series. O’Leary’s injuries restricted his success with the bat but he managed an automatic home run for Saints as they were beaten 11-6 by his former Giants side in yesterday’s plate final at the classic.
Top Hawke’s Bay side Fast Pitch again did the best of the three Hawke’s Bay teams in the Classic with a third placing.
Hutt Valley Dodgers beat Johnsonville 6-1 in yesterday’s championship final. Former Maraenui Pumas and Hawke’s Bay age group players Mark and Jason Kelleher played for the Hutt Valley Dodgers side which lost 6-3 to Johnsonville in their first outing on Saturday but were unbeaten from then on.
Hutt Valley Dodgers second baseman Tyson Byrne, who gained International Softball Congress team selection earlier this year, was the Classic’s top batter with an average of 565. Former Hawke’s Bay and Junior Black Sox catcher Campbell Makea played for Johnsonville.
Editor’s note: Where is Hawkes Bay, you ask? Right about here: