Marty Grant at the Helm
By WAYNE MARTIN – The Nelson Mail
ON THE DIAMOND: Nelson softball players, pictured clockwise from left, Marty Grant, Brendon Ross, Dominic Mahutu-Mason, Nick Max, Jack Fletcher, Simon Ashby and Yvette Grant, have been named in the Southern Pride squads for the national fastpitch championship.
Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant is banking on some personal responsibility by his players to help prepare them for this month’s national fastpitch softball series.
With Grant now retired from international play, the three-times world champion is player-coach of the Southern Pride squad confirmed to compete in the new national fastpitch championship at Mainland Foundation Ball Park in Christchurch from December 27-30. It replaces the national softball league which was held for eight years.
The Southern Pride’s player pool covers the entire South Island Island, apart from Canterbury, making it difficult for his team to train together heading into the tournament. However, Grant has been involved with a number of the players in representative sides over the years, so there will be some familiarity.
“The core of them are based around a number of players who’ve played together in various age group teams over the last four years,” he said.
And he expects his players to put in some hard work prior to their assembly in an attempt to hit the ground running in Christchurch.
Joining Grant in the Southern Pride side are fellow Nelson players Dominic Mahutu-Mason, Derryn French, Simon Ashby, Jack Fletcher, Nick Max and Brendon Ross. Nelson’s Don Glennie is Grant’s assistant coach, Hamish Fletcher is the team manager and Danielle Fletcher the official team scorer.
Also included in the side are Marlborough’s Ryan Schollum, Kyle Marfell and Jordan Tulloch, Otago’s Scott Cartwright, Chris Anderson and Jamie Robinson, Hawke’s Bay’s Ray Te Wake and Southland’s Jonathan Campbell. Grant, Mahutu-Mason and Te Wake comprise the pitching staff.
The Southern Pride women’s team includes Nelson’s Yvette Grant, who won a softball gold medal with Australian team Brisbane Renegades at the World Masters Games in Sydney earlier this year.
No Black Sox players are available for the four-day tournament, which could count against Auckland, who won the last four national league titles. Canterbury and Wellington are the favoured sides, with North Harbour and Central Vikings completing the men’s draw. Southern Pride will compete against Auckland, Hutt Valley, Wellington and Canterbury in the women’s draw.