Southland softball talent Tim Campbell’s stint at the weekend with Hawke’s Bay during the New Zealand Open club championships was another step towards what looms as an exciting sporting year for the teenager.
Campbell a fortnight ago was named in the New Zealand Junior Black Sox squad for the Junior World Series in Argentina in September.
His selection came after a strong showing at the national under-19 championships and carries on a remarkable record for Southland softball.
Campbell’s selection means Southland has had a player selected in the Black Sox for the past six junior world series.
The Telfer brothers, Michael, Chris and Matt, all made the team, while Tim’s older brother Jonathan played in the last world series in 2008.
It is an exciting time for the James Hargest College pupil as he eyes the trip to Argentina to compete on the world stage.
“It was pretty exciting,” he said about the news that he had been named in the Junior Black Sox.
“I’ve been aiming for it for a while.
“I knew at the under-19 [tournament] playing for Southland that was the tournament I had to go well in. I thought I might have had a pretty good chance. I always looked at it when Jono made it, when I went away with them, I thought it would be a good thing to make.”
Southland Softball Association boss Craig Soper arranged for Campbell to link up with Hawke’s Bay as a pick-up player for the club championships and it was a win-win situation for both parties.
After what Campbell described as a slow start to the tournament he got into the groove, showing good touches for Hawke’s Bay, who narrowly missed the top eight in the 21-team tournament and ended up finishing 11th.
Want to read a good article on the just completed New Zealand championship won by Auckland United?
softballauckland.org.nz
then click on Trevor Rowse Media
Some very interesting comments about players we see over here in our summer.