Softball

MAGS’ Junior Boys and Junior Girls Softball teams won championships on Thursday, November 30. The boys won the NZSS Junior Champs, and the girls won the Auckland Junior One Day Tournament.

The Junior Boys matched their Senior counterparts’ achievement earlier in the year by winning the NZSS Junior Softball Championship in Hastings.

The team was unbeaten through the four-day tournament, and won the final 10-1 against St Patrick’s College Silverstream.

Results: v Te Aute College: won 9-1; v Napier Boys High School: won 10-3; v St Patrick’s College Silverstream: won 7-0; v Karamu High School: won 11-1; v Paraparaumu College: won 22-4; v Hastings Boys High School: won 14-6; Final v St Patrick’s Silverstream: won 10-1.

MAGS’ Junior Girls Softball team won the Auckland One-Day Tournament when they beat Westlake Girls High School 7-4 in their final.

Held at Rosedale Park in Albany, the tournament saw MAGS girls also unbeaten through the day.

Results: v Kelston Girls High School: won 16-2; v Pakuranga College: won 22-0; v Northcote College: won 17-0; semi v McAuley High School: won 7-0; Final v Westlake Girls High School: won 7-4.

MAGS’ Premier Boys Softball team won the NZSS Championship for the fifth year in a row when they beat Hastings Boys High School 6-3 in the final at Rosedale Park in Albany on Friday, 31 March.

The team had lost to the school twice earlier in the week, but coach Mr Stu Kinghorn said the boys stepped up another level for the final. He also changed the order of pitchers from earlier games.

“The game felt a lot closer than the score suggests,” said Mr Kinghorn. “Floyd Nola would have to be my MVP – he pitched well and bounced a ball off the top of the fence when he batted. They were a great unit and brought it home for MAGS.”

Premier Softball players Nerida Elson and Harley Maynard were selected to represent New Zealand in 2016.

Nerida was selected the NZ Under 19 Junior White Sox and toured with the team to play in the Hawaiian Invitational Tournament in the July holidays.

Harley was selected as a pitcher for the New Zealand Emerging Sox. He travelled to Sydney in June to represent New Zealand at the Friendship Games.

Chasing the New Zealand title for the fourth consecutive year, our Premier Boys lost only one game on the way to the NZSS Final against Waimea Boys College, which they won 4-3.

Played in Hastings from 4-8 April, the boys won most games in convincing fashion, including scores of 13-3 against Tawa College and 15-0 against Wanganui High School.

The Premier Girls won the Second Division of the North Island Championships after beating Aorere College 11-0 at Prince Edward Park in Papakura.

MAGS’ Premier Boys Softball team made it five in a row when they won the Auckland Central Zone Championship on Monday, 14 March, beating Auckland Grammar 2-0 at the May Road pitch.

The boys were unbeaten in the Central Division League; pool play included big wins over Dilworth (23-0), Papatoetoe (14-1) and Rutherford (12-0).

Crossover play for the semi-final against Green Bay High School saw a much tighter game, resulting in a 2-0 win for MAGS. The final was another tough match, but MAGS prevailed to retain their title.

Thanks to staff member Ms Kelly Johnston for taking on the role of scorer, and a huge thanks for the parental support on game days.

The team is very fortunate to have the continuity of Mr Stu Kinghorn coaching.

The team is now preparing to once again win the New Zealand title, for the fourth consecutive year, at the National Tournament in Hastings in April.