Jarrad Martin received a plaque and a ring to commemorate his induction into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame.

ORIGINAL STORY by Christopher Reive - Stuff NZ

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

Jarrad Martin has been inducted into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame.

 

He's been part of a junior and four senior World Softball Championship title runs for New Zealand and now Jarrad Martin has another accolade in the sport - a spot in the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame.

The 43-year-old from Waitara was inducted alongside fellow Kiwi softball legends Chubb Tanagroa and Thomas Makea in August, with the trio being the latest New Zealanders to receive the honour.

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

Jarrad Martin received a plaque and a ring to commemorate his induction into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame.

 

"Growing up, Chubb was one of those players you aspired to be like and, lucky enough, I got to play with him toward the end of his career. For him to be given that award as well is quite special," Martin said.

While Martin spent over two decades with the national set up, he said the induction came a lot earlier than he thought it might.

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ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

Jarrad Martin is now part of the Junior Black Sox coaching staff.

 

"I thought possibly one day it may have happened, but didn't realise it was going to happen straight away."

"It's pretty special, but at the same token it was a special event because two of my other teams mates from New Zealand were inducted at the same time."

He said it was particularly special to be inducted alongside Makea as the pair started their international career together.

After being a part of the Junior Black Sox in the late 1980s, Martin was called up to the senior team in 1991 where he remained a part of the set up until 2013.

"I was probably lucky that I was playing in an era where we dominated probably close to 10 or 15 years. For us, it meant that we were the benchmark in world softball and to sustain that profile we had to work hard."

New Zealand hasn't won a Junior World Championship in the sport since the side Martin was part of did in 1989, and during his career with the senior team, he won three of the country's six world titles.

"It's hard to single out a person in a team sport so it just goes to show all the team mates and coaches along the way are all part of this award."

The trio join fellow New Zealanders pitchers Kevin Herlihy (1993), Paul Magan (1995), Peter Meredith (2007), Michael White (2009)
and catcher-first baseman Mark Sorenson (2010) in the illustrious club.

Though he never officially retired, Martin has been inactive from the sport for the past three years and has taken on an assistant coaching role with the Junior Black Sox, who claimed the silver medal at this year's World Championships.

After playing alongside Makea throughout his career, Martin now coaches with him with Makea being the Junior Black Sox head coach.

"The transition from playing to coaching was pretty easy. Just coming out of being competitive as a play, I think I was probably lucky that I got to share my experience straight away and am still doing it."

 

 - Stuff