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World champion Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase was named Softballer of the Year at the sport’s annual awards function last weekend.
After seeing the world title slip through his fingers four years ago, Kohlhase, along with assistants Dave Workman and Chubb Tangaroa, were instrumental in keeping his senior players motivated for one more shot on home soil at Rosedale Park.
Although the team’s build-up form was patchy, he kept faith in his players, managing a series of crucial injuries, late replacements and painful selection decisions to deliver the home crowd something worth celebrating on March 10.
Kohlhase, also named Coach of the Year, has since stepped down from his national team role to take up an advisory position with High Performance Sport New Zealand.
NZ captain Rhys Casley was recognised as Men’s Player of the Year after his game-winning heroics delivered a three-run homer in the world championship final and then the crucial home run for Hutt Valley Dodgers at the open club nationals final two weeks later.
White Sox outfielder Te Reo Powhiri Matautia won Women’s Player of the Year honours after she finished among the top 10 batting averages (.500) at last year’s world championship in Canada.
Softball NZ’s award recipients:
| Softballer of the Year: Men’s Player of the Year: Women's Player of the Year: Men’s Pitcher of the Year: Women’s Pitcher of the Year: Men’s Emerging Player of the Year: Women’s Emerging Player of the Year: Umpire of the Year: Scorer of the Year: Administrator of the Year: Personality of the Year: Volunteer of the Year: |
Eddie Kohlhase Rhys Casley Te Reo Powhiri Matautia Jeremy Manley Petra Kriklanova Nik Hayes Taylor-Paige Stewart Mark Porteous Marie Byrne Ray Tibbits Brad Rona Fay Freeman |
