Black Sox outfielder recognised as the best
August 26, 2006
Lower Hutt, NZ
Black Sox outfielder recognised as the best
Saturday August 26th
A season of outstanding hitting, strong defence and sublime leadership has seen New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox outfielder Thomas Makea named Softballer of the Year at the sports annual awards dinner in LowerHutt tonight.
Makea has been part of the Black Sox team since his debut in 1994 and isa three time world champion. Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase says theamazing thing about Makea’s game is the fact he seems to keep gettingbetter and better every season.
“Thomas continually works on his game and he has a very strong base offundamental skills that is important to all great players. I would ratehim as the world’s best outfielder,” said Kohlhase.
In the 2005/06 season with the Black Sox Makea was there at every turn inthe team’s unbeaten run as they defeated Samoa in a home series, claimedthe Commonwealth Series title in Australia and successfully defended thePacific Cup in Japan. Internationally for the 2005/06 season the BlackSox had an unbeaten 18 win no loss record.
Playing for his club side Porirua, Makea was a central figure as the teamclaimed the Wellington club title while provincially the Wellington teamhe represented placed second in the NZCT National Leaguecompetition.
“Thomas has had an outstanding year both domestically sandinternationally. He has led the way in practically all facets of the gamein terms of hitting and fielding. This season we moved him to the leadoff position in the batting line up and that could have had an impact onhis ability as a power hitter but he adapted to the role and led the teamwell,” said Kohlhase.
Along with being recognised at the Softballer of the Year Makea was alsonamed Male Player of the Year making it a double for the outfielder whoclaimed the same award last season.
The award for Male Pitcher of the Year went to Jeremy Manley of HuttValley while Tyson Byrne also from Hutt Valley picked up the award forEmerging Male Player of the Year.
Other awards presented saw NZCT White Sox captain Fiona Timu named FemalePlayer of the year while Michelle Kingi picked up the award for FemalePitcher of the Year and Canterbury teenager Carmelle Sorensen was namedEmerging Female Player of the Year.
Coach of the victorious Auckland women’s team in the NZCT National LeagueNardi Leonard was named Coach of the Year while Nicola Ogier picked upthe award for Umpire of the Year and Ima Hodges was recognised as theScorer of the Year. Clare Lundon of Wellington was named Administrator ofthe Year and Danny Paranihi acknowledged as the Personality of the Year.
The awards evening was also a chance to recognise some of the legends ofthe game who have given years of service to the sport either as a player,official or administrator.
This year there were four people inducted to the Softball New ZealandHall of Fame. In the players category Nardi Leonard and Dean Rice havebeen recognised while in the officials category scorer Russell Moffat andumpire Wayne Saunders were honoured.
As a player Leonard had a lengthy career at the highest level on thediamond representing New Zealand from 1982 through to 1995. She attendedthree world championships winning silver and bronze medals. Following hertime as a player Leonard then stepped into coaching leading the JuniorWhite Sox to two world championships while also coaching at club andprovincial level in Auckland.
Dean Rice also had a lengthy and successful international playing careertaking to the diamond for the Black Sox from 1988 to 2000. In that timeRice attended three senior world championships winning two gold medalsand one silver. He also won gold for New Zealand at the junior men’sworld championships in 1985. After his retirement from playing Rice helddown the position of White Sox assistant coach from 2002 -2005.
Russell Moffat’s induction into the Hall of Fame comes on the back of 23years of service as an international scorer. The Cantabrian took up hisfirst position with a New Zealand team in 1983 with the Junior Black Soxteam. From there he has gone on to officiate as a team scorer with theBlack Sox at four world championships, was chief scorer at the 2004 WorldChampionships in Christchurch and was an official scorer at the 2004Athens Olympics.
Umpire Wayne Saunders of Hutt Valley was also inducted into the Hall ofFame on the back of a long and successful international and domesticcareer behind the umpires mask. During an extensive internationalumpiring career Saunders has officiated at one woman’s worldchampionships, four men’s world championships and the 2004 AthensOlympics.
There were also two awards made for Distinguished Service with thededication of Raewyn Humphreys of Auckland and Valmai Breen from CentralOtago acknowledged.
Humphreys has been committed to the game for over 50 years afteroriginally being introduced to the game as a toddler and has beeninvolved as a player, official and administrator.
Since first gaining her New Zealand scorers badge in 1979 she has been anofficial scorer and national and international events while she has alsoheld administrative roles with the New Zealand Ladies Evergreensorganisation.
Valmai Breen has been recognised for her service to the sport which hasspanned over 40 years. In that time she has played internationally forNew Zealand attending the 1969 world championships.
Following her playing career Valmai moved into coaching andadministrative roles, she was pivotal to the inception of the CentralOtago Softball Association in 1969 and has held the position ofassociation secretary since the association was first formed through tothe present day. She has also coached at junior, secondary school andsenior levels for over 30 years.
The evening also saw current New Zealand Softball CEO Dale Eagar awardedSoftball New Zealand Life Membership for his services to the sport priorto taking up the CEO position.
Before taking up the role of CEO Eagar had been involved with the gamefor over fifty years either as player, coach, manager or administrator.Originally from the South Island Eagar was president of CanterburySoftball for twenty years from 1976, a member of the New Zealand SoftballCouncil from 1983 and was president of New Zealand Softball from 1996until 2005. Eagar has also tasted world championship success as coach ofthe junior Black Sox team leading them to world titles in 1985 and1989.
2005/06 Softball New Zealand A1 Award Winners –
Emerging Female Player of the Year: Carmelle Sorensen(Canterbury).
Emerging Male Player of the Year - Jimmy Cotter Memorial: Tyson Byrne(Hutt Valley).
Female Player of Year: Fiona Timu (Auckland).
Male Player of the Year: Thomas Makea (Wellington).
Female Pitcher of Year: Michelle Kingi (Counties).
Male Pitcher of the Year - Paul Magan Trophy: Jeremy Manley (HuttValley).
Coach of the Year: Nardi Leonard (Auckland).
Umpire of Year: Nicola Ogier (Canterbury).
Scorer of the Year: Ima Hodges (Otago).
Administrator of the Year: Clare Lundon (Wellington).
Personality of the Year: Danny Paranihi (Hutt Valley).
SNZ Hall of FameInductees: Nardi Leonard(Auckland), Dean Rice (Auckland), Russell Moffat (Canterbury), WayneSaunders (Hutt Valley).
Distinguished Service Awards: Valmai Breen (Central Otago), RaewynHumphreys (Auckland).
Softball New Zealand Life Membership: Dale Eagar.
SOFTBALLER OF THE YEAR: Thomas Makea(Wellington).
By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
* mailto:kelly.mitchell@xtra.co.nz
http://www.softball.org.nz/
*mailto:snz@softball.org.nz
Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
* mailto:vanf@ihug.co.nz
