Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant steps off the mound
September 15, 2006
Nelson, NZ
Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant steps off the mound
Friday September 15th 2006
New Zealand Community Trust Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant has announced his playing retirement today from all levels of softball after a lifetime in the game.
Growing up in Nelson and idolising the efforts of his older brother Rick on the pitching mound, softball has always been part of life for the now-40-year-old Marty.
After such a long and distinguished career that includes three worldchampionship gold medals, Pacific Cup and Commonwealth Series titles and countless club and provincial victories with Poneke Kilbirnie and Wellington, Grant says it is very hard to walk away but he believes now is the right time.
“After last season I had some time off in winter and I have decided no tto start another season. It is time to do other things, it is time to live a regular life and spend time with my family and focus on work,”said Grant.
Two years ago following the 2003/04 playing season Grant announced his retirement but changed his mind six months later and was back for the start of the new season. The Nelson based Grant says he came out of retirement two years ago because he had unfinished business but that won’t be happening this time around.
In 2004 the NZCT Black Sox claimed their third consecutive world title in front of a home crowd in Christchurch. That was to have been a fitting finale for Grant but fate intervened and just two days out from the start of the tournament he suffered an Achilles tendon injury and didn’t pitch a ball in the championship.
Instead of limping out of his international softball career Grant wanted to go out winning and that is what he did. Grant pitched the Black Sox tovictory in the inaugural Pacific Cup Series in 2005 and he was also onthe mound earlier this year when New Zealand won gold at the Commonwealth Series in Australia.
“I wanted the opportunity to finish on my own terms playing the game and being successful. When we won the Commonwealth title in Australia I thought that might be my last game for the Black Sox,” said Grant.
Grant has been a force on the international softball scene since his debut for New Zealand in 1990 on tour in Canada against New Westminster Regents. Since then he has gone on to play at four world championships where he pitched New Zealand to victory in every game he played.Throughout his career for the Black Sox Grant was the man in the middle for 70 victories and just eight losses.
“Playing at the highest level is a huge commitment. The Black Sox are a hard team to walk away from and I will miss all my friends and thechallenges that go along with training, being part of the team has been an absolute pleasure.”
“The opportunity to play and represent my country is something I have been very proud of. When I was a kid I always had aspirations of representing New Zealand but I never thought it would happen. I have watched a lot of great softball and met some great people,” said grant.
When Grant came out of retirement in 2004 he was intending to carry on through to the 2009 World Championships but it has proved to be a bridge too far because as he says it is still a long way off.
Reflecting on his playing career Grant says there have been many highlights including three world championship gold medals but he says his proudest moment came in 2002 when he played for the Black Sox in his hometown of Nelson.
NZCT Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase says the absence of Grant in futureteams will leave a hole in the side while also giving an opportunity to other pitchers in the country.
“Marty was a world class pitcher and in the last decade I believe he was the best pitcher in the world. He brought a huge talent to the diamond along with desire and a great passion for playing for NewZealand.”
“Marty has been the number one pitcher in the Black Sox and that would have still been the case if he fronted up this season. We have some young guys we are bringing on who we have been slowly introducing to the international level so this is an opportunity for those athletes,” said Kohlhase.
While Grant may now have hung up his cleats as a player he will not be lost to the game as he will continue to share his knowledge and experience as coach of the Nelson Boy’s College team.
And without the demanding training and playing schedules required of a top international softball player Grant will now have more time to dedicate to his wife Abbie and children Keenen and Cooper.
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
