West City Senior Men's Team claimed the Senior Championship in a thrilling final

A Successful Weekend of National Baseball Culminates in a Back and Forth game that Results in a New National Club Champion Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga.

A gutsy performance from right handed pitcher Matt Mills helped overcome his team’s slow start and inspire the West City baseball club’s senior men’s team to defeat the upstart Howick Pakuranga baseball club in a thrilling 13-9 final Sunday at Lloyd Elsmore Park’s baseball field to defend their 2009 Championship

Along with MVP winner Mills, West City rode the hot bat of veteran Lawrence Lotze and the superb early round pitching of rubber-armed Gordon Niemann to beat back the heavily favoured Howick Pakuranga club in front of a crowd of more than 300 baseball fans at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga

The action featured players and baseball clubs from across New Zealand, including teams from Christchurch, Northland and Palmerston North and championship cups were awarded to winning clubs in five age groups

The Under-17 national championship was claimed once again by Howick Pakuranga, who beat back a feisty Bayside club 7-4 in a tense finale. Pitcher/infielder Luke Hansen swept the awards for the Under-17 age group, winning best pitcher, best hitter and MVP for his memorable tournament at the plate and on the mound.

 

 

 

 

Bayside swept Howick Pakuranga at the Under-15 age level, with Chester Potter named the best hitter, Hamish Witters best pitcher and Thomas Weaver claiming the MVP award for a spectacular overall tournament. Central City swept both the Under-13 and Under-11 championship cups with strong performances from both teams, and showcasing a strong youth development programme at the youth level.

 

 

 

 

Central City also swept the awards at both of the youth age groups, with Fischer Wheat named the best hitter and Aryton Laird claiming best pitcher and MVP of the Under 11s. Reede Fowler was named best hitter at the Under-13 age group, while Jimmy Boyce’s dominant pitching performance and solid hitting earned him both best pitcher and MVP of this age bracket.

 

 

 

 

Current WBC Asia-Pacific and Oriental Boxing Champion David Tua threw out the first pitch of the senior men’s game, and local singer Niklas sang the national anthem.

Baseball New Zealand’s 5th Annual National Club Championships were judged by many in attendance to be the best tournament in years and a building block to strengthen the game of baseball across the nation in the years to come.

All photographs courtesy of Michael Long