Dave Mackay / Phototek.nz/Stuff
Samantha Parks, pictured batting for Otahuhu in 2020, has guided the Auckland club to the national title in her first season as head coach. (File photo).
First-year coach Samantha Parks has led Otahuhu to their first national interclub women s softball title after a 10-5 comeback win over a Te Aroha team coached by former Black Sox world title winner Mike Walsh. Walsh - who won world championships with the Black Sox in 1984 and 1996 and coached the New Zealand White Sox women at the 2000 Sydney Olympics - came out of retirement to coach Te Aroha at the national tournament in Christchurch.
Gretchen Aucoin, pictured warming up, pitched Auckland s West Waves to the 2020 national Fastball 45 title.
Pitchers ruled as Auckland teams clinched the first national Fastball 45 softball titles after dominating the modified version of the game. Gretchen Aucoin hurled a no-hitter as the West Waves – coached by New Zealand White Sox head coach Roman Gabriel – beat the Hutt Valley Kotuku Raiders 7-1 in the women’s final at Auckland’s Rosedale Park on Sunday. Liam Twigden joined Aucoin as a MVP award recipient by pitching the Central Bolts –coached by former Black Sox captain Nathan Nukunuku – snare the men’s crown with a 9-4 victory over the Wellington Thunder.