SNZ Awards 2020

AJ has been an active member of the Manawatu Softball Association for the past 10 years and re -joined the committee in 2019. AJ joined the Softball 2020 Ltd Committee for the U18 Mens World Cup and was placed in charge of Infrastructure to get Colquhoun Park ready for this event in February 2020. During this period AJ was at the park all day every day working tirelessly committing incredible voluntary man hours with his small team of volunteers. AJ was a key member of Manawatu’s efforts towards making the World Cup a huge success. AJ to many is a hero, respected and loved by all and deserves to be acknowledged for his time, commitment, positive attitude and love for the game. AJ’s contribution is significant and has helped create a legacy for Manawatu Softball Association that will last decades.

Adrian Young is a very deserving winner of the SNZ Volunteer of the Year Award for 2020

Ricky is well known in the softball community. He has passion, motivation and dedication to making sure the sport continues to grow and develop at club, provincial and national level. Ricky has an excellent attitude and rapport with players and officials. Ricky has evolved into a quality commentator having been contracted by Sky for delivery of Fastball 45, and the WBSC U18 Men’s Softball World Cup.

Ricky Earley is a very deserving winner of the SNZ Personality of the Year Award for 2020

Lynnette Leathart has significant achievements:
Northern Deputy Chief Scorer.
Scorer of an International Team.
Scorer at TAB Challenge Cup.
Scorer at U18 Boys World Series in Palmerston North.
Lynette is also respected and High-Level Performer and is well respected by players, supporters and other officials and administrators of softball. She enjoys the challenge of performing to a high level as a scorer. Maintains her Level 7 Scorer grading. Ensures she maintains her iScore competency also does WBSC Scoring – MyBallClub and is an Assistant New Zealand Statistician.
Lynette is an Active Scorer/Administrator. She is the team scorer for Auckland at National Tournaments, U15, U18, U23 and NFC. Statistician for Auckland Men and Women Premier and Reserves, helps Clubs to organise Tournaments and runs Scorers Clinics.
Lynnette does not step back from providing her honest opinion and always with the betterment of softball in mind.

Lynette Leathart is a very deserving winner of the SNZ Scorer of the Year Award for 2020

Mark has had an incredible year that culminated with his deserved selection to the Tokyo Olympic Games. Having umpired the 2019 WBSC Men’s World Cup final in the Czech Republic, the 2019 Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier final in China, and the 2020 WBSC Men’s U18 Softball World Cup final in New Zealand, has certainly achieved at the very highest of levels.
to these events, Mark was the lead official, and played a major role in the development of the officiating rules for the inaugural Fastball 45® event in 2019, is a passionate member of the North Harbour Softball Association, and assists the infrastructure, and organising committee for the 2022 Men’s Softball World Cup in Auckland. Mark has been a member of the National Umpiring Staff since 2013 and is the Regional Director for the Northern Region. Mark is also President of NHSU since 2008 and has been a member of the WBSC Rules Rewrite Committee since 2018.

Mark Porteous is a very deserving winner of the SNZ Umpire of the Year Award for 2020

The Manawatu Softball Association (MSA) are deserved winners of this inaugural award. Following incredible success in participation growth in recent years, and in particular in the rangatahi demographic, and setting the benchmark in regional tournament delivery, the association stepped up to deliver the 2020 WBSC Men’s U18 Softball World Cup.
The charismatic Jenine Scoon led a talented and dedicated committee to deliver the almost impossible. $1m was raised to secure infrastructure requirements, strong relationships with the Palmerston North City Council and the Colquhoun Park Trust resulted in a complete clubhouse transformation, and with groundworks starting just 4 months prior to pinnacle event delivery, the Association delivered the first age-grade world cup in New Zealand in over 31 years.

The SNZ Association of the Year Award 2020 is proudly awarded to Manawatu.

Wayne has been the Head Coach of the Developing Sox Boys programme for the last 18 months. Prior to that Wayne was the Assistant Coach under Head Coach Stephen Ratu. Wayne progressed successfully taking the team from second place at the U17 Queensland State Championships in 2018 to winning gold at the International Friendship Series last July. The DSX team won all but two of their 10 games, 3 of which included encounters against Australia Green and Gold. Wayne is a strong advocate for the national player pathway working closely with the Junior Black Sox to ensure athletes evolve in line with their programmes expectations.

Wayne Nichols is a very deserving winner of the SNZ National Coach of the Year Award for 2020
 

2 seasons ago Eru decided that he needed a change with his Softball to try and push his performances to the next level. So he relocated to Wellington for the season to play for Poneke Kilbirnie. This change provided Eru with the opportunity to test his skills outside his traditional Auckland home area, against different teams on a weekly basis and saw his game take a step up. Eru returned to Auckland for the 19/20 season and joined the Roosters team in North Harbour. At the NFC Tournament in the Hutt Valley whilst representing North Harbour Eru almost single handedly pitched North Harbour to the National title, unfortunately the final proving one game too many. This performance displayed the promise and potential that many believed Eru had in him and we look forward to seeing many more performances like these in the future.

Eru Drage is a very deserving winner of the SNZ Men’s Pitcher of the Year Award for 2020