SNZ Awards 2017

SOFTBALLER OF THE YEAR - MARK SORENSON

Softball NZ President Nicky Sherriff presenting Mark Sorenson the Softballer of the Year Award

 

ANNUAL AWARDS

 

JOSH PETTETT, Wellington	Men’s Pitcher of the Year: Golden Homes Black Sox 11 – 18 November 2016 - Argentina Tour 8 – 12 February 2017 – TAB International Challenge Cup – North Harbour - Gold
PALLAS POTTER, Hutt Valley	Women’s Emerging Player of the Year: Played in the NZ Emerging Sox Team in Australia & is the current captain of the Junior White Sox Team. Pallas has played in 2 junior world championship tournaments and is still eligible in 2019.
JASON GERBES, North Harbour	Personality of the Year: Jason is a great person who has a huge impact on Northcote Softball Club and North Harbour Softball. Chopper is an out their personality who serves softball in a positive and engaging way. His efforts this year Northcote gained 5 additional junior teams then he went about securing coaches, assistant coaches, managers and scorers for each of the teams. Enjoys game commentary where his personality lifts games from the mediocre to become spectator joys. He called games during the TAB Challenge and went onto the Sky TV comments team. He was invited by Canadian TV to go over to the World Men's Championships.
CHRIS TELFER, Southland	Volunteer of the Year: His record speaks for itself. Chris has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the game in the form of coaching and volunteer work undertaken for Southland Softball Association. He coached seven teams during the 2016/17 season and ran a pitching course at Stadium Southland, from October to early December, for members of the Southland under 15 and 17 teams.
MARK SORENSON, Hutt Valley	International Coach of the Year: Golden Homes Black Sox 11 – 18 November 2016 - Argentina Tour 8 – 12 February 2017 – TAB International Challenge Cup – North Harbour- Gold
JONATHAN HEWETT, Counties Manukau	Administrator of the Year: It’s been an outstanding year of growth and development for CM this past season. Johnny is the President of CMSA. He was instrumental with securing funding for our rep teams to travel to national tournament and is the liaison person with the Council regarding our field use. We hosted the U17 Boys National Tournament in Pukekohe this year and it was a massive hit. Johnny is just amazing and is very deserving of this award!
STEVE DEANS, Hutt Valley	Domestic Coach of the Year: Steve is a dedicated and successful coach. HV NFC Coach Hutt Valley Dodgers Softball Club Premier 1 Men’s Coach Runner up New Zealand Club Nationals Winners Vic Guth Tournament 2017 Winners Hutt Valley 2016/2017 Competition Winners Wellington Intercity 2016/2017 Competition Selected 2017 Major Sox Coach Steven also assists with Manawatu coaching clinics and is involved with the Hutt Valley Green to Gold training program.
TYRON BARTORILLO, Canterbury	Men's Player of the Year: Golden Homes Black Sox 11 – 18 November 2016 - Argentina Tour 8 – 12 February 2017 – TAB International Challenge Cup – North Harbour - Gold
ELLIE COOPER, Florida State University	Women's Player of the Year: White Sox Women 5 – 10 July 2016 – World Cup of Softball – Oklahoma City 15 – 24 July 2016 – ISF Women’s World Championships – Surrey BC
COURTNEY GETTINS, South Florida College, Florida	Women’s Pitcher of the Year: White Sox 5 – 10 July 2016 – World Cup of Softball – Oklahoma City 15 – 24 July 2016 – ISF Women’s World Championships – Surrey BC Courtney was named NJCAA All American 1st Team and NCJAA Pitcher of the Year
REILLY MAKEA, Canterbury	Men’s Emerging Player of the Year:  Temperzone Junior Black Sox Men 24 – 30 July 2016 – XI Junior Men’s World Championships – Midland, Michigan USA
TONY KAIARUNA, Wellington	Umpire of the Year: For his services to international softball at the junior men’s worlds in Michigan, July 2016 and the Challenge Cup, February 2017. Tony is dedicated to umpiring and is a mentor and trainer of new umpires in the game. He is a regular attendee at national tournaments and has a consistent on-diamond performance of an international standard.
ELIZABETH NATANA, Rotorua	Scorer of the Year: Current SNZ Chief Scorer. Lil is dedicated to the job and leads by example. She is helpful and encouraging and continues to attend national tournaments as chief statistician. Lil runs high quality Panel Meetings, leaving no doubts that she has all scorer’s benefits in her sights. There is a very worthy recipient of the Scorer of the Year trophy.

 

SNZ DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

 

CORALIE DAVIES, Manawatu	Coralie was first appointed as a national scorer in 2001 and attended world championship events in 2004 and 2006. Coralie has dedicated much time to the growth of scoring in Manawatu. She has officiated at national tournaments of all levels for decades and continues to do so.
VICKY GRIFFITHS, Canterbury	Vicky has been a women’s national team scorer from 1995 to 2016. She scored at the 1995 & 2007 Junior World Champs and the 2004, 2010 and 2012 Women’s World Champs. Vicky has dedicated much time to scoring for her Canterbury Teams. She has officiated at national tournaments of all levels for decades and continues to do so.
ELVA DYASON, Manawatu	Elva Dyason (posthumous award) Elva first came onto the national scene as a scorer for the NZ Men’s Maori Team in 2000. She then became the NZ Black Sox Scorer from 2005 to 2008. Elva was part of the 2004 World Championship scorers’ panel in Christchurch when the Black Sox won gold. She formed a close relationship with Argentina officials and it is the reason why husband Ray Dyason is not here today to receive her award as he is attending a wedding of one of their Argentinian friends. Sadly Elva passed away in May this year

 

SNZ HALL OF FAME

 

JARRAD MARTIN, Wellington	This man needs little introduction. First named for the Junior Black Sox Team in 1989, then named in the Black Sox Team from 1991 to 2013. A period of over 2 decades. Jarrad has attended world champs in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2013. He has won 4 gold medals and continues to put back into the game as assistant coach of the Junior Black Sox Team. Jarrad was an outstanding versatile athlete who played in multiple positions. Jarrad has a MNZM Government Honour
LESLIE KING, Auckland/Hutt Valley	Leslie is American but gained NZ Citizenship to be eligible for the NZ White Sox Team. She first gained national selection in 1987 and remained until 2000. She played in 2 world championships in 1990 and 1994 and two Olympic Qualifying events in 1995 and 1999. Leslie was an outstanding world class athlete whose talents were best seen at short stop. Leslie is the current Head Coach of the University of Pennsylvania Womens Softball Team.
TRAVIS WILSON, Canterbury	Travis was first selected for the Junior Black Sox in 1993. He was then named in the Black Sox Team in 1994 and remained until 2009. Travis played in two world championships winning a gold medal in Midland, Michigan in 1996 and a silver medal in Saskatoon. Travis played middle infield and was a well-known strong hitter of the ball. Travis Wilson is a proud South Island man who represented his Canterbury province for decades. He is a current assistant coach of the Florida State University Women’s Softball Team.
PATRICK SHANNON, Auckland	Paddy was first selected for a NZ Development Team in 1994 and the Black Sox Team from 1995 to 2013. He attended 3 world championship events in 2004, 2009 and 2013 with 2 gold medals won in 2004 and 2013. He was an outstanding catcher and his batting stance and numerous home runs are legendary.