A baseball first for Marlborough

The familiar sound of bat on ball which echoes around the Marlborough Softball Ballpark most Saturdays had a different ring to it last weekend.

Instead of the dull thud of a successful softball strike, it was the sharper crack of bat on baseball that raised eyebrows at the ball park.

The occasion - the first official senior baseball match to be staged in the province.
Former New Zealand Black Sox pitcher and two-time world championship winner

Marty Grant has been growing the game of baseball in Nelson since 2016 and, at the urging of the Marlborough Saints senior softball side, agreed to bring his Nelson Heat age group side over to play a double header, first-up the historic baseball match, followed by their regular softball clash.

The differences were obvious. Apart from the immediate contrast in pitching techniques, baseballers use a different, smaller, ball and have to throw further.

Add in the greater distances between the bases and it is a challenging transition.

However, the Saints lads adapted quickly, albeit with a Nelson pitcher to help them along, and came out on top of an intriguing encounter, ideal preparation for Marty’s lads who are soon off to a national tournament. The Saints players enjoyed the experience, some suggesting it could become a regular occurrence.