Marlborough named NZ’s softball association of the year

The Marlborough Softball Association have been named New Zealand Association of the Year for the 2024-25 season at the weekend’s Softball NZ annual awards.

In the award citation it was noted that Marlborough Softball had “shown considerable growth for the past few seasons, having their tee-ball module alone triple in size, along with an increase in juniors which made this season a success.

“Not only have they been working tirelessly to build their junior programme, but their senior numbers have also flourished with the ability to enter a Heartland Women’s team and have five members compete for Southern Pride at NFC.

“While some regions have seen a decline in participants, Marlborough have shown that a resurgence can be achieved with volunteers who have a passion for the game and support from the local council. With the assistance of grant funding this season, a big purchase of training aids has helped with the development of all levels throughout Marlborough and made the sport more accessible as it continues to grow.

“For Marlborough, upgrades and improvements on facilities are now on community plans, and we cannot wait to watch softball continue to thrive in the region.”

The other five nominees were Canterbury, Franklin, Hutt Valley and North Harbour.