National call-up for Kobe

Last year Kobe Stewart-Smith proudly donned the black uniform with the silver fern for the first time, representing New Zealand at the NSW state softball championships.

Next month the 13-year-old Marlborough Boys’ College Year 9 student will step up to international competition, having been selected to play for the NZ under-14 ISA team which will take on Australia and Japan.

The Kiwi team leaves for Sydney on March 24, where they will undergo a week’s training before meeting their international rivals in the Blacktown Junior International Challenge.

Kobe, who expects to play in the outfield or second base during the series, says he has no nerves about playing internationally, but is excited by the opportunity to test his skills and catch up with his team mates, some of whom were in last year’s age level side.

The multi-talented youngster first picked up a softball bat aged five – trying his hand at T-ball. He played for a couple of years, took a year off, then stepped up to softball proper with the Saints club at nine. He is now a key member of the club’s under-15 team, playing in a multitude of positions including pitcher and catcher.

He is also a consistent batter at four or five in the roster, both at club and national level, earning praise last year from the NZ coach, for whom he registered a .400 average.

“I’m not really a big hitter,” said Kobe, “I just try to play it in the field and get on base.”

The young man is the epitome of an all-round sportsman, playing representative rugby, touch, rugby league, basketball and softball, plus golf, volleyball and hockey, while previously dabbling in tennis and cricket.

Although he is making big steps at softball, Kobe has no intention of pushing his other pursuits aside, suggesting, “I’m just going to keep doing everything”.

Asked what attracted him to softball, he said he relished the team aspect of softball, “the joy it brings – winning, losing, the fact that everyone has to contribute”.

Kobe represented NZ under-13 in Australia last year, the team finishing third but were unable to participate in the finals because it was a state championship.

“It was a quite good experience,” he said, “especially the coaching. They really helped me out with the mechanics of my batting, and also with the basics of fielding and throwing the ball.”

He was also quick to mention the help he has received from local coaches Tyler Bird and Jontae MacDonald over a number of years.

To help fund his trip, Kobe and his family have launched a Sponsored Training Shirt fundraiser. The shirts will be worn at all trainings and as casual wear, proudly displaying the names and logos of supporters on the back.

“Funds raised will go towards travel costs, equipment, and development opportunities — every contribution makes a real difference beyond just the shirt”, said Kobe’s mother Courtney Finau.