2024 NFC Results

The National Fast Pitch Championships were hosted at Rosedale Park by the North Harbour Softball Association, between 15-18 February with the finals being played on the Freeman Field. The best and brightest of NZ’s softball talent was on display, with many national team players taking to the diamond for the eight associations and a Junior White Sox invitational squad.

After a nail-biting playoff game saw Auckland defeat a strong Canterbury side 1-0, the team was set to take on top of the table North Harbour. Auckland, which saw three generations of Bromhead’s involved, took on their neighbours from across the bridge in an equally as exciting final. While North Harbour was able to keep Auckland scoreless for 5 innings, the team in blue battled hard to bring in two runs in the bottom of the sixth. While North Harbour managed to get a runner on base; a double-play saw their National Championship dreams crushed as Auckland ran onto the diamond to celebrate.

The men’s final saw Auckland assert dominance early on with three runs in the first inning, which slowly built up to six as the game progressed. The opposition, Canterbury, who were noticeably sore from some fantastic ball over the tournament, were unable to score off Auckland’s Nik Hayes (who would later claim Top Pitcher and tournament MVP) and settled for 2nd place in the men’s competition.

Men’s NFC Final Standings:

  1. Auckland
  2. Canterbury
  3. North Harbour Pango
  4. Wellington
  5. Auckland Ma
  6. Hutt Valley
  7. North Harbour Kokowai
  8. Southern Pride

Auckland pitcher, Nik Hayes, was named both the tournament MVP, and also received the top pitcher of the tournament. Reilly Makea, from Wellington received Top Batter finishing the four-day tournament with a 0.700 OBP and 0.625 Batting Average.

Women's NFC Final Standings:

  1. Auckland
  2. North Harbour 
  3. Canterbury
  4. Hawkes Bay
  5. Counties Manukau
  6. Hutt Valley
  7. New Zealand Junior White Sox Invitational
  8. Southern Pride

Sarahnaruth Pauga, from Auckland, was awarded MVP for the tournament, with her teammate Tyla Morrison named as Top Pitcher. Lace Tangianau from Hutt Valley was awarded the Top Batter for the women’s competition after finishing with a .630 OBP and .545 Batting Average, which saw her bring in 15 runs.


Article added: Thursday 14 March 2024

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