The 60th NZ Men's Evergreens Softball tournament is confirmed for the 28th February / 1st March. 2025 in Invercargill.

The programme is Thursday 27 February ILT Ball Park Clubrooms open at 5pm for the meet and greet session. The Managers meeting and AGM will commence at 7pm.

The Ball Park address is 36 Surrey Park Road along side Stadium Southland and Velodrome complex. Surrey Park Road is accessed off either Yarrow or Isabella Streets.

The food canteen and bar will be operating of course on Thursday Evening ,as will a licensed Marquee and BBQ food area on Friday and Saturday. BBQ food will be available from 8am on Friday and Saturday and continue throughout the day. There will be other food options also available at the canteen. We will not however be providing a specific breakfast menu.

Games commence both days at 9am. 

The Saturday night function is being held at the Ascot Park Hotel commencing at 7pm. There will be a sit down Buffet meal, $55 per head. Full bar options will be available, pay as you go. 

There is an Evergreens committee requirement for all teams to purchase a minimum of 10 tickets to this function. We will require any additional confirmed numbers of attendees no later than 20 February to enable us to confirm catering requirements with the hotel. (please send your confirmed numbers to me directly. pankys@xtra.co.nz with team name as identity. Tickets will be available and payments made at the managers meeting.

The Ladies trip has been withdrawn due to a lack of interest. We are certain the Ladies will find many alternatives if interested to look into themselves.

We are producing an online programme which will be forwarded to all teams prior to Tournament and will also be posted on the Evergreens web page. Anyone wanting a paper copy can print off for themselves.

Men's Evergreens have a What's App group called 'EVERGREENS 2025' for rapid of information during the tournament. Please download the app and join if you have not already.

Current Game Rules:

The first named team on the draw has the 1st baseline dugout

No bunting and No stealing (runners are allowed to advance on a passed ball or Catcher losing control of the ball)

No automatic walks are allowed in any situation.

Runners are able to be replaced on base by any other player in the batting line-up (or the DR).

Where open diamonds are used, cones will be placed in the outfield to indicate the fence line and the automatic home run and 2 base block ball rules applied on the call of the home plate umpire.

Helmets must be worn by batters and runners.

All games in round robin and post section play will be 1 hour 15 mins in duration (hooter to hooter) or completion of 5 innings, or mercy rule, which ever comes first.

In the event of an unfinished inning at the time of the hooter, the batter in the box will complete his turn at bat and then the game will continue unless the team second at bat is ahead and batting, otherwise complete the inning. SNZ Rule

This means that if the team second at bat wins without the innings completing, any runs scored by the team first at bat in the innings before the hooter sounds will count. (Footnote* these extra runs cannot be used for Tied team formula -NZ SCORERS)

If under these rules the game is tied, the game will remain tied and a draw is recorded

In the event of a tie in any section, the tied team formula will be used to decide placings: Two teams tied: who beat who. More than two teams tied – on runs for and against in games involving just those teams.

Final decision by the adjudications committee (possible coin toss)

Points: Win 2 points, Draw 1 point, loss nil points

No time is added on for injuries or protests.

Pitchers must not be currently pitching in Premier grade level in North Harbour, Auckland, Wellington or Canterbury. They can still play Evergreens, but not pitch.

We are looking forward to welcoming you all to the deep south. Do not forget to pack your sun screen. This is Slip Slop Slap country.

Regards to you all,

John Pankhurst

Southland Evergreens Organizing Committee.