Nelson Heat has struck two home runs at the Baseball New Zealand Awards Night.

Former Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant was named under-16 Coach of the Year, while his son Cooper was named under-16 Player of the Year.

For Grant senior, who was instrumental in establishing the sport here in 2016 after a stellar international softball career that included three world championships, the award was a surprise but one that had been inspired by his charges.

"We've some really good kids that want to learn so you do as much as you can to make that possible and I think that's been recognised; what we're trying to do locally and the results of the kids breaking into the national teams."

In its brief existence Nelson Heat has already shown itself to be a competitive force on the national stage.

In 2018 the under-13 and under-16 baseball teams came out on top at the Jim Kaat Invitational in Christchurch – the same year that Cooper and Reegan Lawton made the New Zealand under-15 team invited to compete in a summer tournament in Taiwan.

The international selection has extended to seven this year with six Nelson U14 and U16 representatives in NZ teams touring Miyazaki, Japan in a few weeks' time, while James Matthews made the NZ U13 team to travel to the Ripken World Series in the United States later this year.

Grant said the Heat had around 100 players on its books last year and Grant predicted that number to double by 2020, potentially out growing the Champion Green they currently use for games. 

As well as increased playing numbers, the club had trained a number of umpires who were beginning to cut their teeth at a national level.

"We've got a positive group of people involved here - I'm just one of them and we get stuff done."

After dedicating the last three years to growing baseball in the region, Grant was now looking forward to taking on an assistant coach role for the New Zealand under-16 team in Japan.

"I have had to get some credibility in the game ... 45 years in the other code of softball doesn't get you far," he said.

Other Nelson club members acknowledged at the awards night were Rachel Knowles and Megan Matthews for achieving level two scoring while Rangi O'Brien all achieved level one status.

Grant said the acknowledgment was a reflection of the women's commitment to taking on the necessary jobs to collate the all-important scores and stats for games, including up at the nationals in Auckland.

"It's quite a big endeavour – I couldn't do it – but they enjoy it and I'm really proud of them."

Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Kyle Glogoski claimed the top gong at the event - the Lincoln Holdzkom International Player of the Year award - while Counties Baseball was named the Club of the Year.

Nelson Mail/Stuff 16/5/19