Seventeen softball teams are playing in a southern zone tournament at Alexandra’s Molyneux Park this week (January 26 -29).

Central Otago Softball Association (COSA) is hosting the Under 15 Boys and Girls Open Club Championship, run in conjunction with Softball Mainland.

COSA tournament organiser Tyla O’Neill said it will be a big three days of softball and winners will take home a trophy.

“We can not thank Kevin O'Neill enough, [he] has put in a lot of hours to make new pitching mats and assist Valmai [Breen] in general ground maintenance.

“[Our] sponsors have helped out with things… providing lunch for 25 officials, printing signage, gates, marquees, ground maintenance. There are six diamonds required…which requires more bases and pitching mats, and [then] accommodating the officials are a few of the things,” Tyla said.

The diamond layout

Nine boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams will play two to three games per day. There will be five rounds of games per day (9 and 11am, and then 1, 3 and 5pm).

The tournament format is a round robin and finals. The top four teams after the round robin are in contention for the title. Sunday’s finals are at 1pm (girls) and 2.30pm (boys). 

Clubs from Canterbury, Marlborough, Otago, South Canterbury, Southland are taking part. 

The Central Otago U15 girls’ team

The Central Otago U15 boys’ team

COSA thanked sponsors Peter Lyon Shearing, Base Lyon Plastering, Alexandra Four Square, Subway, Fulton Hogan, Ida Valley Station, Tall Poppy, Design Windows, Luke Cunliffe Builder, Pub Charity Ltd, Industry Lane Eatery, Clyde Orchards, Mouse O’Neill Shearing and Breen.  

The U15 tournament draw is online and spectators are welcome, food, coffee and ice creams will be available.

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