Southland’s Anahera Algar, 16, is in full swing as she pitches to a North Harbour batter at the Under-19 Girls New Zealand Softball Championship at Southland Ball Park in Invercargill yesterday. PHOTO: NINA TAPU
"This is the first time we've actually had a national tournament since 2004, so we're very excited and feel very privileged that we're able to hold a tournament of this calibre," association chairwoman Rata Hopa said yesterday.
The four-day tournament will end on Sunday.
The under-19 players hail from Auckland, North Harbour, Wellington, Manawatū, Counties Manukau, Otago, Canterbury and Southland.
"This is a great opportunity for our under-19 girls to go on and be selected to represent New Zealand," Ms Hopa said.
There is a New Zealand under-19 selector from Canterbury keeping an eye on players' form.
"What happens from there is they pick a tournament team and then from there they can be identified and looked at, and it definitely is a pathway to make a New Zealand women's team," she said.
