The national body's chief executive, Tony Giles, was in Dunedin yesterday and spoke in positive terms of the sport's health.
Success on the diamond has not always been mirrored off it during the past three or four years, he said.
But a new major sponsorship deal has helped revive the sport's finances.
''Softball has always been seen, I guess ... as being a third-tier sport,'' he said.
''It is our job to try to work through the issue and, hopefully, become a really viable option for the youth of today to get out there and have a go.
''One of the things we need to do is to raise the profile in the media and really sell our successes. And with those successes come commercial opportunities.
"On the back of last year's World Championship and having the test series against Australia on TV in March ... I have had an opportunity to sit down in front of genuine partners and sell those successes.''
The past three months have been productive: a major naming-rights sponsor has signed for the junior Black Sox, a major gym franchise has come on board, and last week in Christchurch Softball New Zealand announced details of its sponsorship arrangement with Golden Homes.
The agreement has been billed as the most significant in the sport's history in New Zealand and is reported to be worth six figures annually.
It is a major boost for a sport that often finds itself battling over the scraps.
''It is absolutely significant for the game. It is a medium to long-term partnership. We are looking at four to five years.''
The money will be split 50-50 between the Black Sox programme and the game's grass roots.
So it is good news for softballers everywhere in New Zealand, not just the elite players.
''While the Blacks Sox are our flagship ... Golden Homes are coming on board to really support the game at the grass-roots level as well.''
Finances remain a struggle, though, and Otago Softball has felt the pinch.
''Like most sporting associations around the country right now, there is some genuine concerns around the funding model. We are all competing for a smaller piece of the funding pie.
''We are always looking to generate new revenue streams. But while there are some challenges, there are also some really positive stories coming out of Otago.
''At Ellis Park itself, with the brand new clubrooms now out there, I think they are looking at some work on the main diamond to get ready for the start of the new season.''
