The Hawks Fastpitch Softball Club is hoping to replicate its success from last season and make the finals this year.
The club, which plays in the Werribee Softball Association, is about halfway through the season after a Christmas and New Year break.
Hawks president Jason Kriehn said the season began back in November, slightly later than usual because of lockdowns and COVID restrictions.
Kriehn said that although COVID-19 sometimes caused players to be absent if they became ill or were required to isolate at home, the Hawks tried their best to participate in every game.
“The second half of the season has thrown a few curveballs,” he said.
“We try our best to reschedule or get as many players as we can on the diamond.”
Speaking to Star Weekly on Thursday, January 20, Kriehn said two of the Hawks’ women’s’ teams in the top spots n the competition ladder, along with one of their men’s’ teams.
“Last year, we had three or four teams win a premiership and and we hope to about stay the same this year,” he said.
“Obviously, we would love our teams to make the finals but we’re just trying to do our best and get as many people as we can on the diamond.
“We also have a state league team which plays every Thursday night and some Sundays against some of the best teams in the state.”
Kriehn and his brother Todd coach the state league team.
“We’re on the cusp of finals and hoping to make the final,” Kriehn said.
He said that softball was “a very family-oriented sport”.
“A lot of parents play seniors and their kids play in the juniors,” Kriehn said.
He said that softball clubs, which compete against the “big” sports such as football, soccer and cricket, were always keen to attract additional players.
In December, the club ran a six-week Batter Up program for children aged four to eight years old who are interested in softball.
“We had 25-plus kids sign up after that,” Kriehn said.
“I think the most Softball Victoria’s ever had sign up as a result of the program.
“We are hoping to ruin more programs like that to continue to get more youngsters into the sport.”
Kriehn said that the Hawks were more than willing to take new players on board, midway through the season.
“We’re happy to take anyone, at any time,” he said.
The club fields an Under-12 team and an Under-15 team in the juniors, plus seniors’ teams.
Details: www.revolutionise.com.au/hawksfastpitch/, www.facebook.com/hawksfastpitchsoftball or email: hawksfastpitch@outlook.com
By Alesha Capone
