They went through the whole week unbeaten, but Ashburton College’s girls’ softball team fell at the final hurdle at the national softball championship softball tournament last week.

Ashburton College’s girls’ softballers who finished second in the secondary school nationals division two competition last week. Photo supplied.After seeing off challenges from all-comers in the seven-team division two draw last week in Christchurch, Ashburton College took on Southland Girls’ High School in the division two final and having beaten them 6-4 in round robin, had to be the favourites to take it out.

But, Southland had other ideas and got home 14-12 to take the title.

The side’s coach Pat Patea said it was a great effort by his young side, which featured only a couple of players who plied their trade in Christchurch competitions, including pitcher Kate Flanagan.

Patea said he really had no idea what to expect from the side ahead of the tournament.

“I never had a goal, it was just to play game by game and see how everything went,” Patea said.

So to finish as runners-up was an outstanding achievement.

The Ashburton College boys were also in action at the tournament. They finished fifth out of nine teams.

The MVPs for the Ashburton College teams were Gemma Taylor for the girls, and Jacob Gray for the boys.

Mid Canterbury Softball’s Richie Johnstone said the results were Ashburton College’s best ever at the tournament.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 1 April 2019