Selwyn Times: January 31, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday January 31 2017 23
Softballer goes to next level
• By Tom Doudney
A ROLLESTON teenager has
been named in the South Island
under-15 softball team to play
the North Island in the curtainraiser
to the International
Challenge Cup final in
Auckland.
The Challenge Cup will see
the world No 1 New Zealand
Black Sox playing in a tournament
with five other teams
– Japan, Argentina, Australia,
Czech Republic and Samoa. The
final will be played on February
12.
Rolleston’s Blake Hardy, 14,
was selected for the South Island
team after his strong performance
representing Canterbury
in the South Island under-15
championships in Dunedin
earlier this month.
Hardy was part of the team
which bet Nelson 7-0 to win the
title. He was a key component
for his team and was rewarded
by taking home the best batter
award. Hardy had a tournament
batting average of .632 and
had 12 safe shots from 19 bats,
including two home runs.
As well as the curtain-raiser
game, the South Island and
North Island under-15 sides
will play a series of other games
against each other earlier in the
day.
A good performance from
Hardy could see him in line
for even higher honours, as the
RISING TALENT: Rolleston softballer Blake Hardy has made the under 15 South Island
team to play the North Island on February 12. ​
games will be used to assess
players for selection to the
New Zealand under-15 softball
team.
Hardy said he was happy
and excited to be playing at the
Challenge Cup.
“That will be a lot of fun and
some more game time for me,”
he said.
Hardy had been playing
softball for about four years. He
took up the sport after giving
SPORTS
up cricket which he had found
boring.
He planned to keep on working
hard on his softball game
and see how far he could go in
the sport.
Canterbury Softball
Association chief executive
Cheryl Kemp said playing at
the Challenge Cup was a great
opportunity and the Rolleston
club deserved praise for how
it was developing its young
players.
“Their players are starting
to be identified at a higher
level than just Canterbury and
I think that is kudos to the club
and their commitment to their
junior players.”
Top US
drivers for
Ruapuna
IT’S BEEN a long time between
drinks for midget car fans when
it comes to seeing top-line drivers
from the United States at Ruapuna
Speedway.
However, the drought will end
this Saturday night, as the line-up
for the New Zealand Midget Car
Grand Prix has been boosted by
the entry of highly rated Spencer
Bayston and Tyler Thomas to the
field.
Both drivers contested the
international series over the
holiday break at Auckland’s
Western Springs before flying
back to the United States to
compete in the Chili Bowl race
held at a large indoor track in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
They then recrossed the Pacific
back to New Zealand to compete
in the national championship at
Nelson last weekend and have
decided to travel south to race at
Ruapuna.
Bayston from Lebanon, Indiana,
was number two in the
US midget power rankings for
the 2016 season, while Thomas,
from Collinsville, Oklahoma, was
ranked ninth.
The Grand Prix will be contested
over 40 laps. Gates open
at 5pm, and the first race is at
6.30pm.
‘Famous for their roasts!’
RESTAURANT & CAFÉ
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Two courses
Seniors SPECIAL
Two courses
$10
We are family friendly. Great Kids menu plus designated play area.
Soup/Roast or
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Monday - Saturday 12pm - 2.30pm
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Start your
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We are open from 6.30am
Cooked
breakfasts
$18
Check out our extensive
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The
RACECOURSE HOTEL
& Motorlodge
118 Racecourse Rd, Sockburn,
Christchurch. Ph 03 342 7150
www.racecoursehotel.co.nz
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ph 03 366 4166
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H ORNBY
WORKINGMEN’S
CLUB
«WHAT'S ON«
FRIDAY 3 FEB, 7PM,
JO’S KARAOKE
SATURDAY 4 FEB
4.30PM
NORM BLAND
8PM
SOUTHFIELD
Chalmers Restaurant
Early Bird Special
5.30pm – 6.30pm FRI & SAT
Roast (4 Choices) still only
and Free Desserts
$20.50
Unbeatable value including your
choice of Fresh Veges and Salads
«COMING UP«
SATURDAY 11 FEB, 7.30PM
BATTLE FROM THE GAMES
DOOR SALES $45
SATURDAY 18 FEB, 7.30PM
RETRO ROCKIN’ WITH ANTHONY
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PRE-SALE TICKETS $20. DOOR SALES $25.
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THE DIXIE PRIX SUMMER HOE-DOWN
TICKETS $15.
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OPEN 7 DAYS
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