Hawke's Bay softballer Rita Hokianga appreciated the irony when she received the trophy for the top male pitcher after the national women's interclub tournament ended in Christchurch on Sunday.
"Tony Giles [Softball New Zealand's CEO] warned me not to be surprised when I opened the box. The men's trophy had obviously come to our tournament and the women's had gone to the men's ... they promised to sort out the mistake. They obviously know Mel and I play in the men's competition back home here in the Bay," Hokianga joked referring to her White Sox and Flaxmere teammate and catcher Melanie Gettins.
Read more: Softball: Hawke's Bay coach abandons her retirement plans
Softball: Hawke's Bay rep side Saints struggle at nationals
Softball: Woon fires with bat as Saints march home
Hokianga, 24, and Gettins, 27, played for Hutt Valley's Te Aroha team who beat Auckland's Waitakere Bears 3-2 in the final of the 17-team, four-day nationals. While it was the third national interclub title for Gettins after winning with Auckland Ramblers in 2012 and Hawke's Bay Dodgers in 2014 it was Hokianga's first.
"It was only my fifth interclubs because of the four years I spent playing in the United States. It was pretty special to be named top pitcher as I had never received that award before ... I've had more seconds than anything else apart from in the States," Hokianga said.