Softball: 'Business time' for American imports

Hawke's Bay Dodgers' three American imports, from left, Marisa Newman, Jodi Petersen and Allyssa James, will be able to take the diamond together at this week's national women's interclubs in North Harbour. Photo/Duncan Brown

They've seen Jonah Lomu and they've rode horses around some of the most scenic locations in the South Island.

Now it's "down to business time" for the Hawke's Bay Dodgers' three American softballers, first base player Allyssa James, 23, short stop Marisa Newman, 22, and centre outfielder Jodi Petersen. They want to help Dodgers win the national women's interclub title at the 18-team tournament which begins in North Harbour tomorrow and ends on Sunday.

"It will be the perfect way to end our visit here," James said.

"Everyone has been so fantastic to us ... it would make an ideal thank you," Petersen, 23, said.

Newman pointed out the fact all three of them will be able to take the diamond together at the interclubs, where Dodgers are seeded fourth, will be a plus for the side. During the Wellington intercity competition, which Dodgers won with an unbeaten run, only two of the Americans were able to take the diamond at once.

The trio, who hail from California, were invited to New Zealand by Dodgers' White Sox catcher Melanie Gettins who attended Iona College in New York with them. "It was mainly for a lifestyle experience but they've enjoyed the softball too," Gettins said.

The trio met All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu at the Ngati Kahungunu Sports Awards in Hastings back in October. When it was pointed out he is to New Zealand what the likes of basketballers Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson are to the United States, James was amazed at how humble he was and impressed with the manner in which he mixed and mingled with his fans.

Newman was impressed with the South Island scenery during a visit there in January.

"We've all rode horses back home but not in locations like we experienced down there."

On March 22 the trio and Gettins will travel to Sydney to watch an American Baseball League game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Naturally the flight across the Tasman will be more enjoyable if they achieve their goal in North Harbour this week. James said an interclubs title would be the equivalent of their previous career highlights winning their United States conference with Iona College. She did it three times with Petersen while Gettins did it twice and Newman once.

"Softball is a bit more more relaxed here but the intensity is the same, particularly when you play the top Auckland and Wellington teams," James said.

Newman pointed out the fun times she has had with Dodgers off the diamond, including the return road trips to Wellington, will be lifetime memories for her. "The likes of Melanie and Angela (former White Sox infielder Angela Stubbs) are real characters. They have a good time off the diamond but when they've got their game faces on everyone responds."

Should the American trio miss out on a national interclub title, they know experiencing Hawke's Bay's annual Fun in the Sun tournament at Akina Park on March 29 and 30 will be the ideal form of consolation. Newman pointed out they already have some bright costumes sorted for the 38-team event when they will turn out for the Dodgers "Monstars."

Fast Pitch Vikings will represent the Bay at the national men's interclub tournament which begins in Lower Hutt today and continues until Sunday.