It could have been easy for Hawke's Bay vice-captain Callum Carson to to be yipeeing and yahooing after the second day of the national under-17 boys' softball tournament ended in Hastings yesterday.
His team finished the day with two wins and one loss to extend their record to four and one and secure a berth in the top four. After day 1 at Akina Park he was the best of the Bay batters and second equal overall on the RBI stats, with four.
But Carson, 16, has been around long enough to know it doesn't pay to get carried away after two days of a four-day nationals. With Auckland and Wellington, the top two teams from the other section, on their schedule today it's a sensible approach.
"I'm happy with the first two days. However I know we need at least one win tomorrow to remain in contention for Sunday's final and they're two tough teams," Carson said.
The Napier Boys' High School year 13 student is playing in his fourth national under-17 tournament during a rep career which has included one under-13 tourney, two under-15s and one under-19s. He ranks this week's team as the tightest he has been involved with.