Flaxmere player-coach Luke Herrick saluted Hawke's Bay officials for allowing women to play in the province's premier men's softball competition after his team created history on Saturday.
With two down in the bottom of the seventh and bases loaded, United States import and first base player Alyssa James produced a swinging bunt which sent the ball between the Saints pitcher and first base player. This allowed outfielder Stu McIntosh to scamper home, beat the flick and give Flaxmere a 4-3 victory at Akina Park, Hastings and their first premier men's title since the club was formed in 1975.
James was one of three women who played for Flaxmere this season. The White Sox pitcher-catcher combination of Rita Hokianga and Melanie Gettins were the others.
The trio played in the comp as part of a plan instigated by Hawke's Bay-based White Sox head coach Kevin Gettins to give his players a higher level of play in the countdown to the qualification process for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
"The girls have been awesome for us this season and top marks to the Hawke's Bay board of control for allowing them to play at this level. The result in that final proved how much they were missed in the pre-Christmas final when we lost 7-1 to Saints," Herrick said.