Levin Hustle opens new season with orientation day

Levin Hustle players practising their battling skills at club training in Western Park.

Baseball has really taken off in Horowhenua and Levin's baseball club is bustling with activities for all age groups, from 5 years old, and with plans to develop college-age teams in the coming season.

Club manager Hendrix Warren currently has170 players on his books, which means the club now has 13 teams.

Levin Hustle has an Orientation Day on Saturday October 30 at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō in Levin (from 11am to 2pm).

Levin Baseball Club

The club has an Orientation Day on Saturday, October 30 at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō in Levin (from 11am to 2pm) and starts the new competition the following weekend.

The club is at home now at Western Park, settling into its third full season there.

The Levin Hustle has won a few awards in the off-season and has scored the hosting of next year's annual New Zealand Little League Provincial National Tournament, to be played in four age groups. The winners of each grade will have a chance to compete in the Asia Pacific tournament.

Representative teams from around the country will be attending next April in four different age groups, travel restrictions allowing of course.

Warren believes the club's facilities, which are a work in progress, are the best in the Lower North Island, though he said it is a work in progress.

The Orientation Day is an opportunity for people to find out more about the upcoming season and the club. Established players will be picking up the uniforms and newbies can sign up.

The club has competitions on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday for its various teams.

On Thursday the development teams play, on Wednesday the park is for high school teams and the T-ball kids, while Saturday the rookies are playing, with Sunday for the two travelling teams that play in the Wellington competition.

The off-season glories include four nominations in the Baseball New Zealand Annual Awards, with two wins. While the 13 and under team made the finals for domestic team of the year and the club made the finals for club the year, Fletcher Warren won Under 13 player of the year and Hendrix Warren won Under 13 coach of the year.

"I am really excited to start the new season and to have so many new players," said Hendrix. "New players are always welcome. Come to our orientation at te Takere on Saturday to find out more."