Giants must be in line for national league team

Several members of the Giants men's softball squad must be in the reckoning for inclusion in Hutt Valley's national league team this season.
Giants won't be involved in any competition play tomorrow as other teams play "catch up" games but they have already made their presence felt in a big way, leading both the Hutt Valley premier league, in which they are the defending champions, and the Inter-City series.
Both pitchers Ritchie Clarke and Justin Karaitiana have been in excellent early-season form and should be leading contenders for the Hutt Valley side to be named probably within the next week, along with Ryan Shannahan, Terry Waitere and Blair Thompson.
And even if they don't make Hutt Valley they could be picked up by other NHL sides, as Ritchie Clarke was by Auckland last year.
The axing of the national NPC competition for this season is a blow to clubs like Giants who were strongly represented in the winning Hutt Valley combination in 2007, a team which was selected and coached by Giants's Tony Nixon as well
"It was another opportunity for players to perform at a higher level, it's disappointing that it has gone by the wayside", Nixon said.